Today we started at Waterton Canyon. Today mostly sucked. Hike: Grassy meadows and the occasional excursion above treeline provide frequent views of the surrounding hills and distant mountain ranges, along a route that stays almost entirely on the undulating crests of forested ridge lines. The cots were very uncomfortable. Climbs and descents are barely noticeable throughout the first half, which follows a long valley where the elevation rarely strays more than a few hundred feet from that of the starting point. We expected to see a moose but saw cows instead. ... (CT). SEGMENT 1: 16.8 Miles; cumulative total: 16.8 miles The trail winds through nearly 500 miles of the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains drawing hikers from around the world and is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. But, in its defense, we did not choose to summit Mt Massive (14,421′) or Mt Elbert (14,439′) which are two highlighted side trip summits that are easily hiked from the Colorado Trail. It was in his backpack the whole time. Interestingly enough, when I was planning this hike, my brain kind of skipped… As day-hikers, our packs were lighter then thru hikers. Thanks Tanja! History & Background Buffalo Creek Fire (1996) burned for 1 week, scorching 10,000 acres of forest covering a distance of over 10 miles with a 2 mile width. The creek in the valley is the only source of water for about ten miles in either direction, and is usually at least trickling all year. The route follows a series of trails, old logging roads, and dirt roads with multiple crossings that can be confusing at times, because it is not always clear whether it will be necessary to follow a road or look for a trail. August 1, 2010 Today’s Miles: 16.8 Beginning Elevation: 5,520 ft Dinner Elevation: 6,120 ft High Point: 7,520ft. There are several intersections in the second half of the segment, at least one of which requires a turn in the least travelled direction, but all of them are well marked. Hike: After nearly five hundred miles of climbing over countless high ridges and saddles, descending nearly a vertical mile is the perfect ending to an epic journey. September 24, 1999 Written by Charlie and Carol. Yesterday I rode the Greyhound from Durango to Denver and arrived in downtown Denver at about 6pm. I’ve added some comments to provide clarification as well as many of the pictures I took along the way. And a goal of ours is to finish the Colorado Trail one day, one section at a time. Most southbound thru hikers welcome the transition back into high alpine terrain that begins with segment 20. Was a hard push to get as far as we did with the weather. 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. Before long you’ll reach the South Platte River Trailhead and the end of this segment. Even though the trail is mostly within the Lost Creek Wilderness, it doesn't seem very remote, and there is an access point in the middle. Here is a brief recap of these first two segments. Colorado Trail Segment 1 [Trip Report] by Gordon | Jun 14, 2020 The Colorado Trail (CT) covers about 500 miles from Denver to Durango, Colorado. Starting Time: Sunday, July 14th, 7:00 AM. Figures. Bike: Even though the much celebrated Monarch Crest Trail follows this segment from its high point all the way to the end, no part of their shared five mile route, which consists of a steep, rocky trail and a rocky road, is particularly noteworthy as a mountain biking trail. This section travels near the popular hiking and skiing town of Breckenridge and ends at Copper Mountain. If you haven’t guessed already, we weren’t successful in completing the entire thru-hike, but you’ll have to read on to find out why! Woke up with my period, which I wasn’t expecting and didn’t plan for. I hardly hiked last winter due to bone spurs and a pronation problem. Roger Jenkins While the roads are inconsistent, the route is not difficult to follow. Trail Surface: Rocky roads; rocky single-track with grass. There are three fairly significant ridges to cross though, and the highest one is only a few miles from the lowest point on the segment, where the trail loops around a deep valley. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. However, there are no long stretches of trail on peaks and ridges, and the numerous deep folds in the terrain that can provide some semblance of cover are never far away. We must have left it miles ago. We pulled off the trail on Day 7 to see if the sporting goods store in Fairplay had any insoles. Bike: Even though there are some nice trails along and around this segment, few would choose to ride the whole thing on a regular basis. ( Log Out / August 1, 2010 Today’s Miles: 16.8 Beginning Elevation: 5,520 ft Dinner Elevation: 6,120 ft High Point: 7,520ft. Segment 1 of the Colorado Trail is easily accessible, located only 30 minutes from downtown Denver. Even with the reassurance of regular trail markers, it can be difficult at times to stay on the trail. I spent nearly every weekend that summer on the trail with my ex-boyfriend and his dog, and we struggled a lot pushing ourselves to make the miles we needed without jeopardizing returning to our desks on time each Monday morning. This segment is popular for mountain biking, too. Bike: It is not clear where bikes are allowed on this section, because none of the many access roads or trailheads have the standardized, designated use signs that can be found at most every other trailhead. Colorado Trail Segment 7 Goldhill Trailhead to Copper Mountain . Mount Massive, which is the second highest peak in the state, is a good side trip for this segment, and the first opportunity so far to climb a fourteener. We hitched a ride (after an hour of trying) from a local who took us right to the hostel. Thank you for sharing! This is at about mile 17.1 of the 32.9 mile trail. Good luck on accomplishing your thru-hike! Bike: Because the Monarch Crest Trail follows this section and part of the next one, and riders usually take a shuttle to the top of the pass, it is possible to encounter large groups during peak times, so plan accordingly. That said, segment 10 was … Trail Surface: Paved and dirt roads; smooth single-track with rocks. Day 6 | 07/29/17 | ~ 11.1 miles | Segment 4: MM 14.0 to Segment 5: MM 8.5, Long Gulch Campsite to Johnson Gulch Campsite. Overall, riding will be much faster than walking, but there are plenty of sections where pushing a bike will require less effort than trying to ride at the same speed. Our original plan was to hike it in seven days but we ended up completing it in five and a half. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Snowmobiling. Denver to Breckenridge. which marks the end of segment 1 of the Colorado Trail and the beginning of segment 2. Colorado Trail Segments 22-28 and Segment 1 – September 20 to October 1. Horseback Riding. Hike: At barely eleven miles, this is the shortest segment on the trail, but the highest point is over a thousand feet higher than the ends, and the elevation change overall is almost six thousand feet. The trail generally stays at treeline, traversing steep slopes almost as often as it follows ridges, with plenty of cover, and at the same time, unlimited views. There are steep sections throughout, some of which can be unridable in both directions due to loose rocks, but none are long enough to require extended periods of walking. Wide switchbacks and mostly gentle grades make riding possible throughout, but constant elevation changes and a rough riding surface will keep speeds low. Stats: 16.8 miles; 2,830-foot … The trail starts at the end of CT - Segment 1 along the Platte River. ATV Riding. Maybe my shoes were what was bothering me. Thanks for your kind words! And each time I was reminded right away that biking the Colorado Trail is not just about ‘the bike’, it’s about ‘the hike’ too… hike-a-bike… learn to love it. Hike: A combination of roads and trails gradually climb away from Marshall Pass along the Continental Divide to a high point of over eleven thousand feet near Windy Peak. https://nationalparkshikingpursuingbalancethruadventure.wordpress.com/. We made it to Segment 2! My journal entries stopped after Day 6, and for some reason unknown to even me, I wasn’t journaling about the immense pain I was in. Colorado Trail Segment Map; Toggle Photo. The first quarter of the trail is the majority of the climbing you'll do. 55 miles in 6 days and Peanut did great. Elevations approach thirteen thousand feet on several occasions, and don't drop below eleven thousand feet until the last quarter mile of the segment. 4 Things to Know Before You Segment-Hike the Colorado Trail. The fourteeners Mount Columbia and Mount Harvard are both accessible from the same point on the trail, but the route is not widely used or well established. Thanks Allan! Alternate start to the CT. While parking is available, a free shuttle system runs daily between many of the local towns and is a convenient option for those looking to avoid driving (or looking to get back to their vehicle after a hike). I will have to think of how best to show them, and what programs I can use to create them. Day 5 was the first day I cried due to the pain, but it wouldn’t be the last. I hope to try a thru hike one day. 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