Now is the time to bust out that backpacking checklist. In order to power your phone, rechargeable headlamps, or other electronics on the trail you need a battery charger. Shortly after the campground, you cross Jefferson Creek around mile 75. This stretch is still pleasant in its own way, though. July has a higher incidence of lightning, but more wildflowers and more thru-hikers. 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. Dont forget all the accessories and extras that really round out your gear list. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. WINTER PARK 2009 2010 Winter Downhill ski resort trail map RESORT Colorado USA. The Colorado Trail is a 500-plus-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. It can also be fun to get creative with meal planning. The Beer Drinkers Guide to the Colorado Trail. 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. 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. Traditionally thru-hikers will hitchhike into towns for a shower, resupply, and a good meal. to Waterton Canyon. And using The Colorado Trail Databookandthe official hiking guidebook (more on these below), Im able to find locations where I can resupply. It was envisioned as a project to be completed in 1976 for Americas Bicentennial. Try to go over in the morning if you can to give yourself the best chance of avoiding afternoon storms. Feel free to contact me with additional questions. Kenosha Pass is probably the best place to view the changing aspens near Denver. They're also convenient bail-out points should something go wrong (i.e., injury or bad weather), and determine where hikers can resupply. Its unclear exactly where the conception of a trail from Denver to Durango first originated. Either way, there are a ton of lightweight backpacking tent options out there that will work great. These were our experiences from segments twenty-one through twenty-four of the Colorado Trail. 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. For an epic backpacking trip, hike the Knife Edge, a 25-mile loop that encompasses several trails, including the CDT. After the high point at 47.5 and descending for about a mile, youll start a very long, gradual, beautiful five-mile climb through a long valley thats fairly open and features many expansive views. Its a bit heavier at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, but Im willing to take on that extra weight. Claimed by many to be the most beautiful trail in America, the Colorado Trail is a 567-mile trail stretching across most of Colorado: from Durango to Denver. After Waterton, youll dip into scrubby trees and enjoy cooler temperatures and more abundant water for the next few miles. The trail climbs a lot in Seg 4, so show up ready to work. REI Unveils Trailmade Gear With More Inclusive Sizing & Design, The Best Adventure Motorcycles for 2023: Ride Everywhere. Mt. Segment 5 is 14.6 miles long with 1,858 feet of elevation gain. 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. 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. Be preparedthis trail hits 12,000 feet right around Cataract Basin. And if you dont, you can be at risk of falling victim to ailments like Rhabdo (look it up it isnt fun). Much has already been written in this guide about Segment 2, which starts at mile 16.5 at the South Platte River. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VAIL MOUNTAIN 2010 Summer Hiking Biking trail map RESORT Colorado USA at the best online prices at eBay! . The segment is mostly through open fields, rolling hills and ends on beautiful Kenosha Pass which is littered with Aspen Trees. Gudy never gave up, and the trail was officially completed in 1987. Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass Trailhead to Carson Saddle, 5. There are also websites such as the thru-hiking app farOut that offer base-weight calculators. This season I am using the Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Ultralight Backpack. The intent here is to help you get a ballpark idea of your resupply strategy. From Hope Pass one can continue to the Missouri Gulch trailhead and over Elkhead Pass, eventually picking up the Pine Creek Trail that leads east back to the official CT. From the pass youre within striking distance of three Fourteeners Missouri Mountain, Belford, and Oxford. Get geared up now so youre good to go this summer when the season is in full swing. 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. Simply add boiling water and wait. During the 2017 Colorado Trail Race the average amount of H.A.B (Hike-A-Bike) was about 70 miles. And it tastes pretty damn good too. About fifty so-called Fourteeners are in the state, and a few are within striking distance of The Colorado Trail. Many backpackers prefer freestanding tents to the non-freestanding kind I use. 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. Use this as a jumping-off point for the Colorado Trail, a 567-mile trek that stretches from Denver to Durango. Many people also simply bring iodine tablets, or chlorine to purify their water. For more information about specific services and hostels available in towns, check out Pmags guide. Segments 22-23 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). The trail is divided into 28 segments. Open full screen to view more. The Colorado Trail is broken down into 28 Segments. Rather than diving deeply into each individual segment, Im going to break down the main sections of the trail according to my own thru-hiking resupply strategy. Segment 20: Eddiesville Trailhead to San Luis Pass, 16. I am a photographer, after all. The best choice comes down to the conditions youll be using it in and personal preference. Segment 2: South Platte River Trailhead to Little Scraggy Trailhead, 23. 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. Segment 24 Georgia Pass was really the first time I felt like I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains on this trail. 4-6 miles. It appears to be formed in solid rock. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 2. READ NEXT Everything You Need to Know to Hike the Colorado Trail, Segments 1-3 Since storms tend to occur later in the day, its recommended to start early. This year Osprey updated its fan-favorite Aether and Ariel 55 bags. 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. If youve had enough of high, exposed elevations and lightning, then go East. In 2012 the Colorado Trail Foundation introduced the 83-mile Collegiate West route. But you need a good water purifier to drink the water. Completed in 1987, the Colorado Trail stretches 485 magnificent miles from Denver to Durango. 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.. However, its very beautiful and a lot of fun to hike. Start planning your trip! Just one more little climb after the Swan River Crossing (if you notice an incredible chorus of barking/howling along the way, its because youre passing a sled dog kennelan amazing sound depending on your frame of mind about these things) and then down to Highway 9 and the luxurious ski towns of Frisco and Breckenridge. Its equal parts warmth and comfort. There is a range of great first-aid kits to choose from. With extra time and energy Id consider doing an out-and-back trip up Missouri Gulch to do the nearby 14ers. This helps ensure that you wont run out of food and have meals planned well in advance. 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. I bought this prior to my thru-hike it ended up staying at home, and I later sold it after the hike. 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. Beside the San Juans, this area was the most scenic and enjoyable of my entire hike. 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. But planning ahead of time is essential to making sure your backcountry adventure goes off without a hitch. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Aspen Colorado Pin Vintage 2000 Snow Ski Trail Cut Backs Trees at the best online prices at eBay! and be aware that the only cure is to go back down! The i-Force MAX system may put out 340 horsepower and up to 400 lb-ft of torque, which would keep the Tacoma competitive with the new Ford Ranger and Chevolet Colorado on the performance front. The trail goes right by the resort after several miles of descent, so you can easily pop in for a bite to eat if you want. Divided into 28 segments, the trail end points are Denver and Durango. Consider something like the Facebook Group, Colorado Trail Thru-Hikers, where people who are planning to hike the trail and have hiked the trail in the past gather to ask questions and share information. Kenosha Pass Hiking Trails. You can ship it via USPS to a local post office. Segment 4: Rolling Creek Trailhead to Long Gulch, 21. Oh hey there! 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. OR you can continue to Missouri Gulch, a great option to bag some fourteeners. Mile for mile, this is the best major trail in America. Parking: I, admittedly, didnt do the most in-depth research on the trail beforehand (something Ive found to be pretty common amongst veteran thru-hikers, thankfully), and I really didnt have that much context on the segments and where they were and what was great or not great about them. The most popular activity when hiking in Colorado is to climb the peaks that are over 14,000 feet above sea level. Section Hiking and shuttle transportation info for The Colorado Trail. Either way, going with the flow is part of thru-hiking. I live near the Appalachian Trail and, like thousands of other people, I am section hiking it. With a total of 486 miles, the Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, each ranging from 7 to 27 miles. Vintage Vail Ski Pin Colorado Crossed . Its still full of cows, but much of the segment is in beautiful arid scrublands interspersed with shivering aspen forests, and the latter part of this stretch follows Cochetopa Creek as it meanders down a shrubby valley toward Eddiesville Trailhead. David has been writing about skiing, fly fishing, and outdoor gear for 10+ years. I hope you enjoy it! Once you have a medical kit, make sure to keep it well stocked and know how to use it. From there you can take a taxi or Uber, private shuttle, etc. 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. 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. No. There are no dogs, bicycles, horses, camping, etc. This also acts as a shorcut, shaving 3.5 off of the official route. Shes recognized as the Mother of the Colorado Trail and has received several honors for her efforts, including awards from both Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush. Segment 8: Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass, 14. Then you start the long climb up to the beautiful Georgia Pass. If you want to get a sense of what the Colorado Trail is actually like, this guide will tell you the basics for each section of the CT. Ive broken the CT down into smaller chunks that make sense to me based on my experience of the character of each section, so you can read your way through all 486 miles and learn about the sights, smells, and landmarks youre likely to encounter along the way. And tuna fish is a high-protein snack that can be mixed with some packages of mayo and relish and paired with crackers for a great lunch. Saddle, 5 down into 28 segments stretch is still pleasant in its own way, there are also such..., camping, etc into Silverton on Highway 550 for a shower, resupply, the! 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