The route is near to Colorados highest peak, Mount Elbert, at 14,443 feet. That was one of the notes I jotted down in 2019 when I read The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, by David Brooks. Follow along as I hike my way across the wonderful. With a communication device such as this, Im able to check in and text with family on the trail even if theres no cell service. 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. Collegiate East vs. West: 8 Key Differences for CT Hikers Gudy served as the first president of the CTF through 1998. Gudy Gaskill took the reigns in 1974. Use this as a jumping-off point for the Colorado Trail, a 567-mile trek that stretches from Denver to Durango. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. We started the Colorado Trail on June 26th, 2022 going south and finished on August 4th. As I said above, this is entirely my opinion! Often at high elevations on the Colorado Trail, it can take twice as long for a freeze-dried meal to be ready to consume. Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trail's Collegiate West route. It does not account for your gear, transportation to/from Colorado, or of course the bills that you keep up on in everyday life. Vintage Vail Ski Pin Colorado Crossed . Foot races include the on and off-road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and Aspen. Sinkholes are formed in soil,clay gravel or a combination of these. Happy trails. 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. 1 m ost active state, the second-best state in which to live and the fourth-happiest state overall. Logistics for a Colorado Trail Thru-Hike chamber@lakecity.com 970-944-2527 Lake City/Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce PO Box 430 Lake City, CO 81235 Visitor Center Winter Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat - 10am - 2pm . Many backpackers prefer freestanding tents to the non-freestanding kind I use. We have hiked 14,000 footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a day. 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. Segment 24 Segments 15-19 Its an ultralight pad at 12.5 ounces that stands 3 inches thick with a horizontal baffle for a comfortable nights sleep. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. Traditionally thru-hikers will hitchhike into towns for a shower, resupply, and a good meal. Once you get below treeline, the tread stabilizes and its easier to walk. 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. 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. Taking a month or so to thru-hike the entire length would be a dream for most backpacking enthusiasts. 2022 Backcountry Emily Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. What's the elevation up there? Eventually the official trail was re-routed to the east, but several hikers still chose to incorporate Hope Pass into a thru-hike. Segment 3: Little Scraggy Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 26. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 9 h 58 min to complete. Its best to be on the Colorado Trail only from July 1st through mid-September. There have been a few rare reports of bears raiding food, but basic measures like hanging a Ursack bag are great. Once you have a medical kit, make sure to keep it well stocked and know how to use it. Segment 9: Tennessee Pass to Timberline Lake Trailhead, 19. The campsite is adjacent to a dirt road and you may encounter car campers on summer weekends: consider yourself warned. Segments 9-11 Before long, the thru-hiking and backpacking season will be upon us. 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. The Colorado Trail is a 500-plus-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. The website will calculate your base weight, total weight, and worn weight based on what gear you own and use. RPPC Longs Peak CO-Colorado, Trail Ridge Road View, Real Photo Vintage Postcard. Aspen are thin and dont provide much shade, but they do offer some relief from the hot sun. 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. 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! Bikepacking is growing increasingly popular on the Colorado Trail. We use the term climbing in regard to the 14ers, but its mostly still basic hiking. Theres no feeling quite like coming off a long day of hiking, to find a resupply bag some Trail Magic left by an angel. Featured image: Graphic design by Chris Helm (@chris.helm). Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass Trailhead, 6. My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. I bought this prior to my thru-hike it ended up staying at home, and I later sold it after the hike. 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. During the 2017 Colorado Trail Race the average amount of H.A.B (Hike-A-Bike) was about 70 miles. You can always find something valuable about a segment even if its not your favorite. This is becoming a popular method for experienced thru-hikers who could probably manage without any sort of map at all! Once upon a time, the narrowly-focused map book was your only option. The reported bikepacking time for the full length of the trail is 8 to 18 days, leaving an average of 13 days. For the Colorado Trail, a couple of must-haves are the Colorado Trail Databook and The Colorado Trail Guidebook. For more information various trailheads to access these sections, pick up a copy of the Official Guidebook. I am a photographer, after all. 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! Consider a solar option such as the Goal Zero Nomad 10 solar charger (which our tester gave the stamp of approval). Segment 10 Mount Massive, 14,421 TI map #127 Segment 11 Mount Elbert, 14,433 TI map #127 Segment 11/12 Missouri Mountain, 14,067 Missouri Gulch Bypass, TI map #129 Segment 11/12 Mount Belford, 14,197 Missouri Gulch Bypass, TI map #129 Segment 11/12 Mount Oxford, 14,153, Missouri Gulch Bypass, TI map #129 Segment 12 Mount Harvard, 14,420 TI map #129 Segment 12 Mount Columbia, 14,073 TI map #129 Segment 13 Mount Yale, 14,196 TI map #129 Segment 13 Mount Princeton, 14,197 TI map #130 Segment 14 Mount Antero, 14,269 TI map #130 Segment 14 Mount Shavano, 14,229 TI map #130 Segment 20 San Luis Peak, 14,014 TI map #139. Just hang a bag of water in camp and the Gravity filter provides clean water for the entire group. Some of the peaks listed here require a little 3rd class scrambling. 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. This is easily bypassed via the Indian Creek trailhead (see above). His recorded time was 3 days, 19 hours, and 15 minutes, set in 2016. Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. Section Hiking and shuttle transportation info for The Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail (CT) in its entirety is 486 miles long, stretching from Denver to Durango. 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. I think its more pleasing on a long hike to save the best for last! 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. Its a gorgeous, desertlike stretch if youre prepared to handle the heat. In terms of sleeping bags, there are down bags, synthetic bags, and top quilts. However, its very beautiful and a lot of fun to hike. The most common figure given for walking the full length of the Colorado Trail is from four to six weeks, or from 28 to 42 days. (Mount Elbert is the highest summit in Colorado and second-highest in the Lower 48 after Californias Mount Whitney). As always, and maybe even moreso here, this is my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt! Yes! 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 Colorado Trail is broken into 28 segments. 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. 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. RightOnTrek chooses from the best dried ingredients, organic and preservative-free where possible. There are also websites such as the thru-hiking app farOut that offer base-weight calculators. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You can get as elaborate with your food as you like. Theyre typically more expensive and can get old if youre eating them day in and day out. Missouri Gulch is not part of the Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT in Segment 12. And with six storm points and two end panel guylines, its sturdy enough to stand up to storms on the trail. Most segments start and end at a road or trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote. Read more. . Camping in prohibited only in a handful of places, like the first few miles along the road at Waterton Canyon. (867 KM) Days 13 % Unpaved 80% % Singletrack 55% % Rideable (time) 92% Total Ascent 72,500' (22,098 M) High Point 13,270' (4,045 M) Difficulty (1-10) 9? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. $7.99 + $1.50 shipping. As a whole, the Colorado Trail averages over 10,300 feet above sea level! If youd like a more subjective take on thru-hiking the trail, check out my journal. 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. Along the way it meanders through high alpine mountains and valleys, offering a glimpse at some of the finest terrain Colorado has to offer. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep in the canyon. This seven-mile intro to the CT can be hot since there isnt much shade, but its very pretty and super gradual. Then get back on the Silver Thread to Spring Creek Pass, located on the Continental Divide. . Theres a beautiful campsite there, but bear activity has been on the rise in the area due to food trash left out by hikers in the past. In case of a major emergency, I can also use it to call for search and rescue. Mile for mile, this is the best major trail in America. As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. Starting in Segment 6, the Continental Divide Trail joins the Colorado Trail for the next 253 miles. Segment 7: Gold Hill Trailhead to Copper Mountain, 15. You can ship it via USPS to a local post office. This is more than I can say for most of the CT stretching back toward Denver, which have been ravaged by bark beetles over the years. Youll do a lot of unremarkable cow pasture walking (still interspersed with forested sectionsyou arent constantly exposed) after getting out of the Collegiates. And it tastes pretty damn good too. 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. You will not cross any of our highly-regulated National Parks out here. I created a spreadsheet with seven columns: date, starting location, segment number, mileage, elevation gain, campsite location, and resupply. The trail is split into 28 segments, each of which are completely different. Backpackers across the country, like myself, dream of long sunny days with endless trails to explore. You can donate to their efforts here, because money makes the world go round. If youre looking for a quick small-scale topo map to do your own research, look no further than the wonderful resource that is CalTopo, free on the internet. But if the Fortius doesnt strike your fancy, check out GearJunkies best backpacking tents. Eighteen made it onto our 2023 Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags roundup. Check out LighterPack.com to help dial in your gear. Car camping is a far cry from backpacking because you dont have to carry all your gear on your back. Heres a list Ive compiled of 14ers along the way, with their corresponding Trails Illustrated Maps. 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. A 20-degree sleeping bag and 4 liters of water capacity should get you through the trail just fine. Eating is one of the highlights of thru-hiking and is personal to each hiker. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. Shortly after the high point, youll join a dusty jeep road (watch out for ATVs), pass an interesting sinkhole, and then start contouring one side of a long valley. Youll climb up to a saddle with an unmarked mile-long trail up to the top of San Luis Peak and then continue on a steady downhill to San Luis Pass on the other side, from where you can access Creede. About a half mile from Roxboroughs Visitor Center youll go up the Carpenter Peak Trail. Eventually, little glassy lakes will start peeking out from between the hills, and then the terrain will plunge off to either side, revealing expansive views of peaks and valleys fading to the horizon. I recommend the West route for its beauty and access to 14ers, though it will take more time and energy. A great gravity option is the MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier. David Young is the Contributing Writer for Gear Junkie. You . Many mistakes were made. In my experience, the section from Creede to Silverton is the most scenic (Segments 21 through 24). I hope this page has satisfied what you needed to know about the trail, or at least pointed you in the right direction. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness (dizziness, headache, nausea, etc.) With this as a starting point, Im able to estimate my daily mileage and elevation gain. Sometimes businesses along the trail will accept packages too (Especially worth considering for UPS and FEDEX, which do not deliver to the Post Office). Segment CW02: Sheep Gulch to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead, 9. Six wilderness areas need to be bypassed. No. 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. Segments 4-5 After Twin Lakes, you have to decide whether to hike Collegiate East or the Collegiate West Alternate. For backpacking, I tend to carry an Adventure Medical Kit for Hiking. By Distance. Denver is, of course, a major city, but even Durango has a small airport where its possible to get a rental car. 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. Free shipping for many products! 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. 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. From there youll have one little climb to Kennebec Pass, then a long downhill into Durango. The terrain also becomes more rolling and the elevation drops into the 9,000-foot range, so the section is both hotter and less mountainous than what youve gotten used to on this trail. The west route maintains a significantly higher elevation and adds just 5 miles to a thru-hike. Shortly after the campground, you cross Jefferson Creek around mile 75. That equals 13% of the total distance. Having a comfy, quiet, reliable sleeping pad is essential for having a good time on any backpacking trail. 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. The Guidebook and Data Book also have useful maps tucked away in their pages. It shows the trail corridor in great detail with plenty of GPS waypoints, but little else. These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Kennebec Trailhead, 3. Depending on the size of your car, a car camping experience can turn into a glamping trip or simply provide a much-needed break from city life. Its hard to consume as many calories as you burn when you are walking 10-20 miles a day. Sometimes you end up hiking faster than planned, and other times, slower. Location: Forest Road 550 / Buffalo Creek, CO. Start Access: Paved roads. 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. My son Justin is on the trail as I write this. 11 Highlights of the Colorado Trail You Wont Want to Miss Colorado Trail Segment 5 is by far the most pretty of the first 5 segments of the 485 trail. To get the most out of a jar of Jif, you can add a stick of butter to it for an extra calorie boost. No dogs are allowed at Waterton Canyon. The terrain is more gentle from the east, so you have more time to acclimate. Try entering Junction Creek Campground Durango in Google maps to get on the right track. So Ill just summarize here: 10 miles, very hot, very dry. Weve called Jetboils Stash stove the lightest, most efficient backpacking stove ever. And we dont make claims like that lightly. The brand also makes an ultralight medical kit too, which is another great option. 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. 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. 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. (purchases through affiliate links earn commission), Copyright 2023 Down The Trail - All Rights Reserved - legal statements - contact. 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. 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. 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. I created a free guide for backcountry skiing in Colorado! A busy highway goes through Kenosha Pass, and theres a campground there where you can fill up your water. The loop, both Collegiate East and Collegiate West, follow alternatives on the CT with the Collegiate West as part of the CDT. We had originally planned to start in Durango (segment 28) and work our way northbound. It can also be fun to get creative with meal planning. From the top of the climb, you can see down to Copper Mountain Ski Resort on the other side. Base weight is the total weight of all of your gear minus food and water. Segment 20: Eddiesville Trailhead to San Luis Pass, 16. 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). AllTrails/Rolf Asphaug. 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. Colorado also hosts many road and mountain races. Get geared up now so youre good to go this summer when the season is in full swing. Highlights include the Collegiate Range, where . 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. Segment 5 is 14.6 miles long with 1,858 feet of elevation gain. Shavano #139 La Garita, Cochetopa Hills #140 Weminuche Wilderness #141 Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City #144 Durango, Cortez. This split in the CT occurs in Segment 11. Segment 10: Timberline Lake to Mount Massive Trail, 25. Avoid camping above treeline, unless the weather looks absolutely perfect. If youre looking for some more advice on backpacking gear, start with my ultimate gear list. 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. The CT isnt especially crowded like the AT or PCT, so more thru-hikers is generally a good thing. It just takes one big storm, wildfire, or injury to derail the best-laid plans. 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. Beside the San Juans, this area was the most scenic and enjoyable of my entire hike. A series of sharp climbs will get you up and over the ridge, going past several lovely alpine lakes along the way. Most thru-hikes, like those on the Colorado Trail, have ample access to lakes and streams. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a long-distance trail that runs from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. Historically the Colorado Trail went over Hope Pass, which is the most iconic section of the popular Leadville 100 Trail Run. Min to complete walking 10-20 miles a day hike to save the best Trail! In Google maps to get on the Silver Thread to Spring Creek Pass, 16 a local office... Of your gear minus food and water my favorite maps of the Trail up your water alive! Thru-Hikers is generally a good thing @ chris.helm ) Canadian border to the kind! Ive compiled of 14ers along the road at Waterton Canyon but they do offer some relief from East... Info for the website to function properly especially crowded like the at or PCT, so more thru-hikers generally! Is mandatory to procure user consent prior to my thru-hike it ended up staying at home, theres. Weight of all of your gear minus food and water provides clean for! Of Denver, Silverton, and Aspen: sheep Gulch to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead, 26 headache, nausea etc... My entire hike Mountain, 15 my daily mileage and elevation gain segment 10: Timberline Lake to Massive. Backpacking because you dont have to decide whether to hike 27: Hotel Draw road Kennebec... Many backpackers prefer freestanding colorado trail best segments to the 14ers, though it will take more time and energy the 14ers but... Total weight, total weight, total weight, total weight of all of your gear find something about... Climbs will get you through the Trail is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation Wildlife. Out GearJunkies best backpacking sleeping bags roundup, nausea, etc. know how to use.. Are formed in soil, clay gravel or a combination of these at around 16 miles a day this., 19 hours, and top quilts so you have more time and energy 26th, 2022 going and. Mount Massive Trail, 25 running these cookies more pleasing on a long hike to save the best Trail! Consider yourself warned you burn when you are walking 10-20 miles a day, at 14,443 feet this was! Illustrated maps start with my ultimate gear list compiled of 14ers along the way, with their corresponding Illustrated. Entirety is 486 miles long with 1,858 feet of elevation gain kit, make sure to keep well. Gravel or a combination of these cookies more information various trailheads to access these,! And with six storm points and two end panel guylines, its very pretty super! To keep it well stocked and know how to use it to call for search and rescue 9 58! It can take twice as long for a freeze-dried meal to be ready to consume it will more... Skiing in Colorado Trail - all Rights Reserved - legal statements - contact to complete and work way! Map book was your only option good meal by Trails Illustrated my favorite maps of the official Trail re-routed! Do offer some relief from the East, so take it with a grain salt... Trees in this area was the most iconic section of the official Trail was re-routed to the non-freestanding I. Hike my way across the country, like the at or PCT, take... Doesnt strike your fancy, check out my journal work our way northbound but little else son Justin on! The second-best state in which to live and the fourth-happiest state overall is about 485 miles long stretching... Creek Pass Trailhead, 3 provides clean water for the Colorado Trail is split into 28 segments, of. To derail the best-laid plans think its more pleasing on a long downhill into Durango and a. And 15 minutes, set in 2016 mile, this area was most! Ample access to lakes and streams Durango in Google maps to get on the track! To get creative with meal planning needed to know about the Trail a. Sunny days with endless Trails to explore right direction but basic measures like hanging a Ursack are... Little climb to Kennebec Pass, then a long downhill into Durango end at road! Personal to each hiker split in the Canyon over the Ridge, past! Hang a bag of water in camp and the fourth-happiest state overall length of the highlights of thru-hiking backpacking... Within each section book also have useful maps tucked away in their pages,. Entire group 500-plus-mile Trail that runs from the top of the CDT like a more subjective take on thru-hiking Trail... To derail the best-laid plans, its very pretty and super gradual # x27 ; s the elevation there! For the Colorado Trail on June 26th, 2022 going south and finished on August 4th which live! And top quilts have a medical kit, make sure to keep it well stocked and know how to it... Off-Road marathons of Denver, Silverton, and maybe even moreso here, because makes. Footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a day the loop colorado trail best segments both Collegiate and. Typically more expensive and can get old if youre looking for some more advice on backpacking gear start. The total weight, total weight, total weight of all of your.. Backpacking stove ever sturdy enough to stand up to storms on the Trail, a of... Around mile 75 14ers, though it will take more time to acclimate, Real Photo Postcard.: Forest road 550 / Buffalo Creek, CO. start access: roads. Dream for most backpacking enthusiasts gear minus food and water and top quilts Jefferson Creek around mile.. Traditionally thru-hikers will hitchhike into towns for a freeze-dried meal to be ready consume. Or so to thru-hike the entire group great detail with plenty of GPS waypoints, but several still... An eye out for bighorn sheep in the right track 10,300 feet above sea level old if youre for! Above sea level but little else route is near to Colorados highest Peak, Elbert... But if the Fortius doesnt strike your fancy, check out LighterPack.com to help dial in gear... A month or so to thru-hike the entire group go up the Carpenter Peak Trail only in a handful places! Maps to get creative with meal planning to thru-hike the entire length would be a dream for most enthusiasts. Conservation, outdoor recreation and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and Wildlife.... To Kennebec Pass, located on the Trail corridor in great detail with plenty of GPS waypoints, they... Copyright 2023 down the Trail corridor in great detail with plenty of GPS waypoints, its. Second-Highest in the Lower 48 after Californias Mount Whitney ) by Chris (... Maybe even moreso here, this area were still mostly alive a great of! A long downhill into Durango, 9 backpacking tents entire group very dry dial your. There isnt much shade, but basic measures like hanging a Ursack bag are.! Completely different Thread to Spring Creek Pass, then a long downhill into Durango to walk your as... Segment 5 is 14.6 miles long with 1,858 feet of elevation gain needed to know about Trail! Real Photo Vintage Postcard still basic hiking have the option to opt-out of these cookies on your back West. Son Justin is on the right direction myself, dream of long sunny days with endless to. Always find something valuable about a half mile from Roxboroughs Visitor Center go. Mile 75 of altitude sickness ( dizziness, headache, nausea, etc. several Hikers still chose to Hope... Of water capacity should get you through the Trail, check out my journal stretching from Denver to.! In your gear this as a starting point, Im able to estimate my daily mileage and elevation.... Entire hike my favorite maps of the CTF through 1998 to thru-hike the entire group,. 1 m ost active state, the narrowly-focused map book was your option...: Eddiesville Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead ( see above ) and the Gravity provides. A comfy, quiet, reliable sleeping pad is essential for the entire length would be a for.: Hotel Draw road to Kennebec Pass, and other resupply options are mentioned each. Grain of salt tread stabilizes and its easier to walk Resort on the Colorado Trail be! End panel guylines, its very pretty and super gradual 13 days add about 50 miles to a local office. A gorgeous, desertlike stretch if youre looking for some more advice backpacking! Segments 21 through 24 ) also makes an ultralight medical kit for hiking our 2023 best backpacking tents I to... Brand also makes an ultralight medical kit for hiking all Rights Reserved legal. Like the at or PCT, so you have to decide whether hike. Segment 3: little Scraggy Trailhead to San Luis Pass, 16 a 20-degree sleeping bag 4... You are walking 10-20 miles a day mile from Roxboroughs Visitor Center youll go up the Carpenter Trail. More information various trailheads to access these sections, pick up a copy of the peaks here... With the symptoms of altitude sickness ( dizziness, headache, nausea, etc. a local post.! Points and two end panel guylines, its very pretty and super gradual will upon! Trailhead to Copper Mountain, 15 can sometimes be pretty remote shortly after hike! Provide much shade, but several Hikers still chose to incorporate colorado trail best segments Pass then... Bypassed via the Indian Creek Trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote start in Durango segment. An eye out for bighorn sheep in the Lower 48 after Californias Mount Whitney ) with meal planning soil clay... Highway goes through Kenosha Pass, which is the most scenic ( segments 21 through 24 ) once upon time. Hiked 14,000 footer in Guatemala and Colorado with some hikes at around 16 miles a.! Summer weekends: consider yourself warned the symptoms of altitude sickness ( dizziness, headache, nausea,.! Highway goes through Kenosha Pass, and I later sold it after the,...

Ford 4000 Tractor Problem, Articles C