Fancy a beautiful, serene trail with plenty of flora and fauna, passing through dense forests… With stunning views of the mountains, wildflowers, and pretty skies above, the Colorado Trail is every adventurer’s dream come true. The Colorado Trail is a haven for hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists or mountain bikers. It is a non-motorized area, sprawling from the eastern terminus, southwest of Denver to some miles north of Durango. It spreads through the region’s most mountainous regions and covers eight eminent mountain ranges, seven national forests, six wilderness areas, and five major river systems.
The trail elevations go from as low as 5500 feet in the Denver region to 13,334 feet on Coney Summit in the San Juan Mountains. The pronounced rises and falls make it one of the most coveted trails all over the world. If you are planning an adventure trip to Colorado, it is highly recommended that you invest in an official guidebook on the Colorado Trail. It will facilitate navigation through the challenging terrains and make the adventure much more fulfilling for you.
Understanding the Colorado Trail
The history of the Colorado Trail dates back to 1974, when Gudy Gaskill started building it. The Forest Service and Colorado Mountain Trails Foundation signed a partnership agreement in 1976. Subsequently, the trail was connected in 1987.
The Colorado Trail is bifurcated into 33 segments. They include two routes in the middle known as Collegiate East and Collegiate West. Hikers can cover the entire trail segment-wise. While some people can conclude the trail in less than four days, others suggest that two weeks is a good duration to complete the trail. It will give you enough rest and allow you to enjoy the picturesque surroundings.
The Collegiate East covers 486 miles, while the Collegiate West totals 491 miles. The trail traverses craggy peaks, alpine lakes, and creeks. Its average elevation is around 10,300 feet, with a total climbing of around 90,000 vertical feet. The highest point is 13,334 feet above sea level.
Besides natural terrains, the trail also crosses historic mining towns along ancient Native American trails, and a modern, extraordinary ski resort. The remaining parts of the trail appear just like they were 50 decades ago. If you are a hardcore nature lover, go for the western half of the trail between Monarch Pass and Durango. It is prettier as it is not exploited with human penetration. It has lovely wildflowers along the trail. The trail has something for every outdoor enthusiast that makes it a popular destination for hikers and thru-hikers.
As far as the weather is concerned, summer days are warm. However, adventurers are likely to encounter dangerous thunder and lightning storms in the afternoons, followed by warm sunshine and blue skies. Be wary of unpredictable mountain weather and snow at any time of the year. The best time to hike the Colorado Trail is June to early October, even if it is never officially closed for adventurers.
Although there is no permit needed to travel the CT, certain National Forest campgrounds and parking areas along the Trail charge a fee. You would need a State Wildlife Area Pass to travel through the first half-mile of Segment 12 on the CT Collegiate East.
Importance of a Guidebook For the Colorado Trail and Its Key Features
With the help of a guidebook, you can get every detail pertaining to the Colorado Trail. It will allow hikers, thru-hikers, mountain bikers, or equestrians to plan a successful trip on the trail. The 9th edition of the official guidebook has updated Colorado trail maps and written descriptions about all twenty-eight Colorado trail sections. It covers trailhead directions, road access points, detailed trail descriptions with distance and elevation gain, color maps and elevation profiles, campsite locations, information on water sources, and resupply towns.
The guidebook also has useful town maps and mountain bike detour maps. It will also enlighten you about the heritage, natural history, and geology of the Colorado Trail, in addition to the weather conditions. The book also has details that would help you understand the rules and regulations pertaining to the trail. In the newest edition, they have also covered 5 new chapters for the 80-mile Collegiate West trail addition.
Whenever you are going for an excursion to the Colorado Trail, you need to know about the outdoor gear to be carried and altitude acclimatization recommendations. You can find all this information in this guidebook. Besides the basic outdoor gear according to your needs, you can also carry your fishing gear and fishing license. There are a number of water bodies along the CT and you can surely explore the fishing opportunities there. Just make sure that you don’t consider it as your main food source. Always carry enough camping and hiking food packets and energy bars while hiking in Colorado springs.
The best part of the Colorado Trail is that it is well marked by western standards, thereby making it easier to follow. Still, it is advisable that you carry your guidebook along. The reason being, sometimes the signage fades away in the harsh weather conditions.
Top Reasons to Use The CT Guidebook
The Colorado Trail guidebook is enriched with all the unique insights into the trail along with historical notes and offbeat spots. It is easy to navigate and understand, even for beginner hikers.
In addition to a guide to Colorado backroads and 4 wheel drive trails, the book also consists of end-to-end elevation profiles and Collegiate East and West (plus snowpack considerations).
The full-color photographs give you a clear vision of the surroundings and what to expect along the trail.
The book also has equipment checklists, food and safety recommendations, and services and accommodations available along the route.
All this info would make it a breeze to camp through the Colorado trail.
How to Use the Colorado Trail Guidebook
Whenever you plan a trip to the Colorado trail, buy the Colorado trail guidebook (if you haven’t already). Use the guidebook for route planning and identifying the important resupply towns and trail access points. Chart out the entire plan beforehand so that there’s no confusion during the trip. Keep all the important points noted in a diary so that you don’t have to search for it in the guidebook. It will save you precious time.
While you are on the trail, go through the guidebook to make the navigation easier. It has all the information about the trail conditions and terrains along the way. It would also give you exclusive insights into the respective region that you would not find online or anywhere else.
Once you are back from the trail, use the guidebook as a memento or a resource for future hikes. You can also lend it to your family and friends who are planning to explore the Colorado Trail. They will surely be grateful to you.
Where to Purchase the Colorado Trail Guidebook?
Summit Hut is the ultimate online store from where you can find the latest edition of the Colorado Trail guidebook. And they have the best deal for you with almost 50% discount on the product right now. So, grab the offer right away, lest you miss it.
Summing it Up
Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Blue Lakes Trail, St. Vrain State Park, and Cherry Creek State Park are just some of the names of the trails in the Colorado region. There’s so much more to the entire trail that cannot be summarized in a single article. And for that, you would need the comprehensive guidebook on Colorado Trail. It encompasses everything you need to know about the trail and how to make the most of the adventure trip there.
Here’s the direct link to make the purchase and plan a memorable camping trip to Colorado: Buy the 9th edition Colorado Trail Guidebook Now>>
FAQs
1. What are people surprised to learn about hiking in Colorado?
Mostly, people are surprised to learn about the dramatic changes in the weather conditions in Colorado. Imagine a 40 degrees difference between day and night. Moreover, many trails in Colorado have loose or unstable surfaces that are challenging even for experienced adventures.
2. Is the Colorado Trail suitable for beginners?
The Colorado Trail is perfect for beginners and experts alike. Just make sure you choose the right segment and mode of navigating through it — hiking, biking, equestrian hiking, or mountain biking. For example: The Horseshoe Gulch Trail and Rocky Mountain National Park are the two best trails for beginners.
3. What is the most amazing place to camp & hike in Colorado?
With the world’s most picturesque climbing destinations, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a beautiful place to camp and hike in Colorado. Other than that, Rocky Mountain National Park is also great for dramatic hiking and stunning surroundings. It’s a sheer treat for the eyes.