We’re waiting a bit for the weather to warm up and for the snow to melt, but we’ll be back on trail in a few days. The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail running for 486 miles (782 km) from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States.Its highest point is 13,271 feet (4,045 m) above sea level, and most of the trail is above 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Although these many Colorado Trail segments vary in length, they can generally be hiked in one or two days. Trail Summary: The Colorado Trail is a 485 mile hike that starts near Denver and ends in Durango, Colorado. Once you leave the confines of Buffalo Creek, passing the Meadows Group Campground, the trail stays nestled in the pine-filled woods, but begins a grueling climb to its terminus at CT - Segment 4 (Wellington Road). Neither end of segment 23 is easy to access without 4wd, but that’s no problem, because you’ll want to combine it with adjacent segments anyway. It is however an equestrian trail, like most of the other segments of the Colorado Trail. It’s generally accepted that Collegiate West is more scenic, challenging, remote, and vulnerable to summer thunderstorms (being much more above treeline). You’ll need Colorado Trail references both while planning your trip and on the trail. Segment 7 (and its logical companion, segment 8) are, in my opinion, the best and most scenic segments on the Colorado Trail north of the Collegiate East / West split. Carson Saddle is only accessible to 4wd vehicles via rough road, so it makes sense to combine segment 22 with my personal all-time favorite, segment 23…, Distance: 15.9 milesElevation gain: 3515 feetElevation loss: 3339 feetOpen to bikes: yes. Since this segment of the trail is near Denver, CO, your best bet is to ride or hike it on a weekday. I would say the Collegiate Loop is in the same category as the Tahoe Rim Trail and even the John Muir Trail, though thankfully lacking the permit hassles of the latter. Convenient access points to the trail originally determined where segments would begin and end. Unless you’re one of the fortunate few who can get away for the 4-6 weeks typically needed to hike the whole thing (or 2-3 weeks for bikepacking), you might be wondering: what are the best segments of the Colorado Trail? Early September is often a great time for this portion of the CO Trail. Since the completion of The Colorado Trail in 1987 improvements in hiking, biking and backpacking equipment have been dramatic. Collegiate West vs. Collegiate East might be the most commonly asked question about hiking the Colorado Trail. My trail fam and I finished segments 9, 10, and 11, but we’re now currently held up in Leadville due to the early event of heavy snowfall in Colorado. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition “Best” is subjective, of course. CW segment 2 includes Lake Ann Pass, just as dramatic and scenic as Hope Pass and also above 12,500 feet. Related: Answers to Essential Colorado Trail Questions, Distance: 14.6 milesElevation gain: 1858 feetElevation loss: 2055 feetOpen to bikes: no(Note: these and other stats in this post are from the Colorado Trail Databook). This isn’t a particularly easy access point (though local shuttlers can help if pre-arranged), and the scenery of segment 21 beckons you to continue…, Distance: 14.8 milesElevation gain: 3116 feetElevation loss: 4157 feetOpen to bikes: no. The 500-mile Colorado Trail is one of the nation's premier long-distance hiking trail and runs from Denver to Durango. Starting from Tennessee Pass at US Hwy 24, this segment of the Colorado Trail tracks southwest with a gentle, mostly level, path through the forest. For those interested in continuing all the way to Durango, the next few segments are not as spectacular but still worthwhile. The trail crosses numerous streams and follows beautiful mountain brooks in some places. The first three segments, however, only go a little above 8,000′ feet, so we figured we’d see some snow but generally be safe from any impassable snow fields. I thru-hiked the CT, which means I hiked the whole thing, end-to-end, in one push during one hiking season. However, the CT was closed near Durango due to the 416 fire.As an alternative, we decided to start at segment 8 and work our way southbound. 2 "Golden Tickets" to win in this segment. On the long descent enjoy views of Mount of the Holy Cross, followed by historic ruins of Camp Hale and a bit of mellow railroad grade to finish off the segment. Hike the whole thing or take it in these suggested hiking-trail segments over mountains, lakes and towns. During a small window in the summer, the snow clears to unveil an epic high altitude through-ride on some of the best trails in the Rocky Mountains. Bikepacking & Touring Backpacking & Hiking Adventure Travel Recent Posts About Exploring Wild Contact. With my sights set on traversing the entirety of the Colorado Trail over the next year(ish), I let a 24-hour rain-free window be my cue to get started. Segment 8’s southern terminus is on US Hwy 24 at Tennessee Pass Trailhead, which has a parking lot and is easily accessed from Leadville. One of the best segments of the Colorado Trail, Segment Six is best enjoyed as a point-to-point backpacking trip. Section hikers looking for the most scenic segments would do well to start here, and consider continuing all the way to Durango for some of the most scenic miles on the CT. I’ll make a few notes about each individual segment, but really, it’s all fantastic. The trail is divided into 28 different segments, each beginning at a trailhead accessible by vehicle. If you’re not continuing onward toward segment 15 or completing the Collegiate Loop, this would make a good place to end your Collegiate West section hike. For 485 miles between Denver and Durango, the Colorado Trail (CT) winds over rocky, 13,000-foot peaks and passes, through wildflower-filled meadows, in and out of dusty mining towns, and past snow-clad vistas as it draws a line through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Alternatively, extend it by starting with segment 5, or continue past Frisco / Breck to the even more scenic segments 7 and 8. The trail widens with new paths and bridges. Section (segment) hiking is a great way to see the trail and being able to do the trail a weekend, week or more at a time. CW segment 3 begins at Cottonwood Pass on Highway 306 in an area initially busy with day hikers. But few venture past the first climb, leaving backpackers to enjoy many miles of exposed rolling ridgeline along the Continental Divide. Segment 24 is a fitting culmination to the big mountain tour that began in segment 21. The peak itself can be summited from here and is probably the easiest 14er to bag from the Colorado Trail. Step 1: Get Colorado Trail References and Maps. CW segment 5 begins near Boss Lake trailhead with another stout climb up to the Continental Divide, offering vast views and pristine alpine lakes to take your mind off the hard work. . Kenosha Pass provides highway access with free parking, and Gold Hill Trailhead is easily linked to nearby Frisco or Breckenridge via the free Summit Stage bus. Thru hikers, however, may find it a convenient mail drop location. This is a video of the first two segments of the Colorado Trail starting at the Waterton Canyon Trailhead southwest of Denver, CO. A good book for navigating the Colorado Trail is The Colorado Trail: The Official Guidebook of the Colorado Trail Foundation. Segment 5 is probably best combined with segment 6 for a rewarding several day trip relatively close to Denver. The Colorado Trail is hundreds miles of all the best nature that the Centennial State has to offer. I don’t personally recommend this for section hikers as long as you can carry enough food. This town of about 6,000 is home to Western Colorado University and styles itself as “Base Camp of the Rockies” for … Ultrarunning fans will be thrilled to traverse part of the famed Leadville 100 race course in this highly scenic section. Segment 25 is easier and more forested. The 500-mile Colorado Trail is one of the nation's premier long-distance hiking trail and runs from Denver to Durango. There is very limited water and over seven continuous miles of trail above treeline. Collegiate East is a bit “easier,” more in the trees, and more safely traversed during periods of bad weather. Colorado Trail Segment 5 is by far the most pretty of the first 5 segments while working through 14.6 miles of hiking and 1,858 feet of elevation gain. Most of segment 20 is a long but gradual climb up to the saddle below San Luis Peak at 12,612 feet. Was this helpful? Trail conditions in the backcountry are generally very good. It’s a special place. At mile 10.8 of CW5 you’ll reach Monarch Pass Trailhead, a popular hiking spot on US Highway 50 and home to the excellent Monarch Crest Souvenir Shop. I would encourage anyone interested to try them for yourself and see what you think. The Colorado Trail: Segments 4 & 5. There’s more where this came from! The mountain bike version detours Wilderness Areas, where mechanized travel is off-limits, and can be done any number of ways: from weekend warrior-ing it a couple segments at a time, to a supported through-ride with a sag vehicle, to bikepacking it unsupported in a single push. Day 1 Segment 1: Roxborough State Park ctf@coloradotrail.org, Segment 1 — Waterton Canyon Trailhead to South Platte River Trailhead, Denver metro area, suburbs including Littleton, Segment 2 — South Platte River Trailhead to Little Scraggy Trailhead, Segment 3 — Little Scraggy Trailhead to FS-560 (Wellington Lake Road) Trailhead, Segment 4 — FS-560 (Wellington Lake Road) Trailhead to Long Gulch, Segment 6 — Kenosha Pass to Goldhill Trailhead, Bailey, Jefferson, Fairplay, Breckenridge, Frisco, Segment 7 — Goldhill Trailhead to Copper Mountain, Segment 8 — Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass Trailhead, Segment 9 — Tennessee Pass Trailhead to Timberline Lake Trailhead, Segment 10 — Timberline Lake Trailhead to Mount Massive Trailhead, Segment 11— Mount Massive Trailhead to Clear Creek Road, Segment 12— Clear Creek Road to Silver Creek Trailhead, Segment 13 — Silver Creek Trailhead to Chalk Creek Trailhead, Segment 14 — Chalk Creek Trailhead to US-50, Segment 15 — US-50 to Marshall Pass Trailhead, Segment 16 — Marshall Pass Trailhead to Sargents Mesa, Segment 17 — Sargents Mesa to Colorado Hwy-114, Segment 18— Colorado Hwy-114 to Saguache Park Road, Segment 19— Saguache Park Road to Eddiesville Trailhead, Segment 20 — Eddiesville Trailhead to San Luis Pass, Segment 21 — San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass Trailhead, Segment 22 — Spring Creek Pass Trailhead to Carson Saddle, Segment 23 — Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead, Segment 24 — Stony Pass Trailhead to Molas Pass, Segment 25 — Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road, Segment 26 — Bolam Pass Road to Hotel Draw Road, Segment 27 — Hotel Draw Road to Kennebec Trailhead, Segment 28 — Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead, Collegiate West 01 (CW01) — Twin Lakes to Sheep Gulch, Collegiate West 02 (CW02) — Sheep Gulch to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead, Collegiate West 03 (CW03) — Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road, Collegiate West 04 (CW04) — Tincup Pass Road to Boss Lake Trailhead, Collegiate West 05 (CW05) — Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek. From the end of CW4 it’s possible to hike 1.5 miles out to a highway and Monarch Mountain Lodge for a room, basic restaurant, mail drop, and/or tiny snack shop. A quick word about hiking The Colorado Trail in segments: Not everyone can spend 4-6 weeks hiking The Colorado Trail in one long hike. Since it’s so often traveled as a single chunk, or as part of the Collegiate Loop (see below), I’m going to include the entire section here. Segment 8 begins at Copper Mountain ski resort with a long climb up to Searle and Kokomo Passes, two scenic spots separated by just a few miles of high tundra. The Colorado Trail Databook (4″x 7″) is enough for most hikers. Day hikers and section hikers can easily find their way to new segments of trail, while thru hikers can still enjoy a wild and rugged four to six week journey. Colorado Trail : Segment 6 is a 30.8 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Jefferson, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. Gunnison. The second section is from Durango to Longmont. For the first portion of this section of the Colorado Trail, you'll follow Waterton Canyon, which is the gateway to the CT.While other portions of the trail end up being remote, this section offers easy access and beautiful views of the South Platte. For this reason, it has been my goal for 2015 to take on as much of the trail as free time would allow. Most of the 28 segments can be hiked within a day or two with a light pack. Best Family Hike Taylor Lake From Kennebec Pass, you’ll drop 500 feet over 1.8 miles (on the Colorado and Highline Trails) to a yellow and green hellebore-choked cirque sheltering Taylor Lake. Colorado Trail’s 28 Segments: Due to its immense size, the entire trail from Denver to Durango has been divided into 28 segments to help with trip planning, management and more. Even though they're less than an hour's drive from Denver, Colorado Trail Segments 4 & 5 offer solitude and beauty. They might also have other useful qualities like ease of access, proximity to population centers, and logistical simplicity. Segment 26. The restaurant has very restricted hours, the snack shop has limited inventory, and the 1.5 extra miles feel very long on the (uphill) way back. Trailheads: Rolling Creek/Colorado Trail (east trailhead); Kenosha Pass (west trailhead) You can camp at one of the eight designated shelters or camping areas. Thru-hiker bonus: This is … This 160ish mile route is like a sampler of the CT’s best varied terrain, with the blissful logistical simplicity of a loop. The week of July 14th, an Army buddy of mine, Neal Metzler and I backpacked the first six segments of The Colorado Trail, from Denver to Breckenridge.Our original plan was to hike it in seven days but we ended up completing it in five and a half. Segment 27 includes four miles along Indian Trail Ridge that are scenic and dramatic, then a descent to Taylor Lake which is a popular camping spot. The stout climb to the crest of the Tenmile Range is well worth the reward. We used the heavier, more detailed official guidebook – The Colorado Trail. Segments 16-17 of the Colorado Trail Updated: Oct 18, 2019 On August 16, I started hiking from Marshall Pass to the end of Segment 17 at Co Hwy 114, which is about 35 miles. The Colorado Trail can be a life-changing experience if you let it! Combine segment 7 with segment 8 for an excellent long weekend point-to-point on one of the most scenic sections of the Colorado Trail. Answers to Essential Colorado Trail Questions, essential tips for hiking the Colorado Trail, Easy ways to lighten your backpacking load, Hiking in trail running shoes: complete guide, backpacking resources from Exploring Wild, 12 Stretches To Do in Your Tent For Better Sleep and Stronger Hiking, Review: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger After 35 Days on the Colorado Trail, Colorado Trail Resupply Guide: Sample Plans Based on Pace and Style, Hiking the Colorado Trail: Answers to Essential Questions. My goal for 2015 to take on as much of the Colorado Databook! Thru-Hiked the CT in order from Denver to Durango Mount Massive Wilderness area so mountain bikes are not spectacular. Chalk Creek Pass, just as dramatic and scenic as Hope Pass and also above feet... Longest, more jagged, still vast and yet somehow more intimate, as described in guide to the mountain! San Juans the mountains are younger, more jagged, still vast and yet somehow more.! 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