https://coloradotrail.org/blog/ EXPECT A TRAIL EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO COVID-19. HOW? TOO HARD TO TELL. BUSINESSES WILL NOT ACCEPT MAILDROPS (CALL AHEAD!), DIFFICULT HITCHES OR SHUTTLES, OR OTHER CHANGES TBD. MANY AT THE LAST MINUTE? PLEASE SEE THE COLORADO TRAIL FOUNDATION BLOG FOR DETAILS AS OF APRIL 28 . FURTHER UPDATES AT

Guide Sections

About The Colorado Trail and the “End to End” Guide

Note: This guide has been, and always will be, free. I’ve been asked why I don’t charge for it. Why? Because this guide is a labor of love and I enjoy giving back. However, if you like this guide and find it useful, This guide has been, and always will be, free. I’ve been asked why I don’t charge for it. Why? Because this guide is a labor of love and I enjoy giving back. However, if you like this guide and find it useful, consider donating to The Colorado Trail Foundation. They do astounding work maintaining, protecting and promoting the trail. If you can hike a 500-mile long trail, you can also donate a few bucks to a great group.

The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile footpath that starts in the foothills just outside of Denver and extends through to the majestic and rugged San Juans. In between those two points are sweeping views, gorgeous wildflowers and an experience in the mountains you will not forget.

While this handout will help you prepare for the basics on a journey of this trail, it is not the only item you need for information to complete The Colorado Trail. As always, you should consult with other resources before heading out on an extended trek in the mountains.

Revised July 2020

The Colorado Trail at Glance

Want to know the major details about The Colorado Trail?. Here are the particulars in a nutshell:

The official length of trail is 485 miles

Northeastern terminus just outside of Denver in Waterton Canyon State Park

Southwestern terminus just outside of Durango, CO

Highest official point is 13240 ft

Lowest point is 5520 ft

According to the latest figures, The Colorado Trail averages 10347′ throughout its length!

The CDT and The Colorado Trail share the same treadway for 234 miles; over 300 if you take the Collegiate West option.

It takes most hikers 4-6 weeks to hike the trail.

Five weeks are a very average pace.

Well marked and easy to follow (by Western trail standards)

Horses and mountain bikers (in non-wilderness areas) are also allowed in addition to hikers

The Colorado Trail map from The Colorado Trail Foundation.

The window for hiking The Colorado Trail is relatively narrow. Generally speaking, the window for hiking the CT is no earlier than mid-late June (depending on snow pack) and ending no later than late September/ early October. Before mid-late June there is generally too much snow in the high country even in a lower snow year; after late September/early October there is a very great chance there will be a snowstorm where the snow will accumulate and not melt the following day.

For the increasing amount of people hiking the Colorado Trail from out-of-state, July 1st or later is a safe date to plan in advance for a start. I would not count on mid-late June and earlier. For more information, see what Bill Manning , Executive Director of The Colorado Trail Foundation, wrote.

Here’s a very detailed and statistic based Colorado Trail “Class of 2016” post. The post has some fantastic information that should be read as well.

If you are Denver-bound, the hiking season can be extended about 1 week or so as you will be in the lower elevations at the end of the trail.

This time frame is just a rule of thumb that can change depending upon snow pack, hiking pace, rate of snow melt and an early winter. The rule of thumb is pretty accurate, however. This link from The Colorado Trail Foundation may be useful as well. Another very useful site is the SNOTEL snow pack update for Colorado.

Hiking The Colorado Trail During the Summer Pros Cons More daylight for hiking More people Generally warmer weather Lightning danger Wildflowers are in full bloom May be too much snow in a high snow year, esp. if start in mid-June Water is flowing well (generally) More insects Monsoon season in ~mid-July to ~mid-late August. Lots of torrential downpours in the afternoon.

Hiking The Colorado Trail During the Fall PROS CONS Cool crisp weather Less daylight Fewer people Always a chance of freak snowstorm Aspen are changing, gorgeous! In a low snow year water flowing less Elks bugling Colder at night Less danger of lightning

(Note: Fall generally comes to The Colorado high country by late August)

Now, with changing weather patterns, the above rules of thumb are getting skewed. As I type this note, it is Sept 8, 2013. Still 90+ F days in the foothills with frequent afternoon t-storms as well. Very unusual and, if the hot and dry patterns hold going forward in the years ahead, hard to tell what is in store! Monsoon season may be off, possibly more wildfires and a prolonged Fall/later winter. We’ll see what Ma Nature does. That’s about all we can do. 🙂

General Safety

The trail itself: The Colorado Trail is very well-marked for a western trail. Navigation is easy, the weather hazards (see below) are quickly dealt with some prior planning and the trail is logistically easy. A great trail for a first long hike and/or to get a western trail experience! For recent updates on the trail itself, be sure to check out The CTF webpage with current trail conditions.

Hiking solo: Enough people are hiking The Colorado Trail, especially in July and August, it will be very easy to hike with others if so desired. There is a community on the trail and in towns. You will see fellow CT travelers along the way. If you absolutely want a solo experience, hiking towards fall would be best.

Hitching: Hitching into town to resupply is usually needed. Along the CT corridor, locals are very used to CT hikers and obtaining a ride is usually not an issue. If you do not feel comfortable solo hitchhiking, and don’t have a formal partner, you can usually partner up with someone as the town gets closer. Also, asking at the trailhead for a ride usually works too. It should be noted that more local businesses in towns are offering shuttle options, too.

Mobile device coverage: For the stretch from Denver to Copper Mountain (with the exception of Lost Creek Wilderness) mobile device coverage can be OK to excellent. Outside of this segment, mobile device coverage is spotty. Obviously, do not depend upon a cell phone for safety. Even in known good coverage areas, cell phone coverage can be spotty at times. At some high points and near busy roads into town will be best overall regardless of location. This link for cell phone coverage will give more coverage info and for your particular carrier.

About lightning: Lightning is the fact of nature many CTers have the most concern. During The Colorado summer, thunderstorms start brewing around 1 or so in the afternoon and go until late afternoon. Almost like clockwork! When planning your mileage for the day, try to keep this fact in mind. Ma Nature doesn’t always stick to this schedule, but she sure is consistent about if for the most part!

About “Da Bears”: While there are black bears on The Colorado Trail, they are not even as remotely aggressive as their High Sierra cousins. The black bears tend to stick to the valleys and are not habituated to backpackers like their Sierra cousins. A bear canister is an overkill (IMO); standard bear precautions should be plenty. At this time, bear canisters not required on The Colorado Trail

The exception for bear precautions on The Colorado Trail is new as of August 2016.

Nicely summed up by Jerry Brown of Bear Creek Survey:

Hikers need to be aware that the USFS has just enacted new restrictions regarding food storage which is in effect for San Isabel and Pike National Forests. This affects both the CDT and CT where they cross popular car camping roads. The regulation requires that food be stored in hard canisters or hung 10 feet above ground 4′ from the trunk of the tree. No consideration is given for Ursacks, so I think they will need to be hung within the described zones. The zones are 1/2 mile wide (1/4 mile on each side of the roads.) Roads included are Halfmoon, Winfield, Hancock, Cottonwood, Mt. Princeton/ Chalk Creek, and Buffalo Creek/ Little Scraggy on the CT. These restrictions include portions of both the Collegiate East and West routes for the CT.

For most hikers of The Colorado Trail, the primary place impacted will be the popular USFS Bootleg campground near Princeton Hot Springs. As of Sept 2017, there is a bear box in the camp for food storage.

CORSAR card?: Despite popular misconceptions, the CORSAR (Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search And Rescue) card is not insurance. The CORSAR card is essentially a charitable donation to help defray the cost of training and rescues for the hard-working SAR groups in Colorado. No surprise, these SAR groups are very busy in Colorado. A good card to buy to help out a bit.

SOUTHWEST vs. NORTHEAST on The Colorado Trail Southwest / Durango Bound Starting from Denver eases a hiker into the higher elevations, starts off more gentle, more options to bail out if you need some RnR. You also get to end in the San Juans; a much more scenic ending than Waterton Canyon. Due to the elevation factor, this method is preferred for people from outside of Colorado. Durango has fewer transportation options to get back home vs. Denver.

Northeast / Denver Bound: You do face some of the hardest terrain and higher elevation right away, end in the more subtle Waterton Canyon. End of trip will prove to be easy terrain wise. If you start late in the season, going

Denver-bound extends the window of hiking by one or two weeks to early-mid October depending on that season’s weather conditions. Ending in Denver is also much easier logistically to get back home vs Durango.

Starting in Denver

There are three popular places to start the Colorado Trail from Denver.

The Official Start – Waterton Canyon

Waterton Canyon is the official Denver terminus of The Colorado Trail

Details here….

Waterton Canyon is perhaps the logistically easiest of the three popular starts, is the official trail terminus and allows the CT hiker to ease into the trail gently. Seeing the bighorns at the dam is always a treat, too.

This start does not allow dogs or camping, however. It is also essentially a wide dirt road, and a is a very popular trail running/biking/fishing area so not the most remote feeling start.

The Dog-Friendly Start – Indian Creek Trail

Have a dog and do not want to skip ahead to segment two? You could do this dog-friendly alternate (with somewhat hard logistics).

If you wish to have long-term parking for this alternate, for Denver in general, here’s some info posted online:

If you’re starting at Indian Creek TH, parking in Sedalia might be convenient for you. Maybe phone Sedalia RV Storage (303) 688-3842, owner Jim Sikora, and get a price quote etc. There are many other RV storage places where you might also inquire but some won’t take cars.

Other people have confirmed that this is a good option. As of June 2014, they charge $38/mo .

Besides allowing dogs, the alternate start has a campground at the start of the alternate and camping is allowed along the way.

The Scenic Alternate – Roxborough State Park

Another alternate start could be to take this alternate not far from Waterton Canyon . Roxborough State Park does not allow camping or dogs but is an interesting and scenic alternative. Take trail #800 to hook on The Colorado Trail again. It hooks up again just after Waterton Canyon at Lenny’s Rest.

Here’s a little report I wrote about it. Makes a nice way to start The Colorado Trail. (With some caveats: There is an entrance fee, no overnight parking, no camping, no horses, no MTBikes, or dogs)

If you do not find a shuttle (see below), you can get there via these instructions:

Rail from airport to Union Station –

walk to the nearby light rail station on 16th Street mall. Take Light Rail to Mineral – Littleton station

Take a taxi to Roxborough State Park (~$35). Uber or Lyft is an option as well.

Excellent overview of the three alternates via The Colorado Trail Foundation.

Starting from Durango? See below!

Guidebooks

The following are good Guidebooks for The Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail: The Official Guidebook, Ninth Edition. By The Colorado Trail Foundation The book is nNow available in Kindle format.

New for the 2016 trail season, this is the most up-to-date, official CT Guidebook.This book covers the entire Colorado Trail, all 567 miles between Denver and Durango, including Segments 1-28 plus CW01-CW05. This is the first edition that covers both the CT Collegiate East and CT Collegiate West. It helps you plan your CT excursions, can guide you on the trail, and is particularly well-suited to have either in an automobile or at home. It is your official resource for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and bicycling The Colorado Trail.Maps in this guidebook show near-the-trail roads. Travel directions are also provided for each major trail access point. This road coverage is almost essential for the automobile portions of many excursions, including the car trips done by segment travelers and rendezvous between users and support people.

New for the 2016 trail season, this is the most up-to-date, official CT Guidebook.This book covers the entire Colorado Trail, all 567 miles between Denver and Durango, including Segments 1-28 plus CW01-CW05. This is the first edition that covers both the CT Collegiate East and CT Collegiate West. It helps you plan your CT excursions, can guide you on the trail, and is particularly well-suited to have either in an automobile or at home. It is your official resource for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and bicycling The Colorado Trail.Maps in this guidebook show near-the-trail roads. Travel directions are also provided for each major trail access point. This road coverage is almost essential for the automobile portions of many excursions, including the car trips done by segment travelers and rendezvous between users and support people. The Colorado Trail: The Trailside Databook, Seventh Edition. By The Colorado Trail Foundation The Colorado Trail’s equivalent to the AT databook. Compact enough for a good-sized cargo pocket. Ounce for ounce and dollar for dollar, the most valuable guidebook for the CT. The 7th edition is completely revised with basic maps showing side trails, has excellent “quick and dirty” resupply info, water info, campsite info and gives details for the Collegiate West alternates, including the mileage and resupply info, and has information on bike detours for wilderness areas. The 7th edition is waterproof and is slightly buliker and heavier versus previous versions.

Jackie “Yogi” McDonnell now has a Colorado Trail Handbook similar to her PCT and CDT handbooks. More detailed info on pre- trail planning and very detailed information for the towns. Useful if you are new to long distance hiking and need help with what gear to bring, how to do mail drops and so on and/or like more extensive information about towns and resources avail.

The Colorado Trail planner is a new resource that will assist in planning your hike as well. Crunches those numbers easier!

Maps:

The following represent a wide range of map resources for The Colorado Trail.

The guidebook, databook, and map book can be ordered from The Colorado Trail Foundation. Many bookstores in Colorado have the guidebook and data book. Amazon and other online resources also carry the guidebook.

Trails Illustrated maps can be found at www.trailsillustrated.com and many local outfitting stores in Colorado. If you decide to use the TI maps, you will need the following to cover the whole trail.

#104 Idaho Springs/Loveland Pass #105 Tarryall Mountains/Kenosha Pass #108 Vail/Frisco/Dillon #109 Breckenridge/Tennessee Pass #110 Leadville/Fairplay #126 Holy Cross/Reudi Reservoir #127 Aspen/Independence Pass #129 Buena Vista/Collegiate Peaks #130 Salida/St. Elmo/Shavano Peak #135 Deckers/Rampart Range #139 La Garita/Cochetopa #140 Weminuche Wilderness #141 Silverton/Ouray/Telluride/Lake City #144 Durango/Cortez



Note: These maps are not in trail order and are listed in the numerical order as put forth by National Geographic/Trails Illustrated. The trail winds in and out of some of these maps and would be cumbersome to list in trail order versus the number order that is more convenient for purchasing. The Colorado Trail guidebook lists the appropriate map to use for each section.

New for Summer 2017 is the NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps that over The Colorado Trail North and The Colorado Trail South. A good compromise between details, an overview beyond the trail corridor, and weight. At ~$30, an affordable alternative as well.

GPS Waypoints: For those who wish to enter waypoints for their GPS and do not wish to manually enter them, Bear Creek Survey has their waypoints avail for downloading to your GPS

Not sure what resources to take? From what I can tell, here are the most popular resources in terms of use:

The Colorado Trail Databook is, in my opinion, the most useful purchase

is, in my opinion, the most useful purchase My guide for basic town and mileage info seems to be well used

for basic town and mileage info seems to be well used The Guthook App for The Colorado Trail navigation. A smart device has largely replaced a dedicated GPS for consumer-level use. Uses the Bear Creek Maps.

for The Colorado Trail navigation. A smart device has largely replaced a dedicated GPS for consumer-level use. Uses the Bear Creek Maps. Yogi’s Guide for those who want the more detailed town and logistic info. Lots of ideas, tip, and advice from CT hikers if you are new to long distance hikes, as well.

for those who want the more detailed town and logistic info. Lots of ideas, tip, and advice from CT hikers if you are new to long distance hikes, as well. The Colorado Trail Guide for pre-trail planning, trailhead info, and post-trail recollection. Very useful if section hiking as the trailhead directions are very detailed.

for pre-trail planning, trailhead info, and post-trail recollection. Very useful if section hiking as the trailhead directions are very detailed. Bear Creek Maps for those who like print maps or PDFs for their mobile devices.

for those who like print maps or PDFs for their mobile devices. New for Summer 2017 are the NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps that cover The Colorado Trail North and The Colorado Trail South. A good compromise between details, an overview beyond the trail corridor, and weight. At ~$30, an affordable alternative as well. Note that GAIA GPS app has these maps via their NatGeo layer, too

maps that cover and A good compromise between details, an overview beyond the trail corridor, and weight. At ~$30, an affordable alternative as well. Note that app has these maps via their NatGeo layer, too Less used: Other alternate resources for data books, alt routes or planning

If I personally did the CT again? I’d take the databook, The Colorado Trail North and The Colorado Trail South maps, and would have my town info saved to a mobile device. I’m an experienced Colorado hiker so I would not need Yogi’s guide and I feel comfortable enough with the navigation that II would not need the Atlas (Guthook) CT app.

Permits: No permits are needed to hike The Colorado Trail. In some areas, such as the Holy Cross Wilderness, there is a self-signed permit station when entering the wilderness areas. There is no charge for this permit.

However, starting in the summer of 2020, you’ll need a fishing license to traverse segment 12 of the Collegiate East. “CT Segment 12 travelers will need a valid fishing or hunting license or risk being fined, typically $100, though authorities indicate they’ll get more serious with fines starting in 2021.” Please see the Colorado Trail Foundation blog for more details.

Collegiate West Alternate

As of 2013, there is a higher alternate route on The Colorado Trail that takes in the existing Continental Divide National Scenic Trail through the Collegiate Peaks. This route is the same length as the current CT (~80 miles) through this section but offers a higher ridge walk alternative that many people may find interesting. Alpine lakes, ridge walks, and above treeline views are to be found. See below for more info.

Collegiate West vs. Collegiate East?

On The Colorado Trail, there are two “designated” alternates that are the same mileage roughly. Between Twin Lakes and Monarch Pass, the CT splits for ~80 miles between the two Collegiate routes.

Which option to hike?

The Collegiate West option is more scenic, more remote feeling and is on or near the Continental Divide. Simply stunning. However, it is more exposed

option is more scenic, more remote feeling and is on or near the Continental Divide. Simply stunning. However, it is more exposed The Collegiate East is the older and lower version of the CT. Best if the weather is going to be iffy, don’t enjoy the high elevation as much and want something less remote.

This post from the FKT Proboards by Eric Truhe nicely sums up the stat differences between the Collegiate East and the Collegiate West options:

For CT East versus CT West clarification, according to the CT Guidebook (9th Edition): The CT via the CT East is 484.6 miles with 87,645 feet of climbing (Durango to Denver) The CT via the CT West is 489.7 miles with 89,665 feet of climbing (Durango to Denver) Specifically:

The CT East section is 78.1 miles with 15,038 feet of climbing (south to north)

The CT West section is 83.2 miles with 17,058 feet of climbing (south to north) Thus, the CT West section is 5.1 miles longer with 2,020 feet more climbing (south to north) However, it is important to note that the 78.1 mile CT East section is at an average elevation of 9K-10K feet, while the 83.2 mile CT West section is at a much higher average elevation of 11K-12K feet. While the CT East route does top out above 11K feet a few times, the CT West route has whole sections that run above 12K feet (for example, the CT West route has a 15-mile section that runs between 12K-13K feet)! The CT “West” route could be more aptly named the CT “direct” as it goes through the Collegiate Peaks mountains, rather than around to the “West.” The higher mileage, climbing, and average elevation, make the CT West route more challenging (and in my opinion, more aesthetically pleasing) than the CT East route.

My 2017 Collegiate Loop hike also has some photos that contrast the two routes.

Budget

How much will it cost to take a hike on The Colorado Trail?

That is a question with many different answers depending on your hiking style, length of trip, how many town stops you go on, cost of transportation to the trail, etc.

In general assuming an average hike of The Colorado Trail of 4-5 weeks, figure roughly $1000 +/-. This price does not include the cost of gear or transportation costs to and from the trail.

A way to save money is to limit town stops and overnight stays in particular, only purchase food for re-supply purposes, do not indulge in any alcohol, and limit side trips while in town such as rafting.

Equipment for The Colorado Trail If you are an AT or another long trail veteran, most of your gear and clothing choices should work fine. There are some caveats that do apply:

You are hiking at altitude! UV radiation is more intense; sun exposure is a major concern. Sunglasses and sun protection are a must! Wear sunscreen and/or a large hat, long sleeves and long pants. Even the dime store sunglasses now have 100% UVA and UVB protection.

You will want to be hydrated as well. The sun exposure means you are more likely to get dehydrated. A dehydrated body does not work efficiently. Drink!

If you are hammock camper, you will want to be more careful in picking your campsites. Some of the CT is above treeline so fewer options. in some cases.

Fuel canisters should be found in the following places. As more people are now hiking The Colorado Trail and the coinciding Continental Divide Trail, strongly suggested calling ahead to be sure of availability in these sometimes smaller stores.

Denver area – Pick one!

Bailey – Platte River Outfitters – 303-816-9383/ 303-895-7229 .Lynwood Park H-303-838-4243. M-303-885-1415

Fairplay – Prater’s Market (719) 836-1618 – Fairly easy hitch past Jefferson. The market reported having canisters in stock.

Fairplay – High Alpine Sports – (719) 836-0201

Breckenridge – Mt Outfitters – 970-453-2201

Dillon – REI – (970) 468-0161

Frisco – Walmart – (970) 668-3959 larger 8oz or 16oz isobutane

Silverthorne – Wilderness Sports -(970) 468-5687

Twin Lakes – General Store – 719-486-2196 Limited quantity reported; may want to call ahead

Leadville – Leadville Outdoors (719) 486-7392

Buena Vista – Trailhead Sports – 719-395-8002

Princeton Hot Springs – PHS Store – (719) 395-2447- Store reported to have some canisters in stock.

Salida – Salida Mt Sports – 719-539-4400

Creede – San Juan Sports – 719-658-2482

Lake City – Sportsman Outdoor and Fly Shop – 970-944-2526 High Country Market 970 944-0161

Silverton – Outdoor World – 970-387-5628

Gunnison – A few different choices

Durango – Many choices as well (if not as many as Denver..go figure! ;D)

Note: There may be more stores than listed. Feedback always welcome. I’d be lying if I said I visited or know about every outdoor store in the state. 😉 Also, the small town’s stores can change or run out of inventory esp as more people hike The Colorado Trail and the CDT. Always good to call ahead.

White gas and Heet/denatured alcohol are found fairly easily in most re-supply areas. Heet is usually found in gas stations, hardware stores, auto supply stores, grocery stores and convenience stores in the automotive section mixed in with oil, transmission fluid, etc.

BURN BANS

With more wildfires and drier conditions in the American West, open flame bans are becoming more common. What this often means is that in addition to campfires, stoves without an on/off valve are often banned. That means alcohol stoves and Esbit stoves. You can go stoveless, use a canister stove, or go with a white gas stove. Some years, even white gas stoves get banned. Naturally wildfires will affect trail closures or even resupply.

Resupply

Resupply is similar to the PCT: Not overly hard but fewer choices and longer hitches than the AT. Because of the relatively short length of the CT, mail drops are a viable option for many thru-hikers esp those on a fast pace with limited time. Below is a list of some popular re-supply areas with approximate mileage to each from a Denver start. Also, have a brief description of each town for supply purposes. This is not a complete description by any means but does give a brief overview of some of the more popular options.

Maildrops vs resupply in towns

Places that have adequate supplies in stock for CT travelers are not in short supply. Oatmeal, Ramen, bars, cheese, etc. are all staples in good supply for people on the CT. Buying as you go works for most people on their CT journey.

When to use a maildrop (package of supplies mailed to yourself)?

Maildrops are simply mailing a pre-made food parcel to a post office, hostel or other areas in town on the trail. The advantage of this method is that the supplies are waiting in a package for you.

A hiker will pick up their package, dump the food in their pack, and go. The disadvantage of this method is that you are dependent on Post Office hours (if not sending to a hostel or business), have to pay for shipping and need a person on the home front to send out packages for you. Unless you have special dietary needs or on a time crunch, there is no real reason to use maildrops on a regular basis.

As mentioned, many towns on the CT have good sized grocery stores and other resupply areas.

If you use a maildrop, be sure to mail out as the example below shows:

Jane Hiker

c/o General Delivery

Some Town, CO 55555

Please hold for CT hiker, ETA 7/23/18

The post office will generally hold your package for up to two weeks. Be sure to have an ID ready when you pick up your package. If possible, you may want to mail a package directly to a hostel or business rather than the post office. The hours will be longer and more flexible.

A mail drop works best if:

Have dietary needs (vegan, GF, etc.) not easily addressed via a typical town resupply.

Prefer to pick up meals you made yourself be it for nutritional or personal taste

On a time crunch and grabbing a package does save time vs. shopping in town.

Note you can mix and match, too. Send maildrop to the place where the selection is limited; buy where there are full-service options.

**** Due to the increasing popularity of The Colorado Trail, it is suggested that you contact a business first before you send a mail drop ****

And speaking of towns and interaction with hikers…

Remember, hiking The Colorado Trail is a privilege and not a right. Always say “Please” and “Thank you”, don’t act like you are entitled to anything because you are a long-distance hiker, and respect not only your fellow hikers but also the people in the towns you are entering. Remember, your actions can impact the hikers coming after you.

The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Assoc. has an excellent set of guidelines at the “Endangered Services Campaign” site. Written quite a few years ago for the Appalachian Trail, the guidelines work equally well for the growing amount of hikers on The Colorado Trail.

On to the resupply info…

Marginal resupply – Soda, chips, snacks. Maybe some Ramen or canned goods if you are lucky.. Hard resupply basically.

Soda, chips, snacks. Maybe some Ramen or canned goods if you are lucky.. Hard resupply basically. Moderate resupply – All the basics, if not many choices. Your typical small town grocery store.You’ll be able to get everything you need for a few days of the trail.

All the basics, if not many choices. Your typical small town grocery store.You’ll be able to get everything you need for a few days of the trail. Full Service – Has a supermarket, lodging, restaurants, often an outfitter of some sort. Anything you need will probably be in this town.

Please Note: As with all mountain areas, the places below can be busy on weekends and holidays on or before Labor Day Weekend. Don’t be surprised if the accommodations are full for a busy summer weekend! Wildfires can also affect town resources or even cause outright closures.

Air BnB and VRBO are increasingly popular options for lodging in some of the more popular tourist towns the CT goes through as an FYI

Also, new commercial enterprises are mailing out food, gear, and other sundries to hikers. Quite a few may be found via a Google search such as, but not limited to, Trail Supply Co, Outdoor Herbivore, Zero Day Resupply, and Sonora Pass Resupply . They regularly post on forums and Facebook advertising their services. Some hikers are using Amazon Pantry Service or the Walmart equivalent, too.

Also, this information can change…even during a season. If there is incorrect/additional info, please send feedback. Thank you!

EXPECT A TRAIL EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO COVID-19. HOW? TOO HARD TO TELL. BUSINESSES WILL NOT ACCEPT MAILDROPS (CALL AHEAD!), DIFFICULT HITCHES OR SHUTTLES, OR OTHER CHANGES TBD. MANY AT THE LAST MINUTE? PLEASE SEE THE COLORADO TRAIL FOUNDATION BLOG FOR DETAILS AS OF APRIL 28. FURTHER UPDATES AT https://coloradotrail.org/blog/

CACHING: Every-so-often, I get an inquiry asking about caching supplies along the trail. As the hitches are easy with ample resupply, it is not an option that makes much sense logistically (have to drive A LOT to drop caches and A LOT to pick up caches). But it is an option that could work for some people esp in long stretches (e.g. at Spring Creek Pass) or if you absolutely do not want to hitch. James and Rebecca hiked the CT in 2009 using bear canisters cached along the trail. As they stated “If you take this method, please note that it is not okay to leave a bunch of flimsy Rubbermade bins in the forest. Bears will find your food and eat it. All.” . Here’s their link if you are curious about how and where they cached supplies: http://www.the2016plan.com/coloradotrail/planning.html

Also, I saw a presentation at Neptune Mountaineering where the two hikers cleverly used metal ammo boxes from the surplus store such as found on eBay or Amazon. These sturdy, metal boxes are often used in National Park Service backcountry campsites to critter proof food. At ~$15-20 ea, considerably less expensive than bear canisters, too.

ALTERNATE ROUTES AND 14ers

One of the big attractions of The Colorado Trail is the alternate routes that can be done. Some people choose to walk the CDT for a bit, others choose to follow some harder but more scenic routes, still others take alternates that encompass doing 14ers then dropping back to the CT. Look at your maps and see what looks good to you! I took two alternate routes that added a fair amount of elevation gain and about ten miles to my overall route. Below are some alternate route ideas. There are others as well. Be sure to consult your guidebooks and/or maps to get back to the CT! NO REALLY, BE SURE TO TAKE MAPS IF YOU DO ALTERNATE ROUTES! Lost Creek Wilderness High Route: Interested in exploring some high country soon into your trip? Take the Lost Creek High Route! This is a mainly off-trail route that takes in the highest peak in the Kenosha Range (Peak 12429′; unofficially called Peak X) in the Lost Creek Wilderness and is a high route parallel to The Colorado Trail below. To access this route (Durango-bound), take the Brookside-McCurdy Trail north off the CT. At a saddle between two peaks, head off trail and west towards Kenosha Pass along the ridge. You are now on the backbone of the Kenosha Mountains. The off-trail hiking is easy to navigate but challenging in terms of elevation gain and loss. Follow this route to the Ben Tyler trail junction (unofficially called “Platosha Pass” ) and then head south to rejoin The Colorado Trail. If you want to continue the high country route (and add a fair amount of mileage) continue into the Platte River Mountain range and follow the range to North Twin Cone Peak, follow the long and meandering dirt road down to Kenosha Pass and rejoin The Colorado Trail. The views from North Twin Cone are quite exquisite, but the road walk can be tiring after a long day. You will need Trails Illustrated Map #105. Please note that while this route is easy to follow with basic map reading skills, it is not marked. Water is also scarce along the ridge itself. Consider it a scenic alternative for more experienced hikers.

Hope Pass: The old Colorado Trail route (and current CDT / Collegiate West route) is harder but much more scenic than official CT on the Collegiate East. At 12540’ the views are breathtaking. Hope Pass is also the literal high point of the Leadville 100 ultramarathon that takes place in mid-August. After coming down Hope Pass, you can go east on 390 viathe short Sheep Gulch spur trail off the CT and eventually connect back up to the Collegiate East CT on a dirt road (Note, I am not saying this road is the CT!..you just connect to it again via the dirt road. 🙂 ) Or you can do the alternate below… (Use Trails Illustrated Map #127 or the NatGeo TI Colorado Trail Maps )

Missouri Gulch: Not too long after Hope Pass, you can get to the historic town of Vicksburg that is accessed by the short Sheep Gulch spur trail off the CT. This town is actually a historic site that has been re-built. Shortly after this town, you will come to a trailhead for Missouri Gulch. This alternate is far prettier than the official CT East in the sage IMO. Much harder, though. This alternate has you surrounded by

three 14ers (Missouri, Belford, Oxford) and is an incredible view. If you are into peak bagging, this route is esp. good as the 14ers are easily accessible. The views from up to and at Elk Head Pass are stunning. You follow the trail and connect back to the CT in a valley. (Use Trails Illustrated Maps #127 and #129 or the NatGeo TI Colorado Trail Maps)

Collegiate West / CDT Alternate: After Hope Pass, rather than turn towards Missouri Gulch, follow the designated Continental Divide Trail route from Hope Pass to where it meets up with The Colorado Trail again at the Fooses Creek trail near Monarch Pass. This route is higher than the Colorado Trail (and sometimes more exposed) and can provide another high country alternate for those who wish to take it. The Latitude 40 series and the Guthhook app /Bear Creek Survey Maps also have this route, including the 2014 re-routes, in detail. The Trails Illustrated NatGeo Maps have this route, too.

Collegiate Loop

Speaking of the Collegiate West loop, this newer alt route combined with the traditional CT will make a wonderful ~165 mile CT/CDT loop with beautiful scenery and easy logistics. A map book of this loop is also available. A good overview with planning info from David Collins of Clever Hiker is available, too. NatGeo Trails Illustrated has a map set avail as of Summer 2017. In the Fall of 2017, I hiked the Collegiate Loop. I put together a Colorado Trail Collegiate Loop guide based on that trip that is adjunct to information found on this page.

Beer Thirty Hike: Not an alternate per se, but an easy way to do a 14 mile/3500′ gain slack pack between Breck and Copper using the Summit County Bus transit system. Info here. Reverse the route if Durango bound. If you are not a purist, you can even veer off the CT and hike directly into Frisco via the Peaks Trail right to the Frisco Backcountry Brewery! 😉

Note that the Mountain Maps-Sawatch Range will also work for the alt. routes between Hope Pass and Monarch Pass. It does NOT have the 2014 Collegiate West re-route however.

Colorado 14ers: The 14ers are the high peaks in Colorado. There are fifty-eight of these 14000+ foot mountains in Colorado, many of these along the CT itself. Many CTers can’t resist climbing these immense peaks. Three of the more popular ones (due to accessibility and able to make a loop with the peak and CT) are:

Mt Elbert – Highest peak in Colorado. Near Leadville and Twin Lakes. Many choose to go off the CT, summit and come down another trail. Mt Massive – Second highest peak, just down the trail from Elbert. San Luis Peak – You climb to San Luis Pass at 12500 on the CT. Just a little over 1500 (and 1.5 miles) is the top of San Luis Peak. One of the least climbed 14ers. Very accessible from the CT, can make a loop as well



Please Note: There are other 14ers near the CT as well. The above are just three of the most popular. Jamie Compos has a nice list of 14ers near The Colorado Trail and corresponding Trails Illustrated maps to hike them. Scroll down the page until you see the appropriate section. Consult your guidebook and maps if you want to know more about the 14ers that can be done from the CT. Climbing the 14ers is a very popular activity in Colorado. Especially on weekends, you will see many people on a summit. Climbing 14ers means you are above tree line more. You will be more exposed and at higher altitude. Be careful! As the saying goes “There are old mountaineers and there are bold mountaineers. There are very few old and bold mountaineers.” If in doubt about the weather head down and don’t climb up to the summit.

Justin Simoni also has very detailed information on accessing the 14ers from The Colorado Trail. Complete with CalTopo maps, alt routes, and where dropping your pack for a side trip may be advisable.

Getting to and from Denver

Here’s how to get to the trailhead via public transport: –

Another possible option?

Jerry Harp on Facebook reports that “FWIW: The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Littleton will allow you to leave your vehicle for the duration of your hike for the price of a one night stay. There is a shuttle that will take you to the trailhead. 720-981-1000.”



(see SECTION HIKING TRANSPORTATION for more info on RTD)

The CTF also has a volunteer shuttle driver list. Contract ctf@ColoradoTrail.org. The CTF has confirmed they do keep a shuttle list. Primarily people who wish to help but do not want their information posted publically online.

Leaving A Car at Waterton Canyon

I’ve been asked about leaving a car at Waterton Canyon. Waterton Canyon is a very busy trailhead with a lot of parking space. The trailhead is also on a busy road. It should be safe. But nothing is 100%!

Thanks to Justin “Chewy” Edge for forwarding this info from The Colorado Trail Foundation originally. The updated page is here.

Yes, it’s fine to leave your car in the parking lot….

Michelle at Waterton Canyon would like people to call 303-979-4129 and give them the make of the car, license plate, etc. so that they know the car has not been abandoned. They can leave cars there while thru-hiking the CT. Common sense would advise against leaving any valuables in your car for an extended period of time. The Waterboard is not responsible for your vehicle.

Other Denver area parking options

Another option is the Sedalia RV storage listed earlier: Sedalia RV Storage (303) 688-3842. $38/mo as of 2015. Jerry Harp on Facebook reports that “FWIW: The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Littleton will allow you to leave your vehicle for the duration of your hike for the price of a one night stay. There is a shuttle that will take you to the trailhead. 720-981-1000.”



Another option is to fly into Albuquerque and get to and from Durango via other means. Getting to ABQ via public transit goes through Denver, so that route is not suggested at this time.

Once into Durango, it is a ~4-mile walk from the downtown area to the Durango terminus of The Colorado Trail (Kennebec Trailhead) at Junction Creek Road. An easy walk or hitch (or at least partial hitch) to the trail head. If you start The Colorado Trail later in the day, there is also a campground about two miles from the the Durango Terminus of The Colorado Trail.

Naturally, this is a good place to crash if you end The Colorado Trail later in the day and don’t wish to push on into Durango that night.

Directions to the Junction Creek Trailhead from Durango.com:

From Durango, head north on Main Avenue, and turn left onto 25th Street, Junction Creek Road. Travel on Junction Creek Road for about 3 miles to where it enters the San Juan National Forest. A parking area is located on the left, near the trailhead.

Buckhorn Limousine also offers long term parking: also offers long term parking:

Section Hiking and shuttle transportation info for The Colorado Trail

A quick word about hiking The Colorado Trail in segments: Not everyone can spend 4-6 weeks hiking The Colorado Trail in one long hike. 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. Whether thru-hiking the trail or section hiking the trail, hiking The Colorado Trail is a great accomplishment. If you hiked the trail in segments, be sure to let The Colorado Trail foundation know you complete The Colorado Trail!

The following are ways you can section hike The Colorado Trail:

Finally, if you are section hiking, The Colorado Trail Guidebook is very useful for trailhead info and directions.

Hiking The Colorado Trail with a Dog

Though written for the Pacific Crest Trail, this document from the PCTA is very useful and should be read for the general information. Dogs are allowed on the majority on The Colorado Trail. Be sure to follow leash laws and be respectful of your fellow hikers and wildlife. For The Colorado Trail specifically, the only place where dogs are not allowed is the stretch of trail in Waterton Canyon. The Thru-Hiker Facebook Group for dogs is also a valuable resource.



For the dog owner, there is an alt route that is described in an edition of The Colorado Trail Guidebook:

Take the Indian Creek Equestrian Trail located on Hwy 67 approx 10 miles from the small town of Sedalia. Follow this trail approx 6 miles to connect to The Colorado Trail at mile mark 8.8 at Bear Creek. Directions to this alt route are as follows from https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12953 To reach this area, take U.S. Highway 85 south to Sedalia then take Highway 67 to the junction with Rampart Range Road. To access all the following sites turn left on to Rampart Range Road, this is a dirt road that is heavily traveled; please abide by posted speed limits. Map provided of this area by The Colorado Trail Foundation: http://www.coloradotrail.org/forms/Seg1Map_Singletrack_Dogs.pdf Naturally, getting to and from this area will require more than the standard logistics. You may have to find a willing friend in the area or contact a shuttle service. Still, for a person hoping to hike with a dog on the CT, it provides a good option.

Finally, a very strong suggestion is to spend a three-day weekend hiking ~15 MPD. If your dog (and YOU!) still enjoy backpacking after a typical pace on The Colorado Trail, good chance your dog will enjoy backpacking. Hiking five miles to a camp and then relaxing all weekend is a much different pace than a long hike on The Colorado Trail.

Other Resources for The Colorado Trail

Here are some other resources about The Colorado Trail:

Once you have completed The Colorado Trail, be sure to fill out The Colorado Trail Completers form. The CTF will mail you a rather nice looking certificate to add to your mementos from your CT hike.

If you have additional questions or about this document or The Colorado Trail in general, then please feel free to e-mail me. New info and feedback are always welcome too! Please try to have a subject line with COLORADO TRAIL somewhere in the text. Makes it easier to filter my mail. Thanks!

Best of luck on your Colorado Trail journey!

—Paul “Mags” Magnanti

Many thanks to Almanac, Bearpaw, Patrick “Gumby” Basso, Jamie Compos, Matt Cecere, Rick “Rickles McPickles” Armstrong, Randy Brown, Book Burner, Chewy, Cookerhiker, Dirty Bird, dirtmonger, Dogwood, Frank Dumville, Mike Felix, Karl Gottshalk, Ed Hyatt, Jest Bill , Les Glassner, Keith “Wolf” Kimball, Peter Lane, Little Bear, Lucky Man, Mr. Clippy, Paccer, Profile, Matt Roane, Henry Shires, Shutterbug, Skeemer, ,Skittles, Bill Webster and Yogi who all added some input to this doc.

Special thanks to Rain Maker; whose original doc provided part of the inspiration for mine! You can all thank my friend Keith McGuinnes who did The Colorado Trail in 2005. He picked my brain for an hour or so at a coffee shop in Boulder just before he did the CT. Out of that conversation, this doc was written.

Finally, a very big thanks to the many volunteers at The Colorado Trail Foundation who make this fine trail possible!

Colorado Trail “End to End” Guide – first version June 2005

Last Revised: July 2020