My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. Gorgeous! Originally, I thought it would be nice to hike west to east, from Durango to Silverton, for a couple of reasons, one being that we could do future contiguous sections, all heading to the east, so we'd always begin where we last ended. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. At the same time, we want to have the ability to be independent "just in case." document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); View infinitegeographys profile on Facebook, View infinitegeographys profile on Instagram, The Colorado Trail: 110 Miles from Saguache toSilverton, Gear Review: Enlightened Equipment Enigma Down SleepingQuilt. The trail remains well above 11,000 feet until after Blackhawk Pass. For certain a favorite segment on the Colorado Trail! Mostly, I just thought it would be fun that way. 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. Plenty of shade from forest, light rain, and rocky views. Evelyn Saenz from Royalton on June 03, 2009: Thank you for joining us on A Walk in the Woods and don't forget to add your lens to the appropriate plexo. The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury. Dedicating a month of your life to the Trail has its price. They're available to take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. This is an absolutely beautiful stretch of the Colorado Trail, right through the heart of the San Juans. The Colorado Trail near Silverton has popular high elevation routes for mountain biking and hiking. Our present itinerary brings us to Durango for the railroad trip on Saturday. 5/29/09 Update: Okay, we're all set. Steve Hume and friends head out for a multi-day adventure on the Colorado Trail. Marathons in Colorado from Jul 8, 2023 to Jul 14, 2023. . Nancy Tate Hellams from Pendleton, SC on September 01, 2012: I was looking for a great Trail lens for the quest and I sure found one. Durango. Once we do the hike, I'll come back and add information (in bold), including anything that maybe didn't go as planned. This will allow us to "slack-pack" those first steep miles of the trip. We did opt for the B&B to pamper ourselves before and after the hike. 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. Off and up.Gorgeous scenery. More Information Silverton, CO. . Map & Directions Map Coordinates: 37.770467, -107.805276 Trailwork help build our trails! I think it will be my 50th b-day present to myself. With a tube necessary and the gang still on day one, they used an old repair trick in hopes of enhanced durability: a foil chocolate wrapper between the tube and damaged sidewall. When we get off the train, we'll have an elevation gain of more than 1,800 feet, right off the bat. Nearing camp, we spotted our first and only black bear on the Colorado Trail. For sure, there are lighter-weight, new and improved models on the market, but for some items, we're just gonna go with what we have. But I used to do day hikes. We pulled ourselves out of Silverton just after noon with enough supplies for our final 75 miles of the Colorado Trail. I have done the train. I stayed on the train at both Needleton and Elk Park. Trail narrows a couple miles in and climbs into the trees, some fallen logs. We can park at the Visitor Center. We'll be staying at the: Dollar Inn2391 Main AvenueDurango, CO 81301800-727-3746970-247-0593Website: DollarInn.comEmail: ted@tedsrental.com. 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. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run . Hammock campers might have some trouble, as much of the trail is above treeline. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. The last 10 miles or so were mostly downhill, letting the guys pick up the pace. This entire stretch of singletrack has also been designated by the International Mountain Bike Association as one of their "Epic" rides. Cuisines: American, Southwestern, Cafe. The miles will feel like theyre ticking along quickly, as the views from Indian Trail Ridge are to die for! 1125 S Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81303-6886. Thanks again! 18,000) by Roadrunner, the only long distance bus in and out of town. 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. Ideal for advanced-level riders. I have another trip planned with some friends in late June, so Steve and I have decided to do this hike mid-month. (LogOut/ This popular summer destination has around 65 miles of designated motorized trails with plenty of side roads that wind through the San Juan Mountains. 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. Cody rode a single-speed bike, so you might presume that he knows his way around a mountain bike. 13.7 miles laterwe made it!! 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. 379 reviews. Hiked with my daughter and son-in-law Segments 25-28 (Durango terminus) mid July. Loved your write up - as a Colorado native I was impressed of your review of one of my favorite places. The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Colorado. Local Legal Protections. This time, though, we'll pay two visits, once just before we begin our hike and then a longer stay after we're done, when we ride back on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway. At elevation it could snow on any day of the year, so be prepared for that as well. Since our train from Silverton to Elk Park doesn't leave till 2pm on Saturday, we've decided to stay at Molas Lake Campground our first night on the trail and then continue on into Segment 25. Some scam was in the works, I suspected. After the fact: Well, we ended up staying at the Spanish Trails Inn on Main Street instead, because it was just $39 plus tax, and also because the Dollar Inn was undergoing renovations and didn't look so hot at the time. Durango is about six-hours from here, but we're starting our hike in Silverton, so that's about another hour and a half through the mountains on US 550, also called "The Million-Dollar Highway." In the fall, whispering aspen groves turn a brilliant gold, providing some of the best leaf peeping in the state. James had a minor OTB but he picked himself up and rode on without much trouble. All along this stretch, the views of the surrounding jagged mountains are incredible, the singletrack is narrow and sinuous, and theres nary a sign of civilization. Arrived Durango, Colorado (pop. After the fact: I think this average mileage might feel rushed to some folks, especially if weather becomes a factor and you want the option to wait it out for a while. Your mentioning of getting off the Silverton - Durango train reminded me of my backpacking trips up into Chicago Basin. Not mind blowing but still great scenery. You might want to contact ColoradoTrail.org to ask about camping spots in that section. Access: For the best parking, head south on U.S. 550 about 5.5 miles past Silverton to a dirt road marked Molas Trail . From online reviews I've read, I expect the rooms will be basic but clean. After the river you climb up the Elk Creek Canyon to above 12000. Colorado. We took the train from Durango to Elk Park. FYI: The GPS waypoints listed in the Databook are in Lat/Long decimal degrees, NAD27 Conus datum. I am originally from Durango and this brings back many memories. This section of the Colorado Trail is popular for high elevation mountain biking routes. 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. He said that section was targeted for work later in the summer. 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. This guide gives you trail information at a glance. Hope you enjoy your visit to my neck of the woods and if you happen through Naturita stop in and say hi!!! We're going to take the train from Silverton to the Elk Park "short stop" on 6/13. Sierra Designs Sirius III: We're two people but prefer the extra space in a 3-man tent. On our last trip, we rode the cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak and had lunch at the restaurant at the top. We've visited this small city of about 16,000 residents several times. I had a ride within minutes. I read that the year-round average temperature in Silverton is just 35.6 degrees, and the frost-free growing season can be as short as twelve days! Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. I'd imagine Colorado has some of the best hiking in the country. At the time of year we'll be hiking, the hostel runs $22 to $28 per person per night, including tax. Rather than arrange for a shuttle from Durango back to our vehicle in Silverton, we decided to treat ourselves to a scenic train ride on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which has been in continuous operation for 127 years. For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. Remove. I'm a few hours away from Durango these days, but still hoping. My trek in the Lofoten Islands of Norway got me in pretty good shape but it also meant I would get a late start on the CT. 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