2018 Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail is a ~500 route that goes from just outside Denver, Colorado across the state to Durango. No permits are necessary and there are many places along the way to resupply, typically every 3-5 days.

There is a fairly short window of time to hike the whole trail as snow often presents a serious challenge well into June and some years well into July, then come September early season snowstorms are not uncommon.

The biggest challenges for a hike like this are: the altitude (tough breathing), afternoon electrical storms (especially above tree line), wildfire closures (currently the last 70 miles are closed), and figuring out how to get home!

Some great resources to find out more about the trail are:               The Colorado Trail Foundation and blogger extraordinaire, PMags

Coming Soon….

Pre Trip Planning

Gear List

Day 1, July 17, 29mi: Little Scraggy

Day 2, July 18, 26mi: Lost Creek Meadow Saddle

Day 3, July 19, 26mi: E. Side of Georgia Pass

Day 4, July 20, 25mi: Frisco

Day 5, July 21, 15mi: Copper

Day 6 July 22, 25mi: Tennessee Creek

Day 7, July 23, 27mi: Herringbone Creek

Day 8, July 24, 21mi: S. Fork of Clear Creek

Day 9, July 25, 26mi: Creek by Divide

Day 10, July 26, 27mi: Hunt Lake

Day 11, July 27, 9mi: Salida (Monarch Pass)

Day 12, July 28, 17mi: near Windy Peak

Day 13, July 29, 25mi: near Lujan Trailhead

Day 14, July 30, 29mi: Cochetopa Creek

Day 15, July 31, 23mi: Mineral Creek

Day 16, Aug 1, 12mi: Spring Creek Pass (Lake City)

Day 17, Aug 2, 19mi: near Carson Saddle

Day 18, Aug 3, 27mi: Elk Creek Pond

Day 19, Aug 4, 24mi: Cascade Creek

Day 20, Aug 5, 26mi: near Salt Creek Junction 

Day 21, Aug 6, 25mi: Big Tree Camp

Day 22, Aug 7, 11mi: Durango