By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to GearJunkie's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Dont be afraid to turn around. Colorado Trail: Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass 12.4 mi 2,623' Up 844' Down Jefferson, CO RECOMMENDED ROUTE Park County Adventure 18.6 mi 2,890' Up 4,606' Down Jefferson, CO RECOMMENDED ROUTE Bald Mountain 10.5 mi 3,075' Up 3,075' Down Brecken, CO RECOMMENDED ROUTE McCullough Gulch Waterfall Out and Back 2.3 mi 465' Up 465' Down Its an ultralight pad at 12.5 ounces that stands 3 inches thick with a horizontal baffle for a comfortable nights sleep. A great new option for the season is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT. Be preparedthis trail hits 12,000 feet right around Cataract Basin. To get a sense of what this section will be like and which of the two routes you should choose, check out Collegiate East vs. West: 8 Key Differences for CT Hikers. Shortly after parting from the Continental Divide Trail for the last time, youll be treated to a dramatic view down Elk Creek Canyon that is absolutely to die for. The CDT is by far the most rugged of the three . It is not for the faint-hearted. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. Elbert is the second-highest mountain in the lower 48 states, only 62 feet lower than Mount Whitney in California. Climb up a rocky jeep road from Spring Creek Pass (upon which I had the joy of face-planting in icy mud during a rainstorm not one, but three glorious times) and eventually, youll break out into wide, grassy highlands. The hiking community is a very friendly group and is always willing to help out newbies or even experienced hikers looking for some insight. Appalachian Trail 2018 Wonderland Trail (+ a dozen or so other NPS trails) 2019 Colorado Trail 2020 Colorado Trail 2021. I weigh 250 pounds, so my pack fully loaded should never be more than 50 pounds. Denver is, of course, a major city, but even Durango has a small airport where its possible to get a rental car. Several miles later, you will enter some of the most singular, glorious hiking of the entire Colorado Trail. Hammock vs. Tent for an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike, Backpacker Radio #195 | Jack "Quadzilla" Jones 2.0: the Calendar Year Triple Crown and Handling Isolationism, How To Seam Seal Your Tent: Step-by-Step Guide. Missouri Mountain, in particular, had a short section that struck me as exceptionally exposed. Free shipping for many products! The campsite is adjacent to a dirt road and you may encounter car campers on summer weekends: consider yourself warned. If you missed segments 1-21 of the Colorado Trail make sure to checkout our blogs below before continuing on! Check out LighterPack.com to help dial in your gear. I just have to say, many of these segments were difficult to rank! Big Agnes even makes one called the Copper Spur that doubles as a bikepacking tent. Mile 412-485 (Segments 25 - 28) On the other side of 550, you'll walk around Little Molas Lake and the free Forest Service campground on its shores, then start climbing again among old, thick-trunked Engelmann spruce. 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. 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. After going over Blackhawk Pass, be sure to fill up at Straight Creek as there isnt much water between there and Taylor Lake 21 miles south. This alternate became popular a few years ago, when Waterton Canyon was closed for almost an entire season. Open full screen to view more. Take everything Im about to tell you with a big old grain of salt because the conditions of the day will dramatically affect your experience of the Colorado Trail: the same stretch of trail could look and feel completely different to two hikers on different days. Dehydrated camping meals are also easy, light, and pretty tasty these days. Some of the peaks listed here require a little 3rd class scrambling. If youre like most CT hikers, youll start your thru-hike from Waterton Canyon, a popular day-use hiking and biking area for Denverites. Some of the National Forest Wilderness Areas require dogs to be on a leash. Segment 18: CO Hwy 114 to Saguache Park Road, 28. At mile 175 you can take a shortcut side trail down to Twin Lakes Village, or you can continue on the CT and do a short road walk into town (which really just means the general store, theres not much around) if you need to resupply. The core three gear items not including clothing that make up your base weight are a backpack, tent, and sleep system (sleeping bag and pad). 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. 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). A friend of mine reported seeing a moose submerged almost to his antlers in a lake in this section while he grazed the lake bottom. Pmags.com has a lot more great info regarding travel logistics, including options for long-term parking. Most of the original route was drawn out by 1976, but interest waned and funding disappeared. The views are to die for up top, and the surrounding peaks are indeed starting to look bigger and wilder. Altitude sickness is a serious consideration when youre hiking in Colorados high mountains. Segments of the CT The Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, connecting Denver in the east with Durango in the west. When I started ranking these, the main category I went off of was beautiful views. But if the Fortius doesnt strike your fancy, check out GearJunkies best backpacking tents. That's a long way of saying I have the last five segments left. For backpacking, I tend to carry an Adventure Medical Kit for Hiking. Location: Forest Road 550 / Buffalo Creek, CO. Start Access: Paved roads. The trail segment initiates just south of the entrance to the Kenosha Pass Campground, which is located on the west side of the pass. Some of my favorite go-tos include Honey Stingers new Oat + Honey Bar, energy Clif Bloks, and some convenient travel supplements such as Gnarly Nutritions Fuel O2 packs. No. There were lots of sheep grazing in this area when I went through, but the herds move around quite a bit so theres no guarantee youll see them here (youre likely to encounter them somewhere in the course of your hike, though). Or, you can weigh yourself on a scale without your gear, and weigh yourself a second time with your base gear. My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. Spring snow is flittering outside my office window, and I am meticulously weighing gear, charting paths across topographical maps, and preparing for hiking the Colorado Trail this summer. 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. That equals 13% of the total distance. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 9 h 58 min to complete. Even if you dont know anyone personally who has hiked the trail before, technology makes it easy to discover a whole community of people who are more than willing to lend advice or insight. And now is the time to get prepared. During the 2017 Colorado Trail Race the average amount of H.A.B (Hike-A-Bike) was about 70 miles. Segment CW03: Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road, 7. 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). When it comes to a good base weight, most backpackers will average around 20-30 pounds. A good backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad are all essential. The most popular places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton. Breaking Down | Segments 18-21 Resupply on the Colorado Trail I still hiked the beginning of 11 and end of 15, so Ill still include them in my rankings. Youll wrap it up with a long, exposed traverse of Snow Mesa before dropping back down to asphalt at Spring Creek Pass, the access point for Lake City (or, less commonly, Creede). Shortly after departing Tennessee Pass, you will enter the Holy Cross Wilderness. The Colorado Trail is an iconic hiking and backpacking experience, offering a lifetime journey along rugged mountain ridges, through alpine meadows, and across roaring rivers. Each segment ranges in distance, but in theory, if you hike an average of a segment per day, the entire hike would take around a month. How to Hike Every 14er on the Colorado Trail (with FarOut Miles) Life is distilled into its most basic elements. This is easily bypassed via the Indian Creek trailhead (see above). The trail splits off from the road before the top of Stony Pass Road (the juncture marks the beginning of Segment 24) and starts another long, gradual descent through grassy meadows. From there youll have one little climb to Kennebec Pass, then a long downhill into Durango. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. Remember that the Colorado Trail is hiking trail that simply allows cyclists to use it if you dare . (If nothing else, its a good backup to a filter system to have on hand.). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Or the Nitecore NB1000 Power Bank, weighing less than 6 ounces, is a great battery pack option. Segment 7: Gold Hill Trailhead to Copper Mountain, 15. This water-bottle filter weighs 3.3 ounces and will filter 3 L of water per minute. How easy it is to join someone along the way on the CT? Six wilderness areas need to be bypassed. About a half mile from Roxboroughs Visitor Center youll go up the Carpenter Peak 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! 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. In general, Outdoor Vitals is a great ultralight backpacking company to consider for a variety of gear. The trail continues to bounce around through forested landscapes mostly between 10- and 11,000 feet. Its a gorgeous, desertlike stretch if youre prepared to handle the heat. . Its equal parts warmth and comfort. 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 You wont go so long again without water as you did in Segment 2, but the environment will continue to be arid and shrubby with sparse shade from tall shrubs and evergreens. Segments 7-8 Travelers from out of state should take at least a day or two to acclimate before the trip. Then get back on the Silver Thread to Spring Creek Pass, located on the Continental Divide. Gudy never gave up, and the trail was officially completed in 1987. Foot races include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and Aspen. Mt. Simply add boiling water and wait. The Colorado Trail is a 500-plus-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. Dedicating a month of your life to the Trail has its price. Youll end the section with a hot, dusty road walk on Stony Pass Road, where, if its a weekend, you might get to enjoy the pleasure of being passed a conga line of jeeps and ATVs on their way up to the scenic summit. The last major piece of gear is the sleeping pad. The trail will often close due to issues related to its nearby dam, so there are two alternate trailheads: This is the primary alternate for those with dogs. Mileages are listed from Denver. I created a free guide for backcountry skiing in Colorado! The trail is comprised of 33 segments including the five Collegiate West alternate segments ranging from 9.8 miles to 32.9 miles. Its lowest point is at 5,520 feet in Waterton Canyon - the trail's eastern terminus near Denver. Youll do a lot of unremarkable cow pasture walking (still interspersed with forested sectionsyou arent constantly exposed) after getting out of the Collegiates. And theyre just around the corner. This alternate shaves about a mile off of the official route. Colorado also hosts many road and mountain races. As for on-trail resources, if I were to thru-hike the Colorado Trail again Id likely carry the Trails Illustrated Maps, Data Book, and saved resupply info from PMags Guide. A technicolor array of big peaks and crags off in the not-too-far distance clues you in that youre still in the mountains. As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. Hiking and journeys life this are a part of his life. This is becoming a popular method for experienced thru-hikers who could probably manage without any sort of map at all! 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. With a total of 486 miles, the Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, each ranging from 7 to 27 miles. Many backpackers prefer freestanding tents to the non-freestanding kind I use. If youd like a more subjective take on thru-hiking the trail, check out my journal. A series of sharp climbs will get you up and over the ridge, going past several lovely alpine lakes along the way. Highlights include the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, which weighs just 2.9 ounces and will boil 1 L of water in 3 minutes, 23 seconds. It is not necessarily a hard trail, but between the distance and the elevation at Georgia Pass, it can be a challenging mountain bike ride or hike. Trail Magic or Angels are always a special treat to encounter on any thru-hike. 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. A great gravity option is the MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier. You should also note that I did not hike the Collegiate East, which is comprised of segments 11 - 15. Bikepacking is growing increasingly popular on the Colorado Trail. The Guidebook and Data Book also have useful maps tucked away in their pages. As I said above, this is entirely my opinion! For the Colorado Trail, there are 33 segments to the trail. 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. Youll duck in and out of these clusters of ancient trees, often swapping them for lush, grassy meadows and (especially in July) brilliant wildflowers. My base weight for my thru-hike is 16.06 pounds. Colorado Trail Segment 5 is by far the most pretty of the first 5 segments of the 485 trail. Ive never handled one and dont get the impression that its very useful. The Data Book has useful overview maps to follow your progress through each segment. We have hiked 14,000 footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a day. . 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. To accomplish this, you have to start sacrificing some comforts on the trail. There are no dogs, bicycles, horses, camping, etc. For more information various trailheads to access these sections, pick up a copy of the Official Guidebook. If youve had enough of high, exposed elevations and lightning, then go East. The first few miles of the climb out of Breck are hot and dry thanks to a wildfire that incinerated much of the slope. Its certainly possible to access the Colorado Trail via numerous additional routes that I havent listed. Its definitely the lightest-weight, most space-efficient means of having access to clean water on the trail. Most segments start and end at a road or trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote. As a whole, the Colorado Trail averages over 10,300 feet above sea level! 1.Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead, 2. 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. The segment is mostly through open fields, rolling hills and ends on beautiful Kenosha Pass which is littered with Aspen Trees. Start early in the morning and pack plenty of water. It is slightly anticlimacticjust more grass gently sloping away in every direction and a wooden sign to mark the significance of this place. 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). Consider taking a wilderness first-aid or outdoor survival course. Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. If youre looking for an ultralight pack, Id recommend checking out the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest Pack its got a 40L capacity and weighs in at just 1 pound, 14 ounces. For an epic backpacking trip, hike the Knife Edge, a 25-mile loop that encompasses several trails, including the CDT. Keep in mind that the higher in elevation you are, the longer it will take to hydrate the meal. Following a seven-mile, very gradual climb from Camp Hale (including several miles of smooth, gently-graded walking on a retired dirt forest road), youll reach Tennessee Pass and the end of Segment Eight. Theres one more big climb up to Molas Lake before you can catch a ride into Silverton on Highway 550 for a well-earned rest. Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado Distance: 25 miles Difficulty: strenuous Time allotment: 2-3 days For strong, acclimated backpackers, theres a couple of advantages to starting the trail from Durango. 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. After miles of fairly monotonous pasture walking, youre launched back into sensory overload in Segments 20 and 21. Segment CW04: Tincup Pass Road to Boss Lake Trailhead, 17. 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. 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. The highest sustained elevations occur closer to the trails western terminus, so most hikers choose to start their trip on the Denver side. It has 25 pages of info including first steps, where to go, how to find partners, weather and mapping resources, gear recommendations, and a whole lot more. 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