You should also note that I did not hike the Collegiate East, which is comprised of segments 11 - 15. 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. For the Colorado Trail, a couple of must-haves are the Colorado Trail Databook and The Colorado Trail Guidebook. I went over both Hope Pass and Elkhead Pass (Missouri Gulch) on my hike, and I loved it! GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. Altitude sickness is a serious consideration when youre hiking in Colorados high mountains. Peanut butter is one of my must-haves on any thru-hike. We have hiked 14,000 footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a day. The race is held each year in early July. When you enter a wilderness area you will find a self-registration box. 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. I mostly spend my spare time scheming new adventures and inadvertently setting my hair on fire while cooking. Should you get caught on an exposed ridge, descend immediately off the trail if necessary (Dont get lost!) To get the most out of a jar of Jif, you can add a stick of butter to it for an extra calorie boost. For strong, acclimated backpackers, theres a couple of advantages to starting the trail from Durango. We like to think the Centennial State's extensive trail network has a lot to do with that. 1 m ost active state, the second-best state in which to live and the fourth-happiest state overall. OR you can continue to Missouri Gulch, a great option to bag some fourteeners. After a set of grueling, steep, rocky switchbacks that will make your calves scream, youll arrive at the high point. Mileages are listed from Denver. 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. Oh hey there! Vintage Vail Ski Pin Colorado Crossed . Starting in Segment 6, the Continental Divide Trail joins the Colorado Trail for the next 253 miles. 16.8 County Rd 97: Conifer 26.9 County Rd 126: Buffalo Creek 40.5 FS 543/68: to Bailey 71.7 US Hwy 285: Kenosha Pass, Jefferson, Fairlplay 104.4 Hwy 9: Breckenridge, Frisco, 117.6 Hwy 91: Copper Mountain 143 US Hwy 24: Leadville, 176.9 Hwy 82: Twin Lakes 183.4 Collegiate East/West Divide 209.7 County Rd 365: Buena Vista 216.3 County Rd 306: Buena Vista, There are several paved roads in Segment 13. With a total distance of 567 miles, including a choice of two routes in the middle ( Collegiate East and Collegiate West ), the Trail's segments are broken down below. But once you get past that bit, youll get into the alpine for another extended stretch on your way to your highest elevation yet12,500 feet and it is absolutely gorgeous. Youll climb up and over a gorgeous pass, then drop down for a few miles until you cross appropriately-named Cascade Creek (home of incredible camping and at least one unbearably snoopy marmot). Foot races include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and Aspen. Check out the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 or the Kelty Cosmic 20 for some other solid three-season options. Theres also a page on Facebook that can prove useful for recent first-hand accounts, especially in May and June for early season snow levels. And it tastes pretty damn good too. Finally, a number of other Trails Illustrated maps can be pieced together to cover the entire trail. 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. While the tent is lightweight, its still easy to assemble. The self-supported record is held by John Zahorian, in 9 days and 12 hours, accomplished in 2016. Segments 11-14 Segment 24 Im sometimes asked what is the best section of the Colorado Trail. Sometimes you end up hiking faster than planned, and other times, slower. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The brand also makes an ultralight medical kit too, which is another great option. Among these is 14,439-foot Mount Elbert, the tallest peak in Colorado and second-tallest in the continental US after California's Mount Whitney. Segment 18: CO Hwy 114 to Saguache Park Road, 28. Or check out the GSI Outdoors Glacier Camp Stove, which was our Best Budget backpacking stove at just $30. In my experience, the section from Creede to Silverton is the most scenic (Segments 21 through 24). Cheese is a bit of a luxury on the trail as it needs to be cold, but I always enjoy a bit in the early days of a hike or after refueling in town. These days there are lots of great backpacking stove options. Historically the Colorado Trail went over Hope Pass, which is the most iconic section of the popular Leadville 100 Trail Run. As a bonus, the San Juan Range at the west end is considered to be the most scenic section of the entire trail. Im not a big fan of the map book thats published by the Colorado Trail Foundation. Its possible to mail food to yourself prior to your hike. Dont eat too much, though, because youll face an immediate climb out of the resort. Its lowest point is at 5,520 feet in Waterton Canyon - the trail's eastern terminus near Denver. For more information about specific services and hostels available in towns, check out Pmags guide. Package Deal: Colorado Trail Complete Guides Bundle $ 81.85 $ 75.00 All Trail Gear Segments of the CT We have small maps and detailed trail segment information, including length and elevation gain, for all 33 segments that make up the entire 567 miles of the CT. June is a possibility if theres been a dry winter, but snow at the high elevations usually lingers late into the month. The Colorado Rockies boast some of the tallest peaks in the country, including over a dozen "14ers," or summits above 14,000 feet, that can be accessed from the Colorado Trail. For more information various trailheads to access these sections, pick up a copy of the Official Guidebook. A good backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad are all essential. There are also websites such as the thru-hiking app farOut that offer base-weight calculators. 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. 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. Eventually the official trail was re-routed to the east, but several hikers still chose to incorporate Hope Pass into a thru-hike. Several miles later, you will enter some of the most singular, glorious hiking of the entire Colorado Trail. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Postcard Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado at the best online prices at eBay! Without the efforts of the Colorado Trail Foundation, there would be no Colorado Trail! Consider a solar option such as the Goal Zero Nomad 10 solar charger (which our tester gave the stamp of approval). Ranging from 4,000 to 14,000 feet, the completed sections of the CDT provide a variety of recreational activities to many hundreds of thousands of people each year, including hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, and sightseeing. He left from Denver and plans to get to Durango in 20-22 days if weather permits. Elevation profiles are listed in the Data Book. These meadow walks are broken up by short stretches through aspen groves. GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. It traverses eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas and stays above 10,000' for the majority of the trail. You can ship it via USPS to a local post office. How to Hike Every 14er on the Colorado Trail (with FarOut Miles) Follow along as I hike my way across the wonderful. We use the term climbing in regard to the 14ers, but its mostly still basic hiking. Colorado Trail Segments 8 and 9 Watch on The Colorado Trail (CT) stretches 486 miles from Denver to Durango, and is divided into 28 segments. The 60L pack weighs a mere 1 pound, 15.5 ounces, and has a removable aluminum frame and back pad that doubles as a sit pad. These apps, while no replacement for physical topographic maps, are a great resource to have on hand. Read more. However, the CT was closed near Durango due to the 416 fire. Segment 19 is a nice way to wrap up this little interlude. General Notes: The Colorado Trail, which starts outside of Denver and ends in Durango, runs through Kenosha Pass Campground. Its a bit heavier at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, but Im willing to take on that extra weight. I have friend who invited on the CT with him, but I cannot join him for the first two weeks. The best times to be on the Colorado Trail are July, August, and early September. Fortunately the logistics of traveling to Denver and Durango are fairly simple. The trail is split into 28 segments, each of which are completely different. To learn more, please visit the About This Site page. The trail climbs a lot in Seg 4, so show up ready to work. and be aware that the only cure is to go back down! These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. $19.99 + $2.99 shipping. Since storms tend to occur later in the day, its recommended to start early. Not really. It is not for the faint-hearted. During the 2017 Colorado Trail Race the average amount of H.A.B (Hike-A-Bike) was about 70 miles. Missouri Gulch is not part of the Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT in Segment 12. Segments 25-28. Car camping is a far cry from backpacking because you dont have to carry all your gear on your back. This way youre less likely to get caught on the move above treeline. Our secret comes from selecting and mixing the finest ingredients in small batches to achieve optimal taste and flavor profiles. And Ive compiled it so any backpacker planning a big trip can use it as a jumping-off point for a summer trek. Some of the National Forest Wilderness Areas require dogs to be on a leash. The CT isnt especially crowded like the AT or PCT, so more thru-hikers is generally a good thing. Its best to be on the Colorado Trail only from July 1st through mid-September. Then get back on the Silver Thread to Spring Creek Pass, located on the Continental Divide. Highest Elevation: 14,278 ft (Grays Peak CO) Lowest Elevation: 4,200 ft. The best choice comes down to the conditions youll be using it in and personal preference. This is one the few long-distance trails that allows bikes and provides for the necessary alternate routes when necessary (The Arizona Trail is another one). Regardless, if you are just planning a long weekend backpacking trip or a multimonth thru-hike, this is the season to start planning those summer treks. Segments 15-19 Consider taking a wilderness first-aid or outdoor survival course. A 20-degree sleeping bag and 4 liters of water capacity should get you through the trail just fine. 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.. This is becoming a popular method for experienced thru-hikers who could probably manage without any sort of map at all! A great new option for the season is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT. You can start later in the season (And therefore end later in the season), due to the lower elevations near Denver. For any long-distance thru-hike, such as the Colorado Trail, planning a route and resupply points is key. Parking: Traversing nearly 500 mountainous miles between Denver, CO and Durango, CO, the trail takes in some of its namesake state's best scenery, most remote wilderness, and authentic mountain towns. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Spotted just before Eddiesville Trailhead and the end of Seg 19. There are no dogs, bicycles, horses, camping, etc. Bear canisters are not required anywhere on the Colorado Trail. Pmags.com has a lot more great info regarding travel logistics, including options for long-term parking. Segment 16: Marshall Pass to Sargents Mesa, 30. All segments had at least one bright spot in them. 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. For backpacking, I tend to carry an Adventure Medical Kit for Hiking. Resupply for thru-hiking is where you are able to get more supplies, food, wash clothes, and maybe even take a rest day here or there in a soft bed at a nice hotel. Because of this, its super common to see people talking about certain segment numbers online, and the guidebook is written according to them. 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. Twin Lakes to Monarch Pass is about 85 miles. It is slightly anticlimacticjust more grass gently sloping away in every direction and a wooden sign to mark the significance of this place. I hope you enjoy it! Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trail's Collegiate West route. The intent here is to help you get a ballpark idea of your resupply strategy. These were our experiences from segments twenty-one through twenty-four of the Colorado Trail. Most of the original route was drawn out by 1976, but interest waned and funding disappeared. love spells caster who can bring back a lost lover + 27760981414, an ex- lover, magic spells caste, a lost love spells caster to bring back lost Segment 5: Long Gulch to Kenosha Pass, 18. Atlas Guides (Guthook) publishes an excellent app (with maps) for smartphone users. Segment 3: Little Scraggy Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 26. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. New Layer About Us Colorado Nut Company has established and maintained traditions of excellence in everything we do that produces the finest and best tasting nuts, trail mixes, dried fruits, candies, chocolates and yogurts. This is a great stop to break up your first big climb of the CT into more manageable chunks. Princeton Hot Springs Resort is between segments 13 & 14, and sits almost exactly in the middle of the CT. Holy Cross & Mount Massive segments 9-11, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness segments 11-13. Still, if youre like me and manage to go across the high point on a summer afternoon, with impending thunderheads of doom nipping at your heels, it will be dramatic enough regardless. Weve called Jetboils Stash stove the lightest, most efficient backpacking stove ever. And we dont make claims like that lightly. There are certain things that all backpackers have in common when it comes to dialing in their gear for those long days on the trail. Six wilderness areas need to be bypassed. If youre looking for some more advice on backpacking gear, start with my ultimate gear list. The rest of the downhill is shaded and features abundant water and camping opportunities, so it should be smooth sailing down to the railroad tracks and the Animas River. This year Osprey updated its fan-favorite Aether and Ariel 55 bags. The Beer Drinkers Guide to the Colorado Trail. It is relatively common for locals to segment-hike (section hike) the whole trail by linking up the segments by day hiking or shorter overnight trips. 2. If youre hiking with a partner, create some distance from each other to decrease the likelihood of both of you getting zapped by a single strike. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Trail Ridge Road at the Big Rock Colorado CO Real Photo RPPC Postcard D44 at the best online prices at eBay! So, you can really read this list as how scenic, or how much bang for your buck you get in these sections! Or the Nitecore NB1000 Power Bank, weighing less than 6 ounces, is a great battery pack option. This is the widest possible window for hiking. Divided into 28 segments, the trail end points are Denver and Durango. Segment 9: Tennessee Pass to Timberline Lake Trailhead, 19. You should note that this is primarily a hiking trail, so your bound to do some walking. Depending on the season and the year, many of them may still be graced with snowy caps. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. Some were super easy, like all of the San Juans were just *chefs kiss*, but some of my middle and least favorites were kind of hard to put into that order. Shortly after the campground, you cross Jefferson Creek around mile 75. Feel free to contact me with additional questions. Learn how to create your own. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition. While all backpackers will pack slightly differently for a multiday trip, there are always some staples that go into a pack. Starting in segment 12 trailheads to access these sections, pick up a copy of the colorado trail best segments Trail, is..., its still easy to assemble a jumping-off point for a multiday trip, there would be Colorado! For smartphone users copy of the original route was drawn out by 1976, I!, including options for long-term parking dont get lost! to Denver and plans to get to Durango in days! 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