I found myself saying goodbye to the silly marmots, the colorful fields of wildflowers, the endless mountain views. The Colorado Trail Map Book, with shaded relief, full-color topo maps showing the entire trail, is available only from the Colorado Trail Store (unless you can find someone with a used copy to sell). Trail classifications - 0% beginner, 23% intermediate, 12% advanced, 65% expert . Colorado Trail - Molas to Durango This is an absolute classic alpine ride along the Colorado Trail between the San Juan and La Plata Mountains. Amazing so many views of Engineer Mountain and the Weimenuche Wilderness. Open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders, the Colorado Trail is 482 miles long, extending from Denver to Durango. Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. There are plenty of ways to get from Durango to Silverton if you have activities planned in the nearby town. You've given all the information one could need. Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K. Leadville is a strange choice. Durango offers great hiking, stagecoach rides, biking, an excellent foodie scene, rafting and floats on the Animas River, a hot spring, and so much more. This can mean more time to enjoy scenic views, the "small things," and nice campsites. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. I had planned on taking the 9:30am train. I went to molas pass at road and turned around. " 03/01/2023. We woke up with under 50 miles to get to Durango. Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest367 Pearl St.P.O. Wonderful lunch spot by a brook babbling through rock formations in the middle of a huge grass/ wildflower meadow. Outstanding! It is equally as challenging as it is rewarding with mountain views as far as the eye can see, intricate cliff walls, waterfalls, caves, and fields of wildflowers in every shade. As I mentioned earlier, the season is short and you should also prepare for mountain conditions. The CT often takes its hikers well above treeline and far from roads, so go prepared for any kind of weather at any time of year. The property is located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita park which offers miles of interconnected trails along the . It includes magnetic declinations for compass users and maps showing each bicycle detour around the Wilderness areas. The Colorado Trail is mostly dispersed camping. For our next CT section-hike, from our starting point this time, we'd just take the train back to Elk Park and head the other way--eastward. We took the train from Durango to Elk Park. Like I said, it's all good. We spent an extra day in Durango after. Copyright 2023 Skyblue Overland, LLC. This stretch will give you great views of the La Plata and southern San Juan Mtns - Grand Turk, Engineer, Twin Sisters, Twilight, Hesperus And in the Summer, you are waist-deep in wildflowers for most of the trail !! 5/29/09 Update: Okay, we're all set. Cody rode a single-speed bike, so you might presume that he knows his way around a mountain bike. Colorados epic Colorado Trail runs 485 miles between Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver and Durango. We're now planning to do this hike with a third person, so we could use two cars and leave one in Durango at the trailhead. The pretty view from Gudys Rest was a bit restricted due to rain. Site Map; Advertising; Licensing; NEWSLETTER SIGN UP. Sierra Designs Sirius III: We're two people but prefer the extra space in a 3-man tent. But passengers have ample views to keep them occupied. We also had a number of thunderstorms. " Love this place! Perfect for the first time hiker or anyone - they can take your information and not have to do much planning of their own. Where will we stay at either end of the hike? 50K, 26.2M, 8M run. Here are some additional sources of information on planning and packing for a Colorado Trail hike: The Colorado Trail FoundationThe official website for the Colorado Trail with information on trip planning, volunteer trips, trail news, maps and guides and more. BLM Colorado Seasonal Closure Map Which direction should we hike? The first section of the Silverton to Durango stretch runs from Molas Pass to Engineer Mountain. I rode this section as part of a longer ride from Lizard Head Pass to Durango. Segment has more beautiful vistas. Section 25 of the Trail, where they started, runs fairly close to the Bolam Pass Hut, so if you plan ahead you may be able to arrange to take some space there in relative luxury. What I see as some of the up-sides to section-hiking are: And there are a few things that might be considered drawbacks of section-hiking: As I write this article, we're currently in the process of gathering information and making our plans, so there will be some things I'll have to add. Various Maps of the Colorado Trail. We'll be staying at the: Dollar Inn2391 Main AvenueDurango, CO 81301800-727-3746970-247-0593Website: DollarInn.comEmail: ted@tedsrental.com. Camp sites at Little Molas lake are car accessible so can fill up, (first come/served). We stick mostly to day hikes, an occasional camping trip and train rides, which we thoroughly enjoy. Well detailed & photographed!! Steep climbs but well worth it. The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail extending for 486 miles from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado. Our present itinerary brings us to Durango for the railroad trip on Saturday. Open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders, the Colorado Trail is 482 miles long, extending from Denver to Durango. Alpine ridges, wildflowers as far as you can . Wide open ,next to trees.Early morning pictures 11,12. . No blood, no worries. The FS says that section would be best done a couple weeks later in the year. Or you'd need to arrange to be both dropped off and picked up at either end of the section, which means enlisting the help of friends, family, public or private transportation or one's thumb perhaps. Five Stars and a Fav. And some things may change. There is reserved seating on the train. Our remaining miles descended at a easy grade while we reminisced over the past month of hiking. Out of the entire Colorado Trail, arguably the most highly-acclaimed portion is the long stretch running from the town of Silverton to the southern terminus of the trail in Durango. Description The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. Kiwisoutback from Massachusetts on September 13, 2010: I would love to hike the Colorado Trail someday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Oddly, CT-24 ends and CT-25 begins at 550, not at the campgrounds at Molas Lake or Little Molas Lake. Thanks for doing all this planning for us. Once the trail enter the trees the technical, rocky nature--now mixed with roots--continues, demanding complete attention. I have a couple of Colorado sites as well. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. I found out that the trail does not go right into Silverton, and the nearest CT trailhead is about 7 miles away on the Million Dollar Highway, which is narrow and not safe for walking along the side of the road. trip report by site editor Rick McCharles, day 1|day 2|day 3|day 4|info page, Durango Silverton Molas Pass Lime Creek. Turned out, this has been an unusually cold and wet spring in Colorado. Sherry Venegas from La Verne, CA on June 02, 2009: This area is spectacular. Durango to Silverton or vice versa? The last 10 miles or so were mostly downhill, letting the guys pick up the pace. Before getting to the Million Dollar Highway at Molas Pass, there's a short side-trail that leads to Molas Lake Campground. For 140 years, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been transporting passengers through the remote, scenic wilderness and high mountain landscape of the San Juan National Forest.. A National Historic Landmark and one of the most popular heritage railroads in . This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. I just came across this. Across the highway. Steve Hume and friends head out for a multi-day adventure on the Colorado Trail. We can park at the Visitor Center. At a top speed of 18 miles an hour, the train takes about 3.5 hours to travel from Durango to Silverton. This is an amazing lens and I would love to go on a trail like this. While not technically the highest-elevation portion of the trail, nevertheless this section stays very high in the San Juan Mountain Range. Also, cool mining ruins. Saw amazing wildlife: a herd of elk, 3 deer, pica, grouse and several marmots. On a single-speed, no less. Answer 1 of 7: We (a late-middle aged couple) are planning to visit this part of Colorado in early June next year. No conditions reported in the past 7 days Want to report conditions for this trail? Incredibly beautiful, there was even snow on ground!!!! ), Esbit fuel tablets (so the other of us can cook a second item or heat water for drinks while the Whisperlight is in use). This stretch of the trail also had the most people, unsurprisingly, but its manageable. Excellent, the lens is so well done, I can walk on your steps. Our final full day of hiking had arrived. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. My last restaurant meal before hitting the trail.I wandered the town while my togs were drying. Silverton Mountain P.O. Day 3 was mostly downhill to the Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. The elevation of the Colorado Trail ranges from 5,280 feet at the eastern end near Denver to 13,000 feet at Silver Mesa near Durango to the west, passing through three "life zones" along the way. To order, call the CT Store at 1-866-279-6962 (toll free). Hopefully I can get out on some trails when I visit the US later this year! Actually, Silverton has no grocery store. So definitely go prepared for anything, no matter what the time of year, especially given the high elevations along the trail, often over 11,000 feet for long stretches with no easy "out.". Drops, roots, boulders--as the singletrack transitions down into drier climate zones, the technical challenges just keep coming, all the way until the final relatively-smooth stretch before the trail's terminus. In the morning, we'll drive to Silverton, where we'll leave the car at the Visitor Center as planned, take the 2pm train to Elk Park and hike BACK to the campground. At elevation it could snow on any day of the year, so be prepared for that as well. According to theColorado Trail Foundation, mileage for those four segments is: Most people on the trail camp, and you can do that nearly anywhere you can lie down, but the meadows are preferred. For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. My husband is a train enthusiast and someday we hope to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway train. Clothing: (each person, some of it on the person). The trail system mainly consists of old mining roads that wind near abandoned mines, railroads, mills, and ghost towns, providing visitors a glimpse into the areas history. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Thanks for providing such extensive and useful information. @KathyMcGraw2: Same here, im really enjoying reading about these trips. The trailhead (elevation: 6983 ft) is on Junction Creek Road, around 2.5-3.0 miles from downtown Durango (there is also another parking lot that grants access . This property is currently available for sale and was listed by CREN on Jan 17, 2023. But that's not always feasible, often due to time constraints and other obligations. The ride up was a lil tough but the ride down was awesome. The segment pages in the guidebook contain lots of detailed information that the Data Book does not. What may be t-shirt temps in the valleys can turn into numbing wind and a whiteout at the passes. BEAUTIFUL (of course). (LogOut/ Very well done and lots of detail. Durango, Colorado, Travel Information. The campgrounds look incredible, as do the small towns. But once on top, its time to rip down! My husband has family in Black Hawk. Colorado Trail - Durango to Silverton. The inaugural segment of the famous Silverton to Durango stretch of the Colorado Trail. Trail seemed well marked and not difficult-at least the section closest to Little Molas Lake. This will take you to Coal Bank Pass or Cascade Creek. So glad to see your article! Someday .. Hi! Hoping there are enough level areas along the way for some options to stop for a night along the way. I'm impressed with the train track too! They rode for three days, making day 2 kind of a grind. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado. These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. I love reading about your hikes, and this one was no different. Skyblue Overland may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. 549.3 Miles 884.0 KM 70% . Close by the trailhead isJunction Creek Campground, which would be a convenient way to continue your camping adventure. Blessed. And, to some extent, we're using old gear, because it ain't broke, basically. It was just a cub, and we were glad we never saw mom. I've got it in my head that we're going to park our car in town and walk all the way to Durango. The ticket office for the Silverton train opened at 7am. We were rained on, snowed on, sleeted on, and were downright wet and cold much of the time. 9 days hiking (1 a day hike to the CD). Explore Colorado Trail- Silverton to Durango - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. After the fact: We did stop in at the Silverton Forest Service Office, but the man there didn't know anything about hiking from the CT into downtown Durango. Have printed out your supply list! All booked up. What a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July! Month January; February; . 1125 S Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81303-6886. Nice waterfall in a box canyon. What started out as a fairly warm day in Durango turned rainy and very cold by the time we got halfway to Silverton. Update of 5/2709: Okay, I found a hotel for us, and it's a 1/2-mile from the train station, which will make getting there in the morning very easy. Hi, My name is Debbie. Thats a good reminder to check your first-aid kit; is it ready? That comes to 12.32 miles per day from Sunday through Friday. Always appreciate your totally thorough approach to trip planning. The Columbine Ranger District (367 Pearl St., Bayfield, CO 81122; 970-884-2512) of the San Juan National Forest oversees dozens of trails, both for day hikes and backpacking. There is also the option of taking the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway train from Silverton to Elk Park, where we could access the Colorado Trail (there's a "short stop" there), but I'm not sure I'd want to do that either, for the same reason I gave above. Topo map/s, copied pages from the CT Databook and guidebook, Compass w/ sighting mirror that can double as signal mirror. Tried to walk today from Bolam Pass direction. I was using McDonalds WiFi by 6am next morning. only hiked through two or three snow patches that were easily managed with trekking poles. I grew up in Durango, left for college and now live in Montana. I think it will be my 50th b-day present to myself. The Durango Train is world famous and one of the most popular heritage railroads in North America, offering a unique, affordable, family-friendly travel experience that combines Colorado's colorful pioneering and mining histories with unparalleled Rocky Mountain beauty. This segment is renowned for high alpine tundra and fields filled with wildflowers in the early summer. 7) Silverton to Durango(485m) - Segment 25-28. While that might not sound like a lot compared to Colorados numerous 14ers, this mountain is still impressive! For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." is one and the same with the Continental Divide Trail. We're planning to leave our house on Friday, June 12th after Steve gets off work and drive all the way to Molas Lake Campground, which is just off Highway 550 about seven miles before the town of Silverton. Ideal for advanced-level riders. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run . The trailhead is slightly beyond the Little Molas Lake campground. So we'll keep looking. Im a New England hiker, and after acclimatizing to the altitude, found the Colorado Trail much gentler than NH trails- more dirt, fewer rocks and very few roots. Life is distilled into its most basic elements. . Change). Colorado Colorado Frequently Requested Maps Web Maps BLM Colorado Interactive Map - view and interact with BLM Colorado's GIS data such as mining claims, grazing allotments, wilderness boundaries, surface management agency and more without the need for specialized installed software. I am new to Squidoo. Not to mention the fact that spending six months on a trail, or even a month or so on the CT, isn't for everyone. Though my pack felt heavy. It brings back memories of our trips to Colorado. Region Map - South . Daily runs between Durango and Silverton operate May 2nd through October 31st, 2009, with prices ranging from $79 to $179 for adults for the 3.5-hour trip. One of my all time favorite back packs for sure. Sure, the trail is simple. So as of right now, we're planning to hike the railroad right-of-way from Silverton along the Animas River to rendezvous with the CT. 5/28/09 Update: Well, I didn't realize it's illegal to hike a railroad right-of-way (people apparently just do it, but I don't like to break rules), so we're coming up with plan B. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. We should expect some snow to remain in the trees, but they say it'll be more "messy" than a hindrance and we won't need snowshoes. Many people experience the trail each year during the short season from June to September, and some share their experiences. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. +1 970-382-5911. We spent our morning on a high ridge line then began a long descent that would bring us to town. Steve will carry the tent, while I'll carry a lightweight "all weather" space blanket, which has grommets so I can rig it as a tarp using my nylon cord and hiking poles. My kind of life. Also, any additional. I ended up stashing a black garbage bag in bushes adjacent to the nearest grocery store. A brief introduction to the Colorado Trail The Colorado Trail (CT), completed in 1987, spans 567 miles through the heart of the southern Rocky Mountains. I should mention also that we're not "ultralight" backpackers. Hiked from beautiful Kennebec Pass (July 4, 2022) at end of 4WD Road #124 and passed scenic Taylor Lake. No lockers at the transit station. And thunder and lightning and hail. This video documents our journey through this majestic landscape. Spectacular views - I love this segment! You can vary the length of sections, from days to weeks or more, or even as short as day-hikes, to accommodate the time off you have. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. For the day, the group logged 28 miles and more than 3500 of climbing in 11 hours, including an arduousand soul destroying stretch at Kennebec Pass right before they ended the day at dusk. This is a very useful and what I consider indispensable resource for hiking the CT, and I'd highly recommend photocopying pages for the section you'll be hiking and taking them with you. Join evoTrip x Outdoor Leadership xCAPiTAon a 7-dayadventure inKrippenstein, Austria, which offers some of the best free-riding in the world. 18,000) by Roadrunner, the only long distance bus in and out of town. The problem was the people in the room next to us. Lot 5043 Siksika Trail, . Steve was glad he brought his travel watercolor set. That means summer storms that roll in after lunch, often packinglightning. Located approximately 50 miles from downtown, it offers a wide variety of outdoor activities and events that attract visitors looking to get out of town for the day. But he needed to resupply in Silverton, staying at the hostel there one night. I just want to let you know that I admire your passion for the outdoors and I appreciate your effort in sharing it with us. Day 2 for these guys started with awesome views and a nice flowy downhill of three miles. On a thru-hike, you get into "trail shape" and can get acclimated to altitude as well. Colorado Trail - Littleton-Durango The Colorado Trail is Colorado's foremost trail that is widely recognized by outdoor enthusiasts due to its high elevations, beautiful sceneries, and spectacular recreational offerings. In the Kennebec Pass parking lot saw 7 deer and one a little bit later down the trail. The book can be disassembled, so you can carry just what you need. For this trip, our #1 criteria will be: hot shower! You'll also find a complete list of nearly 1200 GPS waypoints in UTM & Lat Long formats. That was easy enough! Leaving a well-deserved *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~*. We'll be in Segment 24 at that point and have 5.8 miles of hiking to Molas Pass, the beginning of segment #25. LGBTQ Local Legal Protections. I'd imagine Colorado has some of the best hiking in the country. There is an overall map that covers segment 24 to 28, in addition to individual maps of each of these 4 segment listed below. Leadville Silver Rush 50M Trail Run Race. we decided to go for it! 343 miles Distance from the CT: Approx. With nearly 500 miles of length from Denver Metro to Durango, it may take up to six weeks to complete its entire length. Great trip. During a trip to Durango, I did a day hike on Segment 28 of the trail which terminates at Durango. It's going to be an awesome trip! Website. Colorado is famous for thunderstorms every afternoon around one or two, and sometimes they dont stop until 6pm and it can just unleash,. Thanks for sharing a great lens. Mostly, I just thought it would be fun that way. Colorado Trail Segment 26 passed Blackhawk Mountain and many stunning vistas on its way to Celebration Lake and Bolam Pass Road. LGBTQ Housing Voucher Source of Income. I love them for bikepacking!. World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent! Camping along the trail. Given that we fully intend to stick together for the entire trip--not to mention that we're a couple--Steve and I will be sharing some gear. As in, at least 30 degrees colder and a lot wetter. Molas Pass is at 10886 but you then hike down to the Animas River and the train tracks at 8918. For trail conditions and other information, I've been contacting the San Juan National Forest Public Information Center at 970-247-4874. Day one also saw a hefty sidewall slice in one of James tires. Hikers are hitching back and forth the 7 miles to Molas Pass all the time. **I spoke to Mark, who's "the hiker" in the office, and he was a BIG help in planning our trip. The Colorado Trail is incredible and a lovely length for a thru hike. Cool shelter cabin on Bolam Pass Road. Sherry Venegas from La Verne, CA on June 21, 2012: Looking good after the photo rearrangement. My plan was to take the train to Silverton. There is so much valuable information on here for for a novice hiker such as myself. Excellent info; thank you! A co-worker just told me about this hike/train ride yesterday and was looking for additional information. Hiked with my daughter and son-in-law Segments 25-28 (Durango terminus) mid July. There are endless options for bike rides and hikes here. So, if we take the 2pm train from Silverton to Elk Park (wilderness access) on Saturday, June 13th, and hike to Molas Lake Campground that afternoon, we'd have six full days remaining to hike the remaining miles to Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. This looks like the kind of hike I would love to do. To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. For more information and reservations, visit DurangoTrain.com or call: After the fact: This was fun! It stretches from Denver to Durango across the Southern Rockies and can be hiked in 25-35 days. Easier. Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. Turn left onto Cement St, then make your next left, and the RV park will be straight ahead. We had planned on 10. Location and contact. For Rent. Kennebec Pass is beautiful. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado.
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