In exchange, youll get above 10,000 feet for the first time and the trail will start to feel cooler, lusher, and more mountainous. Hammock vs. Tent for an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike, Backpacker Radio #195 | Jack "Quadzilla" Jones 2.0: the Calendar Year Triple Crown and Handling Isolationism, How To Seam Seal Your Tent: Step-by-Step Guide. Hiking in my home state of Colorado, Im able to get some resupplies from friends and family who are able to come out and meet me on the trail. Went to Lookout Mountain recently and it was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever experienced. Segment CW04: Tincup Pass Road to Boss Lake Trailhead, 17. It traverses eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas and stays above 10,000' for the majority of the trail. Most segments start and end at a road or trailhead, and they can sometimes be pretty remote. You can download maps that work with your phones GPS, allowing you to track your progress. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Trail Ridge Road at the Big Rock Colorado CO Real Photo RPPC Postcard D44 at the best online prices at eBay! On my thru-hike I resupplied in Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida, Creede, and Silverton. It depends how fast you go! He is a Colorado native and when not in the backcountry, David is at the keyboard writing and listening to vinyl records or sitting by a fire with a glass of whiskey in hand. The Colorado Trail is about 485 miles long and is split up into 28 segments. Dehydrated camping meals are also easy, light, and pretty tasty these days. (Mount Elbert is the highest summit in Colorado and second-highest in the Lower 48 after Californias Mount Whitney). So Ill just summarize here: 10 miles, very hot, very dry. Start early in the morning and pack plenty of water. If youre like most CT hikers, youll start your thru-hike from Waterton Canyon, a popular day-use hiking and biking area for Denverites. Incredible backpacking sleeping bags are a dime a dozen. Biking is most popular on the sections of trail nearest to Denver and Durango. The trail segment initiates just south of the entrance to the Kenosha Pass Campground, which is located on the west side of the pass. 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. Many mistakes were made. The fact that air-conditioned motorists can appreciate this view just as easily as flea-bitten thru-hikers does not negate the fact that it is one of the most spectacular vistas on the trail. Hike: This segment begins with an overall gradual descent to Buffalo Creek, followed by a series of steeper climbs all the way to the end. Having a comfy, quiet, reliable sleeping pad is essential for having a good time on any backpacking trail. Its lowest point is at 5,520 feet in Waterton Canyon the trails eastern terminus near Denver. Use this as a jumping-off point for the Colorado Trail, a 567-mile trek that stretches from Denver to Durango. This is somewhat of an old school method. There are 28 segments along the Trail, each with its own access point. Consider taking a wilderness first-aid or outdoor survival course. Theres a seven-mile dry stretch from mile 64 to Kenosha Pass and the start of Segment 6, and the last two sources before starting that stretch are both significantly cow-affected. 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. Breaking Down | Segments 18-21 Resupply on the Colorado Trail 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. It has everything I need for minor emergencies on the trail. In my experience, the section from Creede to Silverton is the most scenic (Segments 21 through 24). Dont forget to have a look at my thru-hiking journal! . It has a bit of everything, from austere passes to lush valleys to sparkling lakes. Six wilderness areas need to be bypassed. Those who send packages to themselves often do a lot of supplemental shopping anyway! The Data Book has useful overview maps to follow your progress through each segment. The trail is split into 28 segments, each of which are completely different. Traveling through 6 wilderness areas and 8 mountain ranges, the trail offers the full spectrum of Colorado lakes, peaks, creeks, and ecosystem diversity. The Collegiate Loop not only has spectacular scenery, but the term loop makes the logistics so easy! 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. Links to e-commerce sites earn commission. Its a bit heavier at 2 pounds, 4 ounces, but Im willing to take on that extra weight. Needless to say, if youre still on foot and see or feel the hairs rising on your head, get out of there. Open full screen to view more. Why not? Colorado Trail Segments 8 and 9 Watch on The Colorado Trail (CT) stretches 486 miles from Denver to Durango, and is divided into 28 segments. There is a range of great first-aid kits to choose from. If I were to go again, then thats the road Id choose the Collegiate West. And Ive compiled it so any backpacker planning a big trip can use it as a jumping-off point for a summer trek. San Luis Peak is the easiest one to get, as its summit is nearest to the official trail. Highest Elevation: 14,278 ft (Grays Peak CO) Lowest Elevation: 4,200 ft. And tuna fish is a high-protein snack that can be mixed with some packages of mayo and relish and paired with crackers for a great lunch. Its a gorgeous, desertlike stretch if youre prepared to handle the heat. 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. We started the Colorado Trail on June 26th, 2022 going south and finished on August 4th. 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. This site feeds you cookies and is peppered with affiliate links. As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado Distance: 25 miles Difficulty: strenuous Time allotment: 2-3 days 20,080 m 571 16 The Colorado Trail is perhaps the premier MTB bikepacking route in all of North America it's a 534 mile (860 km) ride with a vast majority of that being high alpine single track, stringing together some of the absolute best trails and mountain ranges across the state. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. Divided into 28 segments, the trail end points are Denver and Durango. and hunker down. . From there youll have one little climb to Kennebec Pass, then a long downhill into Durango. Missouri Gulch is not part of the Collegiate West Alternate and rejoins the CT in Segment 12. (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? Towns like Durango, Winter Park, Vail, Caon City, Crested Butte host pro mountain bike races. The last major piece of gear is the sleeping pad. Resupply for thru-hiking is where you are able to get more supplies, food, wash clothes, and maybe even take a rest day here or there in a soft bed at a nice hotel. The Colorado Trail (CT) in its entirety is 486 miles long, stretching from Denver to Durango. For an epic backpacking trip, hike the Knife Edge, a 25-mile loop that encompasses several trails, including the CDT. 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. Note: I wrote this from the perspective of a Southbounder starting from Waterton Canyon, and all miles are based on FarOut Guides Colorado Trail Map. 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. Its definitely the lightest-weight, most space-efficient means of having access to clean water on the trail. In San Isabel and Pike National Forest, hikers are specifically asked to hang their food (Or use canisters). 465.9 accessible via 171 485 Route 171 at Junction Creek end of the trail! Obviously there can be a lot of variation here, but it generally costs about $1,000 per month (Or $250/week) to do a thru-hike. For boxes going to the post office, the way to address them is: Amazing Hiker (Your name) General Delivery Awesome Town, CO 12345. Segments 20-21 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. Free shipping for many products! The most popular places for cyclists to resupply are Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton. Photo via. Collegiate West is more grueling but also more scenic, while Collegiate East doesnt have quite as much elevation change and keeps to lower elevations more of the time, so youre less at risk during thunderstorms. Im pretty sure what you called a sinkhole is a geological pothole. After miles of fairly monotonous pasture walking, youre launched back into sensory overload in Segments 20 and 21. Segment 6 The west route maintains a significantly higher elevation and adds just 5 miles to a thru-hike. OR you can continue to Missouri Gulch, a great option to bag some fourteeners. 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. For those segments where Im on my own, there are resupply towns across the state that are not too far from the trail. Taking a month or so to thru-hike the entire length would be a dream for most backpacking enthusiasts. 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. For the Colorado Trail, a couple of must-haves are the Colorado Trail Databook and The Colorado Trail Guidebook. It shows the trail corridor in great detail with plenty of GPS waypoints, but little else. 357.8 Hwy 149: Lake City, Creede 411.1 US Hwy 550: Silverton. 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. About fifty so-called Fourteeners are in the state, and a few are within striking distance of The Colorado Trail. And ultralight backpackers are able to get their base weight below 10 pounds. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. This stretch is still pleasant in its own way, though. All segments had at least one bright spot in them. If you want to get a sense of what the Colorado Trail is actually like, this guide will tell you the basics for each section of the CT. Ive broken the CT down into smaller chunks that make sense to me based on my experience of the character of each section, so you can read your way through all 486 miles and learn about the sights, smells, and landmarks youre likely to encounter along the way. The forest becomes very aspen-dominant around Elbert, meaning shade will be on the sparse side. The entire tent weighs less than 2 pounds and packs down into a very small stuff sack taking up almost no room in the pack. Add about 50 miles to this figure if you follow the Colorado Trail's Collegiate West route. While all backpackers will pack slightly differently for a multiday trip, there are always some staples that go into a pack. And if you dont, you can be at risk of falling victim to ailments like Rhabdo (look it up it isnt fun). The intent here is to help you get a ballpark idea of your resupply strategy. Some of the best tips and tricks Ive learned over the years have come from just talking to other hikers on the trail or over a beer. Location: Forest Road 550 / Buffalo Creek, CO. Start Access: Paved roads. Youll have to pay an entrance fee for the state park, but some folks still like this as a quiet alternative to the busy Waterton Canyon Trail. Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead, 24. Colorado also hosts many road and mountain races. It is slightly anticlimacticjust more grass gently sloping away in every direction and a wooden sign to mark the significance of this place. The race is held each year in early July. Shavano #139 La Garita, Cochetopa Hills #140 Weminuche Wilderness #141 Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City #144 Durango, Cortez. You can donate to their efforts here, because money makes the world go round. A 20-degree sleeping bag and 4 liters of water capacity should get you through the trail just fine. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 11 h 18 min to complete. Other hikers will carry a weeks worth of food and select meals based on how they are feeling on any given day. This helps ensure that you wont run out of food and have meals planned well in advance. Traversing nearly 500 mountainous miles between Denver, CO and Durango, CO, the trail takes in some of its namesake state's best scenery, most remote wilderness, and authentic mountain towns. But its particularly useful for anyone considering thru-hiking the Colorado Trail yourself. Sign in. You should also note that I did not hike the Collegiate East, which is comprised of segments 11 - 15. Segment 7: Gold Hill Trailhead to Copper Mountain, 15. For any long-distance thru-hike, such as the Colorado Trail, planning a route and resupply points is key. REI Unveils Trailmade Gear With More Inclusive Sizing & Design, The Best Adventure Motorcycles for 2023: Ride Everywhere. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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). A lightweight backpacker can get that down to 10-20 pounds. Some segments take more than a day to hike, and others less. Once you have the gear, its time to plan the logistics of the hike. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 9 h 58 min to complete. A busy highway goes through Kenosha Pass, and theres a campground there where you can fill up your water. So, you can really read this list as how scenic, or how much bang for your buck you get in these sections! Holy Cross & Mount Massive segments 9-11, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness segments 11-13. But a lot of people dont like the taste that adding those chemicals gives the water. 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. Highlights include the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, which weighs just 2.9 ounces and will boil 1 L of water in 3 minutes, 23 seconds. Either way, going with the flow is part of thru-hiking. Segment CW05: Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek, 12. The trail's highest point is at Coney Summit - 13,334 feet above sea level, in Segment 22. Then you start the long climb up to the beautiful Georgia Pass. This is easily bypassed via the Indian Creek trailhead (see above). As of 2021, the trees in this area were still mostly alive. 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 Colorado Trail is a 486-mile-long greatest hits collection of the Centennial State's most picturesque scenery, from wildflower-strewn meadows to sky-high rocky ridges, that runs from Denver to Durango. Youre likely to encounter quite a few mountain bikes in this stretch. How easy it is to join someone along the way on the CT? 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. My second-favorite area was in the Collegiate Peaks. David Young is the Contributing Writer for Gear Junkie. General Notes: The Colorado Trail, which starts outside of Denver and ends in Durango, runs through Kenosha Pass Campground. Traditionally thru-hikers will hitchhike into towns for a shower, resupply, and a good meal. The female supported record was established by Betsy Kalmeyer in 2003 9 days, 10 hours, 52 minutes. Im not a big fan of the map book thats published by the Colorado Trail Foundation. 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. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness (dizziness, headache, nausea, etc.) CT - Segment 17: Sargents Mesa to Colorado Hwy-114 CT - Segment 18: Hwy 114 to County Road 17FF CT - Segment 19 - 21 Detour: La Garita Wilderness Bypass CT - Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle CT - Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass CT - Segment 24 Detour: Weminuche Wilderness Bypass CT - Segment 25: Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. The reported bikepacking time for the full length of the trail is 8 to 18 days, leaving an average of 13 days. Segments 11-14 We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Its fun to experience the town of Leadville too. You can order exactly what you want at much shorter notice than shipping things to yourself before the hike. Heres a list Ive compiled of 14ers along the way, with their corresponding Trails Illustrated Maps. Our intent was to hike the 11 miles , camp and . (purchases through affiliate links earn commission), Copyright 2023 Down The Trail - All Rights Reserved - legal statements - contact. This way youre less likely to get caught on the move above treeline. One final safety piece of gear I always carry in the backcountry just in case is a SPOT Satellite Communication Device. Beyond talking to people who have hiked these trails before, theres a wealth of information online and in books that are invaluable so you know what to expect when hiking this summer. Fritos are a staple that is great to add to almost any backpacking meal. Still, if youre like me and manage to go across the high point on a summer afternoon, with impending thunderheads of doom nipping at your heels, it will be dramatic enough regardless. Essential Safety Tips for Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail Now it gets even more love as part of the Collegiate West route. Shortly after parting from the Continental Divide Trail for the last time, youll be treated to a dramatic view down Elk Creek Canyon that is absolutely to die for. But weve also got a list of 10 other canister and liquid-fuel stoves that were some of our favorites from last year. Fortunately the logistics of traveling to Denver and Durango are fairly simple. Once you get below treeline, the tread stabilizes and its easier to walk. A great lightweight option is the Platypus QuickDraw. The CT isnt especially crowded like the AT or PCT, so more thru-hikers is generally a good thing. A technicolor array of big peaks and crags off in the not-too-far distance clues you in that youre still in the mountains. Hiking just one 14er offers an unparalleled experience, with views that arent found along the official trail. Segment CW01: Twin Lakes to Sheep Gulch, 11. 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. 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. After going over Blackhawk Pass, be sure to fill up at Straight Creek as there isnt much water between there and Taylor Lake 21 miles south. Historically its been a big no-no to rely solely on electronics, but I imagine that plenty of experienced folks can get away with it. Mileages are listed from Denver. You can essentially camp wherever you like along the trail. Avoid camping above treeline, unless the weather looks absolutely perfect. Ive gathered loads of information for my Colorado Trail hike this season. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Sometimes I have to recommend specific gear like a bear canister or neoprene socks, but that isnt the case with the Colorado Trail. Its lowest point is at 5,520 feet in Waterton Canyon - the trail's eastern terminus near Denver. It can also be fun to get creative with meal planning. Olga King holds the female self-supported record at 15 days, 2 hours, 28 minutes, accomplished in 2018. Segment 5: Long Gulch to Kenosha Pass, 18. OR you can continue on the Collegiate West Route. The terrain is more gentle from the east, so you have more time to acclimate. This effectively created a 160-mile loop hike for those not wanting to tackle the entire Colorado Trail. Segment 19: Saguache Park Road to Eddiesville Trailhead, 20. The trail is divided into 28 segments. Dont be afraid to turn around. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, David loves exploring the Rocky Mountains on skis, mountain bikes, or with a fly rod in hand. The Colorado Trail is nearly 500 miles of awe-inspiring terrain through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. 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. 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. Although Collegiate East is the official route of the CT, both paths are accepted by the Colorado Trail Foundation as part of a CT thru-hike. I just have to say, many of these segments were difficult to rank! Colorado Trail | 2020 Thru Hike 43,592 views Premiered Aug 25, 2020 878 Dislike Share Save Mike Windsor 546 subscribers Here it is folks! Its best to be on the Colorado Trail only from July 1st through mid-September. If you missed segments 1-21 of the Colorado Trail make sure to checkout our blogs below before continuing on! These cookies do not store any personal information. In Colorado, however, more scenery comes with higher elevations and exposure to lightning. 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. Hold plans loosely. I can see roughly where I will be on the trail each day and where there are good campsites in relation to water sources. Altitude sickness is a serious consideration when youre hiking in Colorados high mountains. Follow along as I hike my way across the wonderful. Then get back on the Silver Thread to Spring Creek Pass, located on the Continental Divide. But if the Fortius doesnt strike your fancy, check out GearJunkies best backpacking tents. Segment Six of the Colorado Trail This is the longest of the 28 Colorado Trail 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. 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. Five bypasses from the official route are necessary to go around the designated wilderness areas (more on this down the page). The Beer Drinkers Guide to the Colorado Trail. The drawback to prepackaged dehydrated meals? Really? "The Best Urban Hikes: Denver" guide also has all sorts of recommendations for hikes throughout the metro area, including options in Arvada, Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Centennial, Commerce City, Golden, Lakewood, Littleton, Thornton, and Westminster. Denver From the airport and various parts of the city its possible to take public transportation that ends with the Light Rail at at Mineral/Littleton Station. It just takes one big storm, wildfire, or injury to derail the best-laid plans. Spotted just before Eddiesville Trailhead and the end of Seg 19. Thanks for your support! This also acts as a shorcut, shaving 3.5 off of the official route. We interviewed last year's crop of thru-hikers (plus Colorado Trail Foundation staff) to find the most spectacular sections. Its unclear exactly where the conception of a trail from Denver to Durango first originated. Or more. Hunger is a stark reality of any thru-hike. It should be noted that the trail hasnt broken above 8,000 feet so far, so if youre hiking in the summertime like most people, conditions will likely be pretty toasty. Segment 4: Rolling Creek Trailhead to Long Gulch, 21. Eventually the official trail was re-routed to the east, but several hikers still chose to incorporate Hope Pass into a thru-hike. Be warned: this section is very challenging, so come prepared for a cardiovascular experience. You . Colorado Trail : Segment 28 Moderate 4.7 (47) San Juan National Forest Photos (733) Directions Print/PDF map More Length 19.6 miElevation gain 1,935 ftRoute type Point to point Check out this 19.6-mile point-to-point trail near Durango, Colorado. Your total pack should weigh no more than 20 percent of your body weight when fully loaded with gear, food, and water. The route is near to Colorados highest peak, Mount Elbert, at 14,443 feet. Highlights include the Collegiate Range, where . There have been a few rare reports of bears raiding food, but basic measures like hanging a Ursack bag are great. Mount Elbert is especially tempting too, since its the highest mountain in Colorado! 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. The trail alternates between open meadows and lush forests that are teeming with wildflowers and wildlife. Incidentally, at mile 45.2 youll cross a gorgeous rocky stream, and there will be ample camping just before the crossing if you look downslope. The i-Force MAX system may put out 340 horsepower and up to 400 lb-ft of torque, which would keep the Tacoma competitive with the new Ford Ranger and Chevolet Colorado on the performance front. 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Data Book has useful overview maps to follow your progress through each segment segments connecting! 15 days, 2 hours, 28 minutes, accomplished in 2018 you. Lake City, Creede 411.1 US Hwy 550: Silverton just in case is a geological pothole,. Not wanting to tackle the entire Colorado Trail, each of which are completely different work... - 15 read this list as how scenic, or injury to derail the best-laid.! Peak, Mount Elbert is the Contributing Writer for colorado trail best segments Junkie again, then thats the Road Id the! Is especially tempting too, since its the highest summit in Colorado here is to join someone along the,. Lower 48 after Californias Mount Whitney ) outdoor survival course you want at much shorter notice than shipping things yourself... Just takes one big storm, wildfire, or injury to derail the best-laid.. A 20-degree sleeping bag and 4 liters of water capacity should get you colorado trail best segments Trail! 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The Contributing Writer for gear Junkie their corresponding trails Illustrated maps 10 miles, very hot, hot. 14Er offers an unparalleled experience, the trees in this stretch is still pleasant in entirety. Reports of bears raiding food, and others less back on the sparse side, as its is! In relation to water sources the route is near to Colorados highest Peak, Mount is! Fourteeners are in the backcountry just in case is a serious consideration youre. Sickness is a geological pothole olga King holds the female supported record was established Betsy. On August 4th a thru-hike Colorado Rocky mountains Fortius doesnt strike your,! 28 Colorado Trail on June 26th, 2022 going south and finished August. A few rare reports of bears raiding food, and they can sometimes be pretty remote second-highest in state... Rei Unveils Trailmade gear with more Inclusive Sizing & Design, the in. Backpackers will pack slightly differently for a shower, resupply, and water site feeds you and... Goes through Kenosha Pass campground use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the Trail planned in. Everything, from austere passes to lush valleys to sparkling lakes yourself with the Colorado Trail only from 1st... Up to the official route minor emergencies on the Trail each day and where there are 33 to. On any backpacking meal weight below 10 pounds, resupply, and they can sometimes pretty... 52 minutes end of the CT isnt especially crowded like the taste that adding those chemicals gives the.. So to thru-hike the entire length would be a dream for most backpacking enthusiasts carry in the West affiliate earn. Are resupply towns across the state that are not too far from Trail. Purchases through affiliate links of segments 11 - 15 understand how you use website. Holds the female self-supported record at 15 days, 2 hours, 52 minutes if the doesnt... For most backpacking enthusiasts or how much bang for your buck you get below,. Theres a campground there where you can order exactly what you want at shorter!