Hiking the Colorado Trail

About the Trail

The Colorado Trail is an exciting long-distance trail running continuously through the Rocky Mountains, from the suburbs of Denver to the outskirts of Durango. The trial was completed in 1987, making it a very young trail as far as long-distance hikes go. It is divided into 28 segments, with an average elevation of over 10,000 feet. It is known as a non-motorized trail, allowing travel by bike, horse, or other pack animal on any trail section that is not specifically marked as foot-traffic only. Bikers should note that detours exist around wilderness areas. Total distance is 471 miles, not including short approach trails on either end. Few people attempt thru-hikes of the entire trail, from end to end. We only met ten other people attempting to do so in 1997. The large majority travel east to west, as the snowpack and altitude acclimation are gentler this way.

The highest point on the trail is located over 350 miles into the hike, heading west from Denver. Coney Summit at 13,080 feet is surrounded by 12,000-footers and challenges the lungs to new depths. The lowest point on the trail isn't even on the trail — it is the parking lot where you begin your walk down the approach trail. Waterton Canyon parking lot is at 5,520 feet, still a challenge to the lungs if from the lowlands of back East!

Information, guidebooks, maps, and tips can be accessed through the Colorado Trail Foundation, P.O. Box 260876, Lakewood, CO 80226. To contact the CTF, call them at (303) 384-3729 x.113, send e-mail to ctf@coloradotrail.org, or visit www.coloradotrail.org.

Getting to the Trail

Both Denver and Durango are serviced regularly by several air carriers. Travel to the Waterton Canyon terminus from Denver can be done by taxi, or when available, a member of the Colorado Trail Foundation may be able to shuttle — contact the foundation for details. Travel from the Junction Creek terminus to Durango can easily be hitched, and taxi service is available. Many of the trail towns are also serviced by long-distance bus services. Some of the ski areas also offer local bus transportation that can be helpful in planning single- or multiday hikes.

When to Hike

The hiking season on the Colorado Trail is dictated by the lingering snow above tree line. Generally, July and August are the best times to hike, offering good wildflower viewing and little snow. If starting from the Durango terminus, a few more weeks of waiting may be beneficial. Snow begins to fall steadily again (it can fall at any time of year in the high country!) in September. For those starting early, extra caution should be taken in planning. The north faces of high passes will most likely be laden with snow, and crossings can be dangerous or even deadly.

Resupply

Resupply is fairly easy, as the trail passes over dirt roads, mountain roads, and major highways the entire length of the trip. Resupply can be done in grocery or convenience stores in the majority of the towns, though mail drops would be more reasonable for the sake of food variety and cost in some locations. Though the trail is not extremely well known in most areas, hitchhiking never proved to be a problem for my mother and me. Who wouldn't pick up a backpacking mother and daughter obviously in need of good food and a hot shower?

Equipment and Preparation

For preparation, my mother and I completed about one month of weekend hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. We knew these mountains would not completely prepare us for the Rockies of Colorado, but hiking with the packs on and walking together beforehand was definitely a huge advantage for us, and the trails of Virginia are actually steeper than those on the Colorado Trail. Being a pack trail, the grade in Colorado is kept to a minimum using switchbacks. We also planned an extra day of acclimating in Denver before actually beginning the trek, though in hindsight I wish it had been longer. Our resupply stops were almost exclusively mail drops prepared ahead of time, with perishable goods like cheeses and bread bought in towns.

The Colorado Trail has only one shelter, so tenting or tarping is a must. Campsites are limited by water supply, so when planning daily mileage, attention should be paid to the location of reliable water sources. A water purification system is a must — many of the water sources are also used by livestock. Other gear we carried included full-body rain protection, fleece tops and full long underwear, hats, gloves, sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses. We also each carried a mylar-covered umbrella for protection from the sun, which proved to be one of my most valuable pieces of equipment. Temperatures in the day reached the seventies sometimes, while at night it could be below freezing. We did not find crampons, snowshoes, or an ice axe necessary, but either a significant change in hiking dates or a particularly bad snow year could make a difference.