The trail rises and falls dramatically. A prescription drug, Diamox, is available that can help the body acclimatize. Riding six days on car-free trail is a selling point in itself. Colorado Trail Elevation Profile. ... Total Length 32mi; Elevation Range (An alternative, though not as effective, would be to stay those days in the mile-high Denver area.) The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, and backpacking and is best used from May until October. HACE is often accompanied by confusion, loss of consciousness, fever, and a rapid heartbeat. Length 13.7 mi Elevation gain 1886 ft Route type Point to point Trip Reports. On the Collegiate West route, the Colorado Trail follows the Continental Divide Trail for 80 miles (130 km) more. The summary is, you don’t want to end up in an electrical storm on high exposed peaks or ridges, because your risk of getting struck by lightning is higher. per page. The Colorado trail meander through the following Wilderness Areas: lost Creek, Holy Cross, Mt Massive, Collegiate Peaks, La Garita and the Weminuche. The Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath are known for their mild elevation changes: canal boats and trains are notoriously flat travelers. When preparing to hike the Colorado Trail, warnings about lightning loom large. The Colorado Trail is an established, marked, and mostly non-motorized trail open to hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists. Do not proceed higher until symptoms resolve. The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail running for 486 miles (782 km) from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States. TOURING. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AltitudeAcclimatization/, The Wilderness Medicine Society guidelines are a good resource for you and your doctor: https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(19)30090-0/fulltext Following. SECTION 1 - WATERTON CANYON TO KENOSHA PASS. 1. Every map in the state of Colorado is printable in full color topos. Nearby Hiking Trails. If you know the county in Colorado where the topographical feature is located, then click on the county in the list above. It took me 35 days to complete the Colorado Trail, taking two zero days and four nero days, leaving Denver on July 6, 2016 and arriving in Durango on August 10. The Collegiate East is moderate, with gentler elevation changes on well-graded trails and lower elevations. We are suggesting that after arriving in the state, and before striking out on the Trail, that you spend a couple of days in a mountain town at 8,000-9,000 feet, an elevation range most helpful to your body as it begins acclimatizing. Buy Now. Colorado Trail [Map Pack Bundle] $24.95. From the eastern terminus at Waterton Canyon, southwest of Denver, the trail winds its way for 486 miles (782 km) through the state's most mountainous regions, to its final conclusion, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Durango. ctf@coloradotrail.org, https://www.facebook.com/groups/AltitudeAcclimatization/, https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(19)30090-0/fulltext, https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(19)30090-0/pdf, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12471292. The elevation of Colorado is particularly special as it is the highest state of all, with a mean elevation of 6,800 feet (2,070 m). Before 2015 the Colorado Trail Race always travelled North to South. Move the pointer along the graph to the end. Most people can over time acclimate to the higher elevations of The Colorado Trail, which range from 5,500 feet to 13,300 feet and average 10,300 feet. The Colorado Trail was built and is currently maintained by the non-profit Colorado Trail Foundation and the United States Forest Service, and was connected in 1987. Get Here. A few people cannot, however, including those who may have an underlying medical condition that may or may not have been diagnosed. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition The western half of The Colorado Trail, between Monarch Pass and Durango, has less human influence, greater vistas and a display of spectacular wildflowers. Items 1-8 of 21. The Eagles View Loop hike in Reynold's Park is a 4-mile, moderate, loop trail to a scenic outlook. Follow the road .2 miles to the Colorado Trail link up. How to thru-hike the Colorado Trail from end to end complete with a detailed and zoomable interactive map of the entire 486 mile long distance trail. The trail ascends through meadows and ponderosa pine forest to views of Pikes Peak and sawtooth spires and peaks of the Rampart Range. 9. In the winter, large parts of it are prohibitively difficult because of deep snow. For the classic cowboy song, see, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Journals and Photographs from people hiking The Colorado Trail, Atlasguides (formerly Guthook) Apps for the Colorado Trail, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colorado_Trail&oldid=992341034, Long-distance trails in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 December 2020, at 19:29. Consider medication. Return to Colorado Trail Page 2020 LT100 RUN CANCELLATION Set Ascending Direction. Oct 29, 2020 - Explore Leoria Sisson's board "Colorado Trail", followed by 145 people on Pinterest. Talk to your doctor about whether this might be right for you. Profile. EASY 4.3 mi. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen can offer headache relief. Golden CO 80401 From Durango, the CT ascends abruptly to more than 12,000 feet in 23 miles, which is not only more challenging physically but shortens the time for acclimatizing. Take it easy as you start the CT. Plan to hike or bike fewer miles a day the first few days than you might otherwise at lower elevations. Other sections appear much as they would have 500 years ago. Quandary Peak - East ridge PR-014. There’s no fee but one needs to ask to become a member and gain access. The hikers' custom trail is approximately 3.6 miles with an elevation change of 680 feet. But what will those daily rides look like (and feel like on the legs)? Find Colorado topo maps and topographic map data by clicking on the interactive map or searching for maps by place name and feature type. 2. Its highest point is 13,271 feet (4,045 m) above sea level, and most of the trail is above 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Despite its high elevation, the trail often dips below the alpine timberline to provide refuge from the exposed, storm-prone regions above. Share on Facebook; Share on Twitter; Share on Google+; Field Notes. Often considered one of the easier “Fourteeners” to summit, hiking Quandary Peak is challenging due to the high elevation, extreme exposure, large talus fields, and variable weather conditions. Wildlife abounds and wildflowers, in season, are abundant. Most people can over time acclimate to the higher elevations of The Colorado Trail, which range from 5,500 feet to 13,300 feet and average 10,300 feet. Ascend slowly. Community Feed + + ... Colorado Trail Segment 6 . The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail running for 486 miles (782 km) from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States. Like. The trail is managed by The Colorado Trail Foundation. While there may be water thoughout the segment, only the creek can be depended upon at any time of year. Summer days are warm with cool nights, but unpredictable mountain weather can threaten snow any month of the year. Custom Routes. A unique elevation profile highlights the trail's peaks and valleys, and an informative mileage chart shows the distance between key locations. MAP: Trails Illustrated PERMITS: none (easy self-registration for wilderness areas) DESIGNATION: primarily 7 different National Forests BEST SEASONS: July, August, September DISTANCE: 485 miles from Denver to Durango WATER: I thru-hiked with 4 liters capacity. izzyvet 4 years ago Craig Meadows to Payne Crk TH. The average elevation of the Trail is 10,300 feet, topping out at 13,271 feet just below 13,334-foot Coney Summit in southwest Colorado. But that is not common. But that is not common. Trail in White River National Forest, Pike National Forest. Violent thunder and lightning storms may ravage the afternoon sky, then quickly give way to warm sunshine and cloudless skies. The trail passes through what is considered to be some of the state's most beautiful country. Colorado Trail Elevation Profile The Colorado Trail is a 486-mile long-distance trail running from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States. In 2015 it was decided that on odd years the race would be raced South to North. About the Colorado Trail. The Collegiate West is challenging, with large elevation changes at high altitude and extended stretches above treeline, numerous high passes, and rough terrain. The trail passes through historic mining towns, along ancient Native American trails, and through a modern, world-class ski resort. The time required for a thru-hiker to complete the Colorado Trail varies greatly. 10. 1203 :: Colorado Trail, Collegiate Loop Map . National Geographic's map of the Colorado Trail is ideal for fans and hikers of Colorado's premier long distance trail. Get adequate rest. The second highest state is Wyoming, with a mean elevation 100 feet (30 m) lower than Colorado. This beautiful map shows the entire length of the trail from Durango to Denver as it passes along the ridge of the Rocky Mountains. Share this entry. Sort By. Top cyclists consider it to be a world-class long-distance trail. Moderate Difficulty Highest Elevation Point for Week - 10,880 ft Lowest Elevation Point for Week - 5,520 ft While much of the trail passes through forests, a good portion of it reaches above timberline, where trees are unable to grow and views are breathtaking. For 235 miles (378 km), The Colorado Trail runs concurrent with the Continental Divide Trail along the Collegiate East route. In addition, the east-to-west hike allows a thru-hiker to start with more gradual elevation gains and build up to the more rugged terrain of the western portion of the trail in the San Juan Mountains. ... Look at the elevation profile 2-3 days ahead as your plan your days. The majority of thru-hikers (those who hike the entire trail in one trip) hike from east to west. The Colorado Trail Elevation Profile. [5], This article is about the hiking trail. Stay high. Page. One hundred miles of extreme Colorado Rockies terrain — from elevations of 9,200 to 12,600 feet. This planning guide covers when to go, which direction, navigation, dangers, section highlights, elevation, wildlife, terrain difficulty, how long it takes and more. Elevation Profile. Drinking more water helps counteract the effects of dehydration that can make altitude sickness worse. $14.95. Along the way, it passes through eight mountain ranges, six National Forests, and six wilderness areas. While some supported trail runners can finish it in less than 10 days (the unsupported fastest-known time is 9 days, 12 hours and 32 minutes by John Zahorian[2]), most thru-hikers spend about 4 to 6 weeks (28 to 42 days) on the trail. Its highest point is 13,271-foot above sea level, and most of the trail is above 10,000-foot. …cared for by The Colorado Trail Foundation. Stats: 20.9 miles; 3,779-foot elevation gain Access: For the best parking, head south on U.S. 550 about 5.5 miles past Silverton to a dirt road marked Molas Trail. As a whole, the trail is of interest to bicyclists from beginners on up. Ascend no more than 1,000-1,500 feet per day as you get going. Despite its high elevation, the trail often dips below the alpine timberline to provide refuge from the exposed, storm-prone regions above. The Colorado Trail ranges in elevation from 6,000 feet to 13,334 feet with most of it above 10,000 feet. Rate this Hike ... Payne Creek to Craig Meadows. Sentinel Island Loop via Lakeshore Perimeter. This is a moderate one way trail in Lost Creek Wilderness Area. DIFFICULT 5.5 mi. breckenridge 100 / 68 / 32 – loop 2 – elevation profile little french flume loop 2 34.5 mi / 4,650 ft climb west ridge sallie barber gold run rd You will give the mountain respect, and earn respect from all. Recorded Trips. If you develop lung congestion, become confused, or lose coordination, this is an emergency and you should return to a lower elevation as quickly as possible. Its highest point is 13,271 feet (4,045 m) above sea level, and most of the trail is above 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Trail elevations range from a low of about 5,500 feet (1,700 m) at the Denver end of the trail to a high of 13,271 feet (4,045 m) on the slopes of Coney in the San Juan Mountains. Do some easy day hikes or rides to gauge how your body is adjusting to the change. For additional information we recommend a closed group on Facebook entitled Altitude Acclimatization. Seasonal Popularity. It makes a great planning tool or as reference to track progress on the almost 500 mile trail. Mayflower Lakes Loop via Spruce Creek Trail and Spruce Creek Road. Mile for mile the most beautiful trail in America… Because of Colorado’s relatively low humidity, you’ll lose more-than-normal moisture with every breath. View as Grid List. Colorado Trail: Segment 1 is a 18 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Littleton, Colorado that features a river and is rated as difficult. [3], The Colorado Trail is one of the few major long trails that allow mountain biking. The practical season for the entire Colorado Trail is roughly July, August and September, though low elevation portions near Denver are often accessible April through June. 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