Some of the best tips and tricks Ive learned over the years have come from just talking to other hikers on the trail or over a beer. As always, and maybe even moreso here, this is my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt! We use the term climbing in regard to the 14ers, but its mostly still basic hiking. Support us! Snacks, water, headlamp, and extra layers are essential. Once you have the gear, its time to plan the logistics of the hike. Parking: Get geared up now so youre good to go this summer when the season is in full swing. I wouldnt turn my nose up at them, but depending on the day (and your level of squeamishness) you may want drops for secondary purification. Our intent was to hike the 11 miles , camp and . Most segments start and end at a road or trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote. They have a separate map for that. Neil Beltchenko holds the winning record for the Colorado Trail bicycle race. Some segments take more than a day to hike, and others less. Segment 18: CO Hwy 114 to Saguache Park Road, 28. I created a free guide for backcountry skiing in Colorado! From there you can take a taxi or Uber, private shuttle, etc. Its website has a meal planner that allows backpackers to pick meal plans, select for dietary restrictions or allergies, pick ingredients, and even choose meals based on daily caloric use. Obviously there can be a lot of variation here, but it generally costs about $1,000 per month (Or $250/week) to do a thru-hike. Ive never handled one and dont get the impression that its very useful. Elevation changes on the segments can vary, as you'll climb only 1,000 feet on some segments and up to 4,520 feet on others. Follow this gently-graded road all the way to the top of Waterton Canyon, and keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep along the way. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Youll be tempted to leave all of your backpacking gear behind to bag these summits. For those segments where Im on my own, there are resupply towns across the state that are not too far from the trail. READ NEXT Everything You Need to Know to Hike the Colorado Trail, Segments 1-3 Other hikers will carry a weeks worth of food and select meals based on how they are feeling on any given day. Mt. Follow along as I hike my way across the wonderful. They are easy to cook as well. Now is the time to bust out that backpacking checklist. I weigh 250 pounds, so my pack fully loaded should never be more than 50 pounds. That equals 13% of the total distance. More flag On Ute, Cheyenne & Pueblos Land Distance 539 Mi. Segment CW05: Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek, 12. Snowpack can be a problem through late June, and winter storms are more likely to hit the mountains after mid-September (I even experienced a light snowstorm in August). My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. Just remember that youre bound to see plenty of other hikers in this section. Try entering Junction Creek Campground Durango in Google maps to get on the right track. And if you dont, you can be at risk of falling victim to ailments like Rhabdo (look it up it isnt fun). Elbert is the second-highest mountain in the lower 48 states, only 62 feet lower than Mount Whitney in California. Vintage Vail Ski Pin Colorado Crossed . Life is distilled into its most basic elements. Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trail's Collegiate West route. Not really. These apps, while no replacement for physical topographic maps, are a great resource to have on hand. Six wilderness areas need to be bypassed. The trail is divided into 28 segments. Hiking and journeys life this are a part of his life. Merrill Hastings, as editor of Colorado Magazine, played a big roll in drumming up early support. Theyre responsible for coordinating the volunteer work to maintain the trail. The CDT, alongside the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail make up the triple crown of hiking. The brand also makes an ultralight medical kit too, which is another great option. Some of the basic gear you will need for an overnight trip includes: But before we get into all the sweet gear youll need, we should start with a scale and a little something called base weight.. (If nothing else, its a good backup to a filter system to have on hand.). Either way, youll pop out of the Collegiates at Highway 50 some 75 miles later and most likely hitch down to Poncha Springs or Salida to resupply. All rights reserved. Segment 10: Timberline Lake to Mount Massive Trail, 25. It traverses eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas and stays above 10,000' for the majority of the trail. You can ask for rides from other hikers, hitchhike, or call a taxi/uber/lyft. Sign in. Many backpackers prefer freestanding tents to the non-freestanding kind I use. section is one of the areas that had fully eroded back in the 2018 storm but trail builders have gone in and re-created segments of path along the coast. Once youre below treeline its best to squat on your backpack to insulate yourself from the potential ground current. If youre like most CT hikers, youll start your thru-hike from Waterton Canyon, a popular day-use hiking and biking area for Denverites. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 1.Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead, 2. Most segments start and end at a road or trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote. The trail segment initiates just south of the entrance to the Kenosha Pass Campground, which is located on the west side of the pass. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 18 min to complete. I have not hiked the official Collegiate West route, but I recommend it based on my experience through Hope Pass and Missouri Gulch. Atlas Guides (Guthook) publishes an excellent app (with maps) for smartphone users. So Ill just summarize here: 10 miles, very hot, very dry. I just have to say, many of these segments were difficult to rank! The pass is above treeline, so if youre worried about afternoon thunderstorms, you may choose to camp (or siesta) partway up. Its a bit heavier at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, but Im willing to take on that extra weight. Free shipping for many products! The hiking community is a very friendly group and is always willing to help out newbies or even experienced hikers looking for some insight. You can expect to see more crowds on these mountains than the main trail. But its particularly useful for anyone considering thru-hiking the Colorado Trail yourself. If youre new to this sort of thing, consider making Jefferson/Fairplay your first resupply at Kenosha Pass, 71 miles from Denver. This way, youre able to help yourself or others on the trail as needed. Youll have to pay an entrance fee for the state park, but some folks still like this as a quiet alternative to the busy Waterton Canyon Trail. From the top of the climb, you can see down to Copper Mountain Ski Resort on the other side. The most popular places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton. You can download maps that work with your phones GPS, allowing you to track your progress. Some reports say that about 10 percent of the distance is spent hiking with your bike, but others say that it feels like quite bit more. Most thru-hikes, like those on the Colorado Trail, have ample access to lakes and streams. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep in the canyon. Gudy Gaskill took the reigns in 1974. Remember that the Colorado Trail is hiking trail that simply allows cyclists to use it if you dare . $19.99 + $2.99 shipping. The trail goes from Denver to Durango, or more specifically, from the the Waterton Trailhead in Littleton to the Junction Trailhead in Durango. Princeton Hot Springs Resort is between segments 13 & 14, and sits almost exactly in the middle of the CT. Beyond talking to people who have hiked these trails before, theres a wealth of information online and in books that are invaluable so you know what to expect when hiking this summer. The other key to cooking (and generally to survival) is having purified drinking water at all times. This map was created by a user. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Kennebec Trailhead, 3. Theres only one small section at Waterton Canyon where dogs are not allowed. If you were interested in the surrounding trails and landscape (Whats that cool mountain over there? The Colorado Trail Foundation was founded in the same year, and still serves as the trails primary steward. 357.8 Hwy 149: Lake City, Creede 411.1 US Hwy 550: Silverton. Dont eat too much, though, because youll face an immediate climb out of the resort. Companies like RightOnTrek are also moving the needle on backpacking food, toward even tastier, more nutritious meals. 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. Sure, the trail is simple. The Collegiate West alternate route is not included. I spend three to five weeks out there every summer hiking a segment or two and acting as a . These sessions are times to share where there'll be a million stream crossings, where the streams are dried up, which valley will be the coldest and which climb the warmest, as well as where you . As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. The Colorado Trail Race (CTR) is known as one of the hardest, if not the hardest and most scenic bikepacking routes in the entire United States. The Colorado Trail is a 500-plus-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. Holy Cross & Mount Massive segments 9-11, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness segments 11-13. Theres a sacred rule of thumb when it comes to loading gear into your bag. Collegiate West leaves the CT (Collegiate East) in Segment 11 and rejoins it in Segment 15. The Colorado Trail, Denver to Durango location Colorado, USA We recognize Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of this land. In order to power your phone, rechargeable headlamps, or other electronics on the trail you need a battery charger. . Note: I wrote this from the perspective of a Southbounder starting from Waterton Canyon, and all miles are based on FarOut Guides Colorado Trail Map. Backpackers across the country, like myself, dream of long sunny days with endless trails to explore. The trail alternates between open meadows and lush forests that are teeming with wildflowers and wildlife. Essential Safety Tips for Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail A friend who has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail passed along some sound advice when it comes to these meals, though make sure you try them and like them before buying a bunch for the trail. The Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree also ranked high on GearJunkies list of Best Backpacking Water Filters. Distance: 32.9 miles. As a whole, the Colorado Trail averages over 10,300 feet above sea level! Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. Most of the original route was drawn out by 1976, but interest waned and funding disappeared. On the other side of 550, youll walk around Little Molas Lake and the free Forest Service campground on its shores, then start climbing again among old, thick-trunked Engelmann spruce. Yes! Ive gathered loads of information for my Colorado Trail hike this season. 261.5 Collegiate East/West Junction 302.8 Hwy 114: paved road in a remote area 343 (off the CT) FS 503: first place to access Creede Consider stopping in Lake City instead of Creede. This is easily bypassed via the Indian Creek trailhead (see above). The wilderness areas on the Colorado Trail do have a permit system in place, but they dont involve any designated campsites, fees, or general planning. Backpacking and thru-hiking are summer activities that outdoorsy folks look forward to all winter and spring. The slope is forested so you typically have at least partial shade, theres plenty of water on the way up, and the generous switchbacks make it an honest climb. In Colorado, however, more scenery comes with higher elevations and exposure to lightning. For the Colorado Trail, Ill be using a Big Agnes Sidewinder bag. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. . I hope you enjoy it! CO - THE Colorado Trail, Segments 1-5, Waterton Canyon to Kenosha Pass (06/22) Hiking all or part of THE Colorado Trail has been on my agenda for several years and became a knee rehab goal. Colorado gets frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and early August. Segments 25-28. Travelers from out of state should take at least a day or two to acclimate before the trip. It just takes one big storm, wildfire, or injury to derail the best-laid plans. Twin Lakes to Monarch Pass is about 85 miles. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Everything You Need to Know to Hike the Colorado Trail, Collegiate East vs. West: 8 Key Differences for CT Hikers, 11 Highlights of the Colorado Trail You Wont Want to Miss, Essential Safety Tips for Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail, How to Hike Every 14er on the Colorado Trail (with FarOut Miles), The Beer Drinkers Guide to the Colorado Trail. The terrain slopes away so gently on either side that you feel like youre hiking in mildly hilly flatlands, rather than in the heart of the Rockies and approaching the Colorado Trails 13,259-foot high point at mile 373. Driving the Great Divide. At miles 166 and 170, you will pass junctions with the Mount Massive Trailhead, your first opportunity to summit a 14er, followed closely by the Mount Elbert Trail junctions at miles 170 and 175. Or, if Im truly ready to enter the 21st century like a modern thru-hiker, Id ditch all that and simply use the Guthook App and Pmags resupply info. In the past decade, I've had folks walk me through the Hardrock 100 course, and I have passed that forward with multiple-hour map and chat sessions sharing my knowledge of that race with others. So thru-hikers have a choice to make when they arrive at the Collegiate Loop: The Collegiate West alternate is reputedly more scenic than the original trail (Now often dubbed Collegiate East). MAP: Trails Illustrated PERMITS: none (easy self-registration for wilderness areas) DESIGNATION: primarily 7 different National Forests BEST SEASONS: July, August, September DISTANCE: 485 miles from Denver to Durango WATER: I thru-hiked with 4 liters capacity. 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