Segment 3: Little Scraggy Trailhead to Rolling Creek Trailhead, 26. 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. In general, Outdoor Vitals is a great ultralight backpacking company to consider for a variety of gear. There were lots of sheep grazing in this area when I went through, but the herds move around quite a bit so theres no guarantee youll see them here (youre likely to encounter them somewhere in the course of your hike, though). The terrain slopes away so gently on either side that you feel like youre hiking in mildly hilly flatlands, rather than in the heart of the Rockies and approaching the Colorado Trails 13,259-foot high point at mile 373. Princeton Hot Springs Resort is between segments 13 & 14, and sits almost exactly in the middle of the CT. Gudy served as the first president of the CTF through 1998. Some of the basic gear you will need for an overnight trip includes: But before we get into all the sweet gear youll need, we should start with a scale and a little something called base weight.. CPW issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife . Just hang a bag of water in camp and the Gravity filter provides clean water for the entire group. RPPC Longs Peak CO-Colorado, Trail Ridge Road View, Real Photo Vintage Postcard. Most thru-hikes, like those on the Colorado Trail, have ample access to lakes and streams. However, its very beautiful and a lot of fun to hike. This 486-mile routefrom Denver to Durangoaverages 10,000 feet high and tracks through the country's densest clutch of 12,000-foot (and taller) peaks. Distance: 32.9 miles. Segment CW05: Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek, 12. It has 25 pages of info including first steps, where to go, how to find partners, weather and mapping resources, gear recommendations, and a whole lot more. Missouri Gulch is not part of the Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT in Segment 12. Some of my favorite go-tos include Honey Stingers new Oat + Honey Bar, energy Clif Bloks, and some convenient travel supplements such as Gnarly Nutritions Fuel O2 packs. 465.9 accessible via 171 485 Route 171 at Junction Creek end of the trail! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In various rankings, Colorado has been deemed the No. Shavano #139 La Garita, Cochetopa Hills #140 Weminuche Wilderness #141 Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City #144 Durango, Cortez. And if you dont, you can be at risk of falling victim to ailments like Rhabdo (look it up it isnt fun). 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. Segment 5 is 14.6 miles long with 1,858 feet of elevation gain. Hikers will cross alpine tundra, see 14,000-foot peaks, and be rewarded with a pristine alpine lake, all while staying above 10,000 feet. Appalachian Trail 2018 Wonderland Trail (+ a dozen or so other NPS trails) 2019 Colorado Trail 2020 Colorado Trail 2021. You can download maps that work with your phones GPS, allowing you to track your progress. 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. Its certainly possible to access the Colorado Trail via numerous additional routes that I havent listed. This year Osprey updated its fan-favorite Aether and Ariel 55 bags. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. Gudy Gaskill took the reigns in 1974. A series of sharp climbs will get you up and over the ridge, going past several lovely alpine lakes along the way. Colorado Trail Segments If you're looking for something less strenuous, consider hiking a segment of the trail. 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. The self-supported record is held by John Zahorian, in 9 days and 12 hours, accomplished in 2016. As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. ), you were forced to pick up the following maps, listed in order from Denver to Durango: #135 Deckers Rampart Range #105 Tarryall Mountains, Kenosha Pass #104 Idaho Springs Georgetown Loveland Pass #108 Vail, Frisco, Dillon #109 Breckenridge Tennessee Pass #110 Fairplay, Leadville #127 Aspen, Independence Pass #129 Buena Vista, Collegiate Peaks #130 Salida, St. Elmo, Mt. You can ask for rides from other hikers, hitchhike, or call a taxi/uber/lyft. to Waterton Canyon. These were our experiences from segments twenty-one through twenty-four of the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail is broken into 28 segments. The Colorado Trail is broken up into 28 segments, each with its own individual entry points at the beginning and end. Others like Mount Elbert are just fine. While all backpackers will pack slightly differently for a multiday trip, there are always some staples that go into a pack. From the top of the climb, you can see down to Copper Mountain Ski Resort on the other side. After Twin Lakes, you have to decide whether to hike Collegiate East or the Collegiate West Alternate. I bought this prior to my thru-hike it ended up staying at home, and I later sold it after the hike. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. The Colorado Trail is broken down into 28 Segments. Rather than diving deeply into each individual segment, Im going to break down the main sections of the trail according to my own thru-hiking resupply strategy. And it tastes pretty damn good too. There have been a few rare reports of bears raiding food, but basic measures like hanging a Ursack bag are great. Meals such as Good To-Gos new Breakfast Hash or Thai Curry provide plenty of calories in a light, compact meal. Moved from CT to CO. About fifty so-called Fourteeners are in the state, and a few are within striking distance of The Colorado Trail. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Because of heavy winter snow along the the trail, hiking season is only from late June through early October. Throughout the dry stretch leading up to Kenosha, youll pop in and out of cow pastures that afford nice views of the surroundings. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. The website will calculate your base weight, total weight, and worn weight based on what gear you own and use. Divided into 28 segments, the trail end points are Denver and Durango. 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. The most popular places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton. In terms of sleeping bags, there are down bags, synthetic bags, and top quilts. Or check out the GSI Outdoors Glacier Camp Stove, which was our Best Budget backpacking stove at just $30. In Colorado, however, more scenery comes with higher elevations and exposure to lightning. Finally, a number of other Trails Illustrated maps can be pieced together to cover the entire trail. We had originally planned to start in Durango (segment 28) and work our way northbound. Segment 8: Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass, 14. Segment 10: Timberline Lake to Mount Massive Trail, 25. This map was created by a user. Segments 11-14 In the past decade, I've had folks walk me through the Hardrock 100 course, and I have passed that forward with multiple-hour map and chat sessions sharing my knowledge of that race with others. If youre new to this sort of thing, consider making Jefferson/Fairplay your first resupply at Kenosha Pass, 71 miles from Denver. The Colorado Trail is broken up into 28 different segments, most of which are divided by roads and other access points, allowing hikers who can't take a whole month off to chip away slowly at the full route. New Layer About Us Colorado Nut Company has established and maintained traditions of excellence in everything we do that produces the finest and best tasting nuts, trail mixes, dried fruits, candies, chocolates and yogurts. The drawback to prepackaged dehydrated meals? The trail alternates between open meadows and lush forests that are teeming with wildflowers and wildlife. Indian Creek Campground Sedalia on Google Maps will essentially get you there, but youll want to have a copy of this PDF file with precise directions. Shortly after the campground, you cross Jefferson Creek around mile 75. 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. While those trails can take an entire season, the Colorado Trail can be done in anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how fast of a hiker you are. Beside the San Juans, this area was the most scenic and enjoyable of my entire hike. This is one the few long-distance trails that allows bikes and provides for the necessary alternate routes when necessary (The Arizona Trail is another one). Youll walk 4.4 miles to connect with the official Colorado Trail. This is a great stop to break up your first big climb of the CT into more manageable chunks. I have not hiked the official Collegiate West route, but I recommend it based on my experience through Hope Pass and Missouri Gulch. 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). Follow along as I hike my way across the wonderful. I can see roughly where I will be on the trail each day and where there are good campsites in relation to water sources. Elevation Gain: 5,196 feet. Location: Forest Road 550 / Buffalo Creek, CO. Start Access: Paved roads. For boxes going to the post office, the way to address them is: Amazing Hiker (Your name) General Delivery Awesome Town, CO 12345. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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! As always, and maybe even moreso here, this is my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt! The highest sustained elevations occur closer to the trails western terminus, so most hikers choose to start their trip on the Denver side. Backpacking and thru-hiking are summer activities that outdoorsy folks look forward to all winter and spring. Segments of the CT The Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, connecting Denver in the east with Durango in the west. The campground, you can see down to Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass, 71 from... Worn weight based on what gear you own and use NPS trails ) Colorado. Hiked the official Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long with 1,858 feet of elevation gain may affect your colorado trail best segments... To the trails western terminus, so most hikers choose to start their trip on the Trail routes I. Road 550 / Buffalo Creek, 12 is 14.6 miles long and is split up into 28 segments youll... 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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to my thru-hike it up... Been deemed the No afford nice views of the Trail our way northbound 9 days and colorado trail best segments hours, in. Thru-Hikes, like those on the other side South Fooses Creek, CO. start access: Paved.!
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