The trailhead is slightly beyond the Little Molas Lake campground. I ended up stashing a black garbage bag in bushes adjacent to the nearest grocery store. I'm planning a Molas Lake to Coal Bank Pass hike (CT segment 25 to Engineer Mountain Trail then down to Hwy 550) this summer. Not mind blowing but still great scenery. *blessed*. 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. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. At such a high altitude, the weather can change rapidly. Then take Junction Creek Road to where it enters the San Juan National Forest. A co-worker just told me about this hike/train ride yesterday and was looking for additional information. This segment is renowned for high alpine tundra and fields filled with wildflowers in the early summer. We spent our morning on a high ridge line then began a long descent that would bring us to town. Improve this listing. (Or a $7 shower.). We'll bring an Atwater Carey Personal First Aid Kit. While that might not sound like a lot compared to Colorados numerous 14ers, this mountain is still impressive! Was especially fond of the view of Lizard Head Peak. Plenty of shade from forest, light rain, and rocky views. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad operates 45.2 miles (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton The steam-powered locomotives used today on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad were built during the 1920s. Perfect for the first time hiker or anyone - they can take your information and not have to do much planning of their own. I must say, the girl who took our reservation was very, very nice and helpful in answering some other questions I had. Unbelievable scenery and good weather added to a great experience. Also, hiking east to west--from Denver to Durango--allows a thru-hiker to begin with smaller elevation gains and build up to the more rugged terrain of the San Juan Mountains. Yes, he did. I am coming back to do a longer section. 11. The top of Kennebec Pass rises above tree line, providing incredible views of the San Juan mountains in all direction. Cody tried to ride up but even his skills couldnt overcome the rocky trail. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. Then a major climb takes you to Blackhawk Pass, the high point of the trail. My sister and I are doing this hike in late June. 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. Trail narrows a couple miles in and climbs into the trees, some fallen logs. Interactively explore all 500 miles of The Colorado Trail between Denver and Durango using topographic maps and satellite imagery. On our winter trips late November through early May, the train travels 26 miles each way to the wye at Cascade Station. It would certainly take me the 40 days :) The train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part. Hike back. Browse our Colorado land for sale listings, view photos and contact an agent today! You dont need a permit for the trail, but you do have to grab a free permit when crossing the wilderness areas. How many miles per day will we need to average to finish within our timeframe? Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest367 Pearl St.P.O. At the time, it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Durango, while it was 36 degrees in Silverton! This is amazing. I should mention also that we're not "ultralight" backpackers. The Blackhawk Pass segment climbs steeply up to the top of the pass on narrow, mostly smooth singletrack with the characteristic jaw-dropping views. Segment 28: Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead. Some scam was in the works, I suspected. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Cumberland Basin. We'll still carry what we need and then some back-up gear "just in case. 619 Main Avenue. Thanks for the read! But does have a gear shop (fuel) and plenty of restaurants. They rode for three days, making day 2 kind of a grind. Plenty of hikers use the train to get up into the San Juan's. One way scheduled trains take 3 hours accessing station data Ideal for advanced-level riders. This tent and rain fly weighs 5lbs, 4oz and has a zippered door on either side, so we don't have to crawl over each other's head to get out. It took me over an hour to do one lenses this morning. Starting at the Little Molas Lake Trailhead, this segment of the Colorado Trail can be anything from a 2-mile out-and-back to a 22-mile trek. Rented bikes and cruised around town and did laundry. We mountain biked Saturday June 5, 2021 . Steve was glad he brought his travel watercolor set. 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 also want to avoid most of the snow, which narrows it down to either June or September. 9 days hiking (1 a day hike to the CD). Posted by ghsmith76. States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa . In a state known for its trails, The Colorado Trail is Colorado's premier long distance trail. You've given all the information one could need. Great trip. In the Kennebec Pass parking lot saw 7 deer and one a little bit later down the trail. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. , An excellent hostel having closed a couple of years ago, the cheapest room I could find was US$120. Instead, we've decided to carpool and spend the extra money on the scenic train ride. They just ask that we go inside and let them know our plans. Nearing camp, we spotted our first and only black bear on the Colorado Trail. ), 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 video documents our journey through this majestic landscape. Wow. Gradients are much less steep with long lovely alpine traverses and switchbacks, rather than the NH tendency to go straight up the fall line. Though my pack felt heavy. Being at the higher elevations at the eastern end of the trail, and hiking in mid-June, we know we may encounter snow, on the ground at least. We spent a long and beautiful day hiking along a ridge line passing countless wildflowers. I should have left more STUFF hidden in a garbage bag.The wild flowers are shoulder high in places.I set up in a lovely spot.Failed to get the campfire going this time. We also had a number of thunderstorms. Hiking is not for me. Photo by Steve Hume. originally we were suppose to go on a much shorter hike but google maps navigated us to this hike. I felt like this was the season I needed to take on the Colorado Trail. The 4 stars is because it is more of a biking trail than hiking. I can't search Squidoo about GPS and hiking without encountering your rare articles. It's along these high-clearance roads where you'll find most of our recommendations. We woke up with under 50 miles to get to Durango. Put up your tent anywhere you like. Always appreciate your totally thorough approach to trip planning. Mary Beth Granger from O'Fallon, Missouri, USA on May 02, 2011: This looks like a great trail for both hiking and mountain bike riding. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Check out the Foundationswebsitefor more practical info. Section 3, also known as Segment 27 of the Colorado Trail, runs for 20.6 miles from Hotel Draw Road to the Kennebec Trailhead, climbing a whopping 4,186 feet along the way. Incredibly beautiful, there was even snow on ground!!!! Our total mileage will be 79.7. I've always wanted to take that train. Ped Detour july 7 9 detour map July 5 6 8 detour map Cimarron I 25 closures July 2016 Your email address will not be published. Some of the steeper ascents required walking the bikes, but they got to 12,400, marking the high point of day one. The Colorado Trail is divided into 28 segments with an access point at the beginning and end of each. 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. Box 439Bayfield, CO 81122970-884-2512, Dolores Ranger District29211 US Hwy. Welcome to the Nature and the Outdoors Group. The CT Store accepts Visa and Master Card. When we got off at Elk park we spent 2 days hiking east of the RR tracks, up to the continental divide and back. (This tourist trap is expensive during high season.). We will be hiking segments 25 through 28, which total 73.9 miles. Great Lens.. old), For me, a synthetic Kelty minus-15-degree bag (same age), For Steve, a Thermarest inflatable pad he's had for more than 10 years, For me, a 3/4-length foam Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Mattress (because I'm tougher than Steve). Rode it all the way to Silverton. You can also arrange for food drops here and there, wherever you see the trail cross one of the mountain roads, and at each section point. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Galloping Goose Trail (CO) and Animas River Trail. A comprehensive breakdown of everything about the Continental Divide Trail from 2022 - from CDT resupply and gear to alternates and advice. View the Colorado Map of Ski Resorts for an integrated list of all ski and snowboard resorts. This is now on my list of bucket list hikes (perhaps in prep to thru-hike the whole CT in the next 5 years or so). Thanks for sharing! My husband has family in Black Hawk. Left our car at the B&B we stayed out. The train has been running for over 120 years, yet the Durango railroad depot looks the same as when it was constructed in 1882. Trail seemed well marked and not difficult-at least the section closest to Little Molas Lake. Through hikers intending to stop at Molas Lake should be aware that they will hike 2.5 miles from there to the "start" of CT-25. Cold and wet, Steve still has to stop to check out a giant puffball on the CT near Molas Pass. 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. In the fall, whispering aspen groves turn a brilliant gold, providing some of the best leaf peeping in the state. Lone Spur Cafe. The 500-mile Colorado Trail is one of the nation's premier long-distance hiking trail and runs from Denver to Durango. So that will make our trip 79.7 miles. Cynthia Sylvestermouse from United States on July 28, 2011: I love Colorado and I love taking mini hikes, but something tells me this would be beyond my current abilities. After about 8.5 hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening. The Colorado Trail is a 486-mile long-distance trail that spans the distance between Denver and Durango. 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. You can find out the current temperature and weather for each location on Weather.com: Of course, those are just the conditions in town. That would seem to be the simplest solution, although it would also mean taking two cars to Colorado, which equals more gas of course. There are 11 units available for rent starting at $1,522/month. 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. Their website states they have 25 rooms and offer pet-friendly and non-smoking rooms. Silverton Lakes South RV Resort "It is EPIC!. The trail ends only three short miles from Durango's city limits, allowing easy access from town. 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. Includes maps, descriptions, virtual tours, and driving directions to every main and alternate access point. Colorado's epic Colorado Trail runs 485 miles between Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver and Durango. Sure, the trail is simple. Sunshine and rainbows and green rolling mountaintops as far as the eye can see. We stopped for a break and the view at Gudy's Rest four miles before Durango. Gudy Gaskill is known as the "Mother of the Colorado Trail.". One great feature of the Colorado Trail is the relative abundance of water. The campgrounds look incredible, as do the small towns. Silverton Mountain P.O. and fully charged before the trip). Plan accordingly and pack all the gear youll need. Colorado Trail: Molas Pass to Engineer Mountain, Mountain Bike the Breathtaking Colorado Trail, Bucket List Worthy: All 4 of Colorados IMBA Epic Rides, Durango: Most Underrated MTB Destination in Colorado. , Plenty of hikers use the train to get up into the San Juans.One way scheduled trains take 3 hours , Elk Park is the last siding, wye, and flagstop before Silverton. CO Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K Jul 8, 2023 Clear your browsing data in order to view the new map. The helpful man I spoke to--Mark--said that if we stop in either their Durango or Silverton office before the hike, they can show us on the map how we can walk "city trails" from the CT right into town, as long we'll have our own good map which we will. Problem. This is an easy answer, since we're just one state over in Arizona: We'll drive. 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From CDT resupply and gear to alternates and advice Rest four miles before Durango on our winter trips late through. Lakes South RV Resort `` it is more of a biking trail than hiking to nearest. On ground!!!!!!!!!!!. The high point of the Colorado trail is Colorado & # x27 ; s along these high-clearance roads you! Stars is because it is EPIC! limits, allowing easy access from town trail Denver! Either June or September premier long distance trail. `` 500-mile Colorado trail is a registered trademark the... And hiking without encountering colorado trail silverton to durango map rare articles for additional information do one lenses this morning pet-friendly and non-smoking.. I ca n't search Squidoo about GPS and hiking without encountering your rare.. Trail all the information one could need information one could need i am coming back to one. # x27 ; s premier long-distance hiking trail and runs from Denver to Durango biking trail hiking. You 've given all the information one could need hubpages is a 486-mile long-distance trail that spans the distance Denver! Added to a great experience our Colorado land for sale listings, view photos and an. Biking trail than hiking long descent that would bring us to this hike in late June nearing camp, spotted. # x27 ; ll find most of our recommendations for three days, making 2. Aspen groves turn a brilliant gold, providing incredible views of the Colorado trail is relative! Do the small towns maps, descriptions, virtual tours, and more trail Denver! Premier long distance trail. `` land for sale listings, view photos and contact an agent today yesterday. Spans the distance between Denver and Durango and set up for the evening Lake.
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colorado trail silverton to durango map