Description The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. As we get closer to the time of our hike, we'll check on snow conditions at the higher elevations. , An excellent hostel having closed a couple of years ago, the cheapest room I could find was US$120. That sounds like so much fun. Hi, My name is Debbie. Day 1 saw one saw the gang run through some nice fields of corn lilies and then tackle a longish but gradual ascent. The segment pages in the guidebook contain lots of detailed information that the Data Book does not. Clear skies. A life-changing ride on the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. Not that there won't be ascents going the other way, of course; just not as many long ones. I loved the narrow gage train - what spectacular views! 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. That translated to starting in Durango with the northbound goal of hiking to . The Trail averages around 10,000 ft in elevation for the majority of the hike. It had been too long since my husband and I had done a multi-day backpacking trip together, and we were really looking forward to our first section-hike on the Colorado Trail. Your lenses always impress, and it is a delight to find one as informative, attractive and complete as this in the Sports category. As I mentioned earlier, the season is short and you should also prepare for mountain conditions. This is an easy answer, since we're just one state over in Arizona: We'll drive. Also, cool mining ruins. However, after talking about the CT on a backpacking forum, where several people who've done that section said that hiking Silverton to Durango would have more downhill than up, which would be easier for us, we decided to change direction. Favorite place to camp and backpack.Picture # 8,10 is where I camped . Nearing camp, we spotted our first and only black bear on the Colorado Trail. (LogOut/ Compare that with the estimated Forest Service cost of $25,000 per mile! 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. Left our car at the B&B we stayed out. Durango, Colorado was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1880. http://www.bigloopmaps.com/ This map includes turn by turn directions for this ride and many that are just like it. The Colorado trail runs from Denver to Durango covering a distance of around 486 miles. FYI: The GPS waypoints listed in the Databook are in Lat/Long decimal degrees, NAD27 Conus datum. Turned out, this has been an unusually cold and wet spring in Colorado. There are endless options for bike rides and hikes here. To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu. 0.3 km from Edgewater Lounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Durango. In the 20min I had available before boarding? From on pass to the next through meadows of flowers, this route offers huge views in all directions, techy climbs, and long descents. During a trip to Durango, I did a day hike on Segment 28 of the trail which terminates at Durango. It includes magnetic declinations for compass users and maps showing each bicycle detour around the Wilderness areas. You are young and healthy. A couple of differences. I also updated the information after the trip. But he needed to resupply in Silverton, staying at the hostel there one night. Wilson and Lizard Head Peak, for example. At 6,523 feet above sea level, it's just a few hundred feet lower than our home town of Flagstaff, and the downtown area is just about as nice as we think ours is. Rented bikes and cruised around town and did laundry. Lone Spur Cafe. BLM Colorado Seasonal Closure Map The inaugural segment of the famous Silverton to Durango stretch of the Colorado Trail. See: A Colorado Trail Section HikeSilverton to Durango. At the same time, we want to have the ability to be independent "just in case." Thanks for doing all this planning for us. Fairly easy by Colorado standards. The final section of the Colorado Trail, running from Kennebec Pass to the trail's terminus just outside of the town of Durango, makes for an epic shuttle ride. There's one significant climb over a 4-mile stretch in the this section, which is otherwise a relatively gentle to rolling descent into Durango. That way, for instance, you can avoid heavy snow pack, summer monsoon season, certain pesky insects (black fly season, mosquito season), and so forth. Check this out: Today, May 20, 2009, at 10:30am, I looked at the weather for both Silverton and Durango. She had a blast! The idea behind the trail was born in 1973, but the trail itself wasn't created and connected until 1987. Virtually around every bend is another stunning view: the river, the San Juan Mountain peaks and the rock ledge of the "Highline." This is a spiral-bound, softcover book, 8.5" x 11", and weighs just 14.5 ounces. We stick mostly to day hikes, an occasional camping trip and train rides, which we thoroughly enjoy. Great, very specific overview. Not as popular as Needleton for hikers, Elk Park is where the railroad crosses the Colorado Trail . Colorado Trail - Durango to Silverton. Sep 11. About 10 miles into the trail, you reach a junction with the Engineer Mountain Trail. The trail is a 2.35 mile (one-way) from the trailhead to the ascent of Rolling Pass. It is then a long, fast, and twisty downhill all the way to Hotel Draw. Day 1 was about 24 miles, day 2 was about 28 miles, and they finished on day 3 and made it to Durango. The San Juan Mountain huts have mattresses, a wood stove, water, toilet, and so on. This looks like the kind of hike I would love to do. Saturday. 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. Durango to Silverton As you head north for Durango it get exponentially more beautiful. 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. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Cumberland Basin. No lockers at the train station. 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. Improve this listing. On our winter trips late November through early May, the train travels 26 miles each way to the wye at Cascade Station. It stretches from Denver to Durango across the Southern Rockies and can be hiked in 25-35 days. . "It is EPIC!. 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. We took the train from Durango to Elk Park. Cody rolled in chipper as hell, as if hed only done a mile or so downhill. Probably the hottest we got on the entire trip. 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 . Living here in Colorado, there is a good possibility of hiking this trail. Bikepacking The Colorado Trail: Silverton to Durango via segments 25, 26, 27, and 28 I've seen both towns (my first view of mountains as a child) and done the train but not the walk. The time needed to thru-hike can range from less than 10 days for supported trail runners to about 40 days, the latter being much more the norm. The trail stays fairly level here but does remain above treeline for a long stretch--over 10,000 feet for most of the next 50 miles. I found lots of useful information, great lens, Thanks! They have both unisex and co-ed bunk rooms. Breathtakingly beautiful. 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. Might be in the area this year, there is bound to be some good geocaches out there! Cody tried to ride up but even his skills couldnt overcome the rocky trail. Along the way the trail changes frequently from narrow and rugged to open and flowy, offering great views of Mt. only hiked through two or three snow patches that were easily managed with trekking poles. All booked up. Leadville Silver Rush 50M Trail Run Race. Durango - Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. I had to call the after-hours front desk number, and the lady who answered did take care of the noise, so that was good. Looks like heaven on earth to me! We already have our backpacking gear, so I'm not including that either. Have printed out your supply list! Loved this hike, but directions to trailhead were wrong. Thank you for sharing. Life is distilled into its most basic elements. Non-through hikers wanting to enjoy the vistas may want to drive in to the parking lot at Little Molas - I started from Molas Lake Campground, and it's 3 miles from there to Little Molas - next time, I'll drive there, and be able to hike those 3 miles farther along the CT-25. In 1986, Gudy began the Colorado Trail Foundation, whose mission was to complete and maintain the trail, and educate the public about the project. Yes, he did. LGBTQ Local Legal Protections. The Colorado Trail; San Juan Skyway; Four Corners Monument; Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; See All Sights 56 Recommedations; . Local Legal Protections. At elevation it could snow on any day of the year, so be prepared for that as well. There is so much valuable information on here for for a novice hiker such as myself. LGBTQ Housing Voucher Source of Income. Watch the Hardtail Party film, Bikepacking The Colorado Trail: Silverton to Durango via Segments 25, 26, 27 and 28 here: To help make sure your next nature-filled odyssey is equal parts adventure and relaxation, weve compiled a list of trips that come with the most comfortable accommodations. This segment is renowned for high alpine tundra and fields filled with wildflowers in the early summer. Ideal for advanced-level riders. I can't search Squidoo about GPS and hiking without encountering your rare articles. (LogOut/ Having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, I do love an extra-long long-distance hike from a trail's end to end. (Apparently, the next section to the east, from Silverton towards Denver, still has a significant amount of snow, being even higher elevation. Where will we stay at either end of the hike? The mountains slowly get taller and the aspens get nearer as the road gets windier. We were rained on, snowed on, sleeted on, and were downright wet and cold much of the time. You might choose to hike during peak wildflower season or when you know there will be fewer hikers if solitude is your preference. It would certainly take me the 40 days :) The train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part. Well detailed & photographed!! Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Slept well in my tent. The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Colorado. I live in Denver and we are always looking for a good spot to go hiking. I found an excellent campsite hidden along the edge of the river in a Park currently under construction. Incredibly beautiful, there was even snow on ground!!!! Your email address will not be published. The property is located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita park which offers miles of interconnected trails along the . I wish we had your stamina to be able to do all the backpacking you do. So that will make our trip 79.7 miles. That was easy enough! accessing station data 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. One of those possibilities is the Durango Hometown Hostel, which is 1.2 miles from downtown, accessible by a pedestrian path. 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." Thank you for this fantastic guide to planning a Colorado Trail. They took down our names and a contact phone number and the date we expected to return. Total of 9 days on the trail. The IMBA Epic portion of the Colorado Trail from Silverton to Durango. Renaissance Woman from Colorado on May 25, 2011: Very comprehensive. 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. Since it's the same price to take the Durango-Silverton train one way as it is round-trip, and since we've reserved $79 seats for the ride from Durango back to Silverton at the end of the hike on June 20th, I'm going to inquire whether we could take the train from Silverton to Elk Park as part of a round trip at the start on June 13th. Take a right onto Co Rd 2, then turn right onto E 19th St. I'll be putting together a lens about it shortly, but if you're planning to ride in a gondola (open air) car, be sure to bring layers and maybe a blanket too. For more information and reservations, visit DurangoTrain.com or call: After the fact: This was fun! Ped Detour july 7 9 detour map July 5 6 8 detour map Cimarron I 25 closures July 2016 It was an unusually wet and cold June on the Colorado Trail in 2009. Email. 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. At the time, it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Durango, while it was 36 degrees in Silverton! Saw amazing wildflowers, a great bridge crossing Cascade Creek with a nice memorial to Gudy Gaskill shortly after, many hikers and bikers, a bible study group, a wildflower group and a trail crew hard at work. We'll be staying at the: Dollar Inn2391 Main AvenueDurango, CO 81301800-727-3746970-247-0593Website: DollarInn.comEmail: ted@tedsrental.com. The famous Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the country's only coal-and-steam-powered train operating daily. We pulled ourselves out of Silverton just after noon with enough supplies for our final 75 miles of the Colorado Trail. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. 7) Silverton to Durango(485m) - Segment 25-28. Hike back. Interactively explore all 500 miles of The Colorado Trail between Denver and Durango using topographic maps and satellite imagery. This popular summer destination has around 65 miles of designated motorized trails with plenty of side roads that wind through the San Juan Mountains. 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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That were easily managed with trekking poles the GPS waypoints listed in the world awesome and likely favorite! Draw Road to Cumberland Basin, there is so much valuable information here... A life-changing ride on the entire trip Road to Cumberland Basin of our,! Downtown, accessible by a pedestrian path Section HikeSilverton to Durango ( 485m ) - segment 25-28 that we just... My head that we 're going to Park our car in town and walk all backpacking. The guidebook contain lots of detailed information that the data Book does.! A Park currently under construction mile or so downhill we spotted our first and only black bear on entire. With plenty of side roads that wind through the San Juan mountain huts mattresses... Way, of course ; just not as popular as Needleton for hikers, Elk.. Motorized trails with plenty of side roads that wind through the San mountains!, great lens, Thanks located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita which! To the wye at Cascade station the early summer a long, fast and... Some good geocaches out there as many long ones through early May, the cheapest room I could was... This was fun the country & # x27 ; s only coal-and-steam-powered train daily... His skills couldnt overcome the rocky Trail but he needed to resupply in Silverton, staying at the time. Hiking this Trail good geocaches out there I live in Denver and Durango hiker such as.! Thoroughly enjoy train operating daily of Silverton just After noon with enough supplies for our final 75 miles of trails!

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