Overview of the Colorado Trail
Colorado Trail Signage at Junction Creek in Durango, CO
The Colorado Trail is a 567-mile trail from Waterton Canyon, just south of Denver, finishing at Junction Creek in Durango, CO. The Trail passes through six National Forests and six Wilderness areas, traversing five major rivers and eight of the state’s mountain ranges. Most of the trail averages 10,300 ft in elevation, with the highest point at around 13,271 ft, just below Coney Summit at 13,334 ft. The Colorado Trail was founded by Gudy Gaskill in 1974; the Trail was endorsed by the U.S. Forest Service and developed by volunteers. The Trail wasn’t fully completed until 1988.
Traveling the Trail
Since the Colorado Trail is over 500 mi long, thru-hikers must carry enough supplies to complete the Trail. There are several locations along the Trail where hikers can send resupply packages to account for this. Also, hikers can travel to nearby towns to get “town food,” lodging, shower, wash their clothes, use an actual toilet, and even buy resupply.
Thru-hikers must also remain conscious of the water sources along the Trail and carry a proper water filter to keep hydrated during their hike. So, doing research on each segment and knowing the availability of water is essential. For example, segment 27 has a long stretch without water. In this case, hikers must be able to carry more water or watch their water intake. This comes down to personal preferences and abilities. The Colorado Trail Data Book is a valuable tool to help hikers be prepared while on the Trail, providing information such as where to camp, water sources, and resupply towns.
Hikers must know about bear safety when traveling with food on the Colorado Trail. The Rocky Mountains are bear country; the last thing any thru-hiker wants is an encounter with a bear. There are several different ways hikers keep their food safe. Utilizing a bear-proof food container or bag to keep all food and other “smellables” “ especially while sleeping, can keep hikers safe. Visit the Colorado Trail website for more information about bear food safety.
Resupply Towns
Thru-hikers tend to carry about a week’s worth of food and supplies, so knowing what options are available for resupply is essential. All distances are noted going southbound, starting from Denver. Most towns are small but can offer hikers limited services such as a post office for resupply boxes, small stores to resupply, or even accommodations. Many hikers visit resupply towns for a resting point in addition to obtaining more food and other supplies.
Conifer is 15 miles from the Junction of segments 1 and 2 if you’re willing to hitch-hike into town or add two days of hiking for resupply.
Buffalo Creek is located 3.2 miles from the CT at mile 10 of segment 2.
Bailey is located 8 miles from the Junction of segments 3 and 4.
Jefferson is located 4.5 miles from the Junction of segments 5 and 6.
Breckenridge is 4 miles south, and Frisco is 5 miles north from the Junction of segments 6 and 7. Copper Mountain Resort is located less than a mile from the Trail. A bus service goes between all three locations and is located 0.2 miles south of the Junction. These resupply towns are common locations that thru-hikers travel to.
Leadville is located 8 miles from the Junction of segments 10 and 11.
Twin Lakes Village is located 1 mile from mile 5.9 of segment 11.
Buena Vista is located 19 miles from the end of Segment 11 or 9.5 miles from mile 6.6 of Segment 13.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs is located right off the Trail.
Molas Lake is a campground off the Trail at mile 18.7 of segment 24.
Silverton is located 6 miles north of Molas Pass.
Using and visiting all of the resupply towns is unnecessary, but various options are available. Planning resupply is a crucial component for a successful thru-hike.
Segment 25 of the Trail
Segment 25 of the Colorado Trail features beautiful Colorado scenery near Silverton, CO. The segment begins at 10,904ft with a distance of 19.8 miles long, beginning at Molas Pass and ending at Celebration Lake near Bolam Pass. With an elevation gain of 3,694, this Trail is difficult to traverse. The first three miles have an elevation gain of roughly 400ft, followed by four miles of a decent. Then the hard part starts with an elevation gain of about 1,100 ft in four miles, followed by four miles of a steep descent of about 2,600ft. The last part of the segment has another vertical elevation gain of about 900ft in four miles, followed by a steep decline of about 600ft in 2 miles.
It was a challenging hike. I have asthma, which I am good at keeping under control. But at high elevations and steep inclines, I have to take it slow and take many short breaks to catch my breath. I know my limits and listen to my body, but I never let that stop me from doing what I love. Overall, this segment of the Trail is beautiful and a fun hike, with sights of many streams, white rock rivers, waterfalls, and many plantlife such as Columbines and Corn Lilies. Click here for a gallery of My Adventures, including my backpacking trip along segment 25.
Segment 28 of the Trail
Segment 28 is the final segment of the Colorado Trail, ending in Durango, CO. This segment is 19.6 miles long and almost all downhill, which creates an easy-going end to a long hike from Denver. The Trail begins at 11,637ft at Kennebec Trailhead and ends at 7,209ft at Junction Creek Trailhead, with an elevation change of almost 2,000ft over 19.6 miles. At about 6.8 miles in, there is about a 900ft elevation gain for about four miles before finishing the descent.
My dad took me on my first backpacking trip in 2019 along segment 28. We only had two nights to backpack the segment and could quickly have finished point to point in that time, but we did a back hike. We hiked about 12 miles starting at Junction Creek, turned around, and hiked about 12 miles back. Since we started at Junction Creek, our hike began with a steep incline and ended with a nice descent. Click here for a gallery of My Adventures, including my backpacking trip along segment 28.
Thru-Hike
One day, maybe within the next five years, I will walk home from Denver via the Colorado Trail. I know that I have a lot of preparation and conditioning to do before my body can handle the long trek from Denver. Completing the thru-hike will take a lot of planning, commitment, and effort. One of the biggest things I know I will have to plan for is several zero-mile days following long strenuous climbs, like following segment 25. My asthma is a limitation, but it certainly does not inhibit my ability to continue doing the outdoor activities I love.
*note* all elevation numbers and mileage are approximate sourced by the AllTrails app.
Additional information about the Colorado trail can be found at coloradotrail.org. For a backpacking-friendly information guide, the Colorado Trail Data Book is an excellent option for finding good campsites, water sources, and resupply options.
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