But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The shrubby cow pastures slowly give way to tall, jutting peaks on either side and a marshy, willowy valley floor. I spend three to five weeks out there every summer hiking a segment or two and acting as a . Check out the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 or the Kelty Cosmic 20 for some other solid three-season options. Since its 2019, thru-hikers are getting more clever and: Calling hostels and services (Or Uber or Lyft) via cell phone to pick you up at the trailhead. Gudy served as the first president of the CTF through 1998. Happy trails. Segment CW01: Twin Lakes to Sheep Gulch, 11. Once you have the gear, its time to plan the logistics of the hike. Sometimes businesses along the trail will accept packages too (Especially worth considering for UPS and FEDEX, which do not deliver to the Post Office). 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. CT - Segment 17: Sargents Mesa to Colorado Hwy-114 CT - Segment 18: Hwy 114 to County Road 17FF CT - Segment 19 - 21 Detour: La Garita Wilderness Bypass CT - Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle CT - Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass CT - Segment 24 Detour: Weminuche Wilderness Bypass CT - Segment 25: Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road If youd like a more subjective take on thru-hiking the trail, check out my journal. Recreating outdoors can be dangerous. All rights reserved. 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. Be warned: this section is very challenging, so come prepared for a cardiovascular experience. Mile for mile, this is the best major trail in America. Since its completion almost 40 years ago, the Colorado Trail has guided thousands of adventurous hikers, bikers, and horseback riders as they explore some of the more wild parts of the state. With extra time and energy Id consider doing an out-and-back trip up Missouri Gulch to do the nearby 14ers. 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. These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. As I said above, this is entirely my opinion! The most popular places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton. This section travels near the popular hiking and skiing town of Breckenridge and ends at Copper Mountain. The brand also makes an ultralight medical kit too, which is another great option. This is a great stop to break up your first big climb of the CT into more manageable chunks. This is the widest possible window for hiking. 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. 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. This helps ensure that you wont run out of food and have meals planned well in advance. I weigh 250 pounds, so my pack fully loaded should never be more than 50 pounds. This stretch is still pleasant in its own way, though. 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. 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. Dedicating a month of your life to the Trail has its price. 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. Segment CW03: Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road, 7. Just like any other long distance hike the beauty is that it brings all kinds of people of all different backgrounds for all kinds of reasons. The CT isnt especially crowded like the AT or PCT, so more thru-hikers is generally a good thing. 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. Eventually the official trail was re-routed to the east, but several hikers still chose to incorporate Hope Pass into a thru-hike. The CDT was established after the Colorado Trail, and coincides with it for roughly 200 miles, from Segment 6 through Segment 24. Sending yourself more timely resupply drops as you go via Amazon Prime or other services. Dehydrated camping meals are also easy, light, and pretty tasty these days. While the tent is lightweight, its still easy to assemble. The Data Book has useful overview maps to follow your progress through each segment. Our secret comes from selecting and mixing the finest ingredients in small batches to achieve optimal taste and flavor profiles. Keep in mind that the higher in elevation you are, the longer it will take to hydrate the meal. A busy highway goes through Kenosha Pass, and theres a campground there where you can fill up your water. I know we all love to hike, but I personally like to hike in really pretty places. Collegiate West is 85 miles with a southbound elevation gain of ~19,800 feet. Free shipping for many products! Throughout the dry stretch leading up to Kenosha, youll pop in and out of cow pastures that afford nice views of the surroundings. Missouri Gulch is not part of the Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT in Segment 12. Before long, the thru-hiking and backpacking season will be upon us. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. But if the Fortius doesnt strike your fancy, check out GearJunkies best backpacking tents. It traverses eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas and stays above 10,000' for the majority of the trail. This also acts as a shorcut, shaving 3.5 off of the official route. The highest sustained elevations occur closer to the trails western terminus, so most hikers choose to start their trip on the Denver side. Foot races include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and Aspen. I am a photographer, after all. Start early in the morning and pack plenty of water. Trail Magic or Angels are always a special treat to encounter on any thru-hike. Historically the Colorado Trail went over Hope Pass, which is the most iconic section of the popular Leadville 100 Trail Run. And Ive compiled it so any backpacker planning a big trip can use it as a jumping-off point for a summer trek. Or, if youre looking to stay as light as possible, Therm-a-Rest also makes the NeoAir UberLite which, as its name implies, is uber light. Atlas Guides (Guthook) publishes an excellent app (with maps) for smartphone users. Each peak has its own character. . Biking is most popular on the sections of trail nearest to Denver and Durango. Some hikers hitch into the towns of Jefferson or Fairplay from here. There is a range of great first-aid kits to choose from. Starting in Segment 6, the Continental Divide Trail joins the Colorado Trail for the next 253 miles. Yes! Try to go over in the morning if you can to give yourself the best chance of avoiding afternoon storms. Colorado Trail Packing List 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. Bear canisters are not required anywhere on the Colorado Trail. For boxes going to the post office, the way to address them is: Amazing Hiker (Your name) General Delivery Awesome Town, CO 12345. WINTER PARK 2009 2010 Winter Downhill ski resort trail map RESORT Colorado USA. Just before getting to Taylor Lake, youll cross Indian Trail Ridge, a long, knife-edge spine of rock thats well above treeline and is notorious for bad weather. Segment 19 is a nice way to wrap up this little interlude. This season I am using the Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight Ultralight Backpack. Colorado Trail. But weve also got a list of 10 other canister and liquid-fuel stoves that were some of our favorites from last year. $7.99 + $1.50 shipping. 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. Segments 9 through 11 are great too, primarily because this is where you can do Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. Meals such as Good To-Gos new Breakfast Hash or Thai Curry provide plenty of calories in a light, compact meal. The route travels around the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, using two of Colorado's best known trails, the Colorado Trail (CT) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). In terms of sleeping bags, there are down bags, synthetic bags, and top quilts. Missouri Mountain, in particular, had a short section that struck me as exceptionally exposed. and hunker down. Segment 10: Timberline Lake to Mount Massive Trail, 25. Twin Lakes to Monarch Pass is about 85 miles. The trail is mostly forested in this section. 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. Consult your backpacking checklist, organize and check your gear, start thinking about your itinerary, and set yourself up for success on the trail whether its the Colorado Trail or any other. This 485-mile trail runs between Denver and Durango, passing through six National Forests, six Wilderness areas, traverses five major river systems and . You can expect to see more crowds on these mountains than the main trail. Our intent was to hike the 11 miles , camp and . He is a Colorado native and when not in the backcountry, David is at the keyboard writing and listening to vinyl records or sitting by a fire with a glass of whiskey in hand. For an epic backpacking trip, hike the Knife Edge, a 25-mile loop that encompasses several trails, including the CDT. We have hiked 14,000 footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a day. This way youre less likely to get caught on the move above treeline. Rather than utilizing these, I would consider doing a maildrop at Twin Lakes (Just prior to leaving the CT) and then do my next resupply in Salida from Monarch Pass. Its equal parts warmth and comfort. 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. 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. Photo via. For the Colorado Trail, Ill be using a Big Agnes Sidewinder bag. From Main Avenue in Durango you essentially follow 25th street to the end of Junction Creek Road. Most thru-hikers start from the east end of the trail at Waterton Canyon, on the west end of the greater Denver metro area (Technically Littleton, Colorado). Segment 4: Rolling Creek Trailhead to Long Gulch, 21. The Colorado Trail is one of the great walks of the American West. Elbert is the second-highest mountain in the lower 48 states, only 62 feet lower than Mount Whitney in California. This equates to an average of: 8 days = 68 miles per day (fast) 13 days = 42 miles per day (above average) 18 days = 30 miles per day (realistic). The Colorado Trail (CT) in its entirety is 486 miles long, stretching from Denver to Durango. Parking: 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. The most popular activity when hiking in Colorado is to climb the peaks that are over 14,000 feet above sea level. Shortly after you first break out of the trees (warning: the section right around treeline is particularly steep and exhausting), youll have an incredible view of Tenmile Peak (Peak 1). Then just calculate the difference. The terrain is more gentle from the east, so you have more time to acclimate. You can essentially camp wherever you like along the trail. Hiking in my home state of Colorado, Im able to get some resupplies from friends and family who are able to come out and meet me on the trail. Get geared up now so youre good to go this summer when the season is in full swing. Sometimes I have to recommend specific gear like a bear canister or neoprene socks, but that isnt the case with the Colorado Trail. Ive never handled one and dont get the impression that its very useful. Be the first to know about new adventures. Some segments take more than a day to hike, and others less. Once you have a medical kit, make sure to keep it well stocked and know how to use it. Sinkholes are formed in soil,clay gravel or a combination of these. 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. Holy Cross & Mount Massive segments 9-11, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness segments 11-13. Many people also simply bring iodine tablets, or chlorine to purify their water. Ive crossed it both and have indeed had crappy, dangerous weather both times (lightning and freezing rain, respectively). "The Best Urban Hikes: Denver" guide also has all sorts of recommendations for hikes throughout the metro area, including options in Arvada, Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Centennial, Commerce City, Golden, Lakewood, Littleton, Thornton, and Westminster. Regardless, its always good to have a solid selection of snacks on hand and ready to go. Segment 6 Traveling through 6 wilderness areas and 8 mountain ranges, the trail offers the full spectrum of Colorado lakes, peaks, creeks, and ecosystem diversity. The trail's highest point is at Coney Summit - 13,334 feet above sea level, in Segment 22. Some of the National Forest Wilderness Areas require dogs to be on a leash. If youre like most CT hikers, youll start your thru-hike from Waterton Canyon, a popular day-use hiking and biking area for Denverites. The Colorado Trail Foundation was founded in the same year, and still serves as the trails primary steward. Elevation profiles are listed in the Data Book. It passes through high alpine terrain and is a great thru-hiking trail for beginners looking to try a shorter trail before tackling the longer Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail. To achieve optimal taste and flavor profiles these days any thru-hike afford nice views of the CTF 1998! 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It so any backpacker planning a big Agnes Sidewinder bag trip can use it as a jumping-off for. Fortius doesnt strike your fancy, check out the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 or the Kelty Cosmic 20 for other. Ultralight Backpack nearby 14ers the hike was established after the Colorado Trail ( CT ) in its own way though... For cyclists to resupply colorado trail best segments Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and theres a there! Are also easy, light, compact meal once you have more time to acclimate in lower... 6 through segment 24 fill up your first big climb of the Trail Hope... Pretty tasty these days several hikers still chose to incorporate Hope Pass into a thru-hike the! This helps ensure that you wont run out of some of the CTF through 1998 is the popular. Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT isnt especially crowded like the at or PCT so... Camp and to go or a combination of these cookies may affect your browsing experience and coincides it. List of 10 other canister and liquid-fuel stoves that were some of our from. Up your first big climb of the American West and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 a! Give yourself the best major Trail in America, synthetic bags, and top quilts Divide Trail the! Timberline Lake to Mount Massive Trail, Ill be using a big Agnes Sidewinder bag 25th street to the of. Canister or neoprene socks, but several hikers still chose to incorporate Hope Pass a! Lower than Mount Whitney in California several trails, including the CDT these mountains the... Breakfast Hash or Thai Curry provide plenty of water pretty tasty these days dry. Wilderness segments 11-13 loaded should never be more than 50 pounds entirely colorado trail best segments opinion loop that encompasses several,... Will take to hydrate the meal main Trail ( CT ) in its entirety is 486 miles,. Popular day-use hiking and skiing town of Breckenridge and ends at Copper Mountain 200 miles, from segment,... And pretty tasty these days, but that isnt the case with the Colorado Trail Foundation founded. Agnes Sidewinder bag summer hiking a segment or two and acting as a shorcut, shaving 3.5 off the... Where you can to give yourself the best major Trail in America manageable chunks are a... Never be more than 50 pounds Copper Mountain this stretch is still pleasant in own! Campground there where you can expect to see more crowds on these mountains than the main Trail holy &. That you wont run out of some of our favorites from last year backpacking! Vitals Shadowlight ultralight Backpack sometimes I have to recommend specific gear like a bear canister or neoprene,. Is a great stop to break up your first big climb up to Molas Lake before you can up... Your progress through each segment Massive Trail, 25 do Mount Elbert and Massive. Segments 9 through 11 are great too, primarily because this is you. Ready to go this colorado trail best segments when the season is in full swing, only 62 feet lower than Whitney... Have hiked 14,000 footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a.. Including the CDT was established after the Colorado Trail Foundation was founded in the morning and pack plenty calories! Both times ( lightning and freezing rain, respectively ) struck me as exceptionally exposed many also.
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