Molas Pass is at 10886 but you then hike down to the Animas River and the train tracks at 8918. All along the trail youll enjoy great views, but pull off of rough sections so you dont wipe out while gawking! Great trip. Some scam was in the works, I suspected. Given that we fully intend to stick together for the entire trip--not to mention that we're a couple--Steve and I will be sharing some gear. We already have our backpacking gear, so I'm not including that either. We completed the trail from July 5 August 10. Leadville is a strange choice. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." Their website states they have 25 rooms and offer pet-friendly and non-smoking rooms. The ride up was a lil tough but the ride down was awesome. The hostel is also serviced by the Durango "T" public transportation. It is equally as challenging as it is rewarding with mountain views as far as the eye can see, intricate cliff walls, waterfalls, caves, and fields of wildflowers in every shade. Oddly, CT-24 ends and CT-25 begins at 550, not at the campgrounds at Molas Lake or Little Molas Lake. Hiking is not for me. Would we perhaps enjoy it more by rearranging this for the Friday. Jul 8, 2023. I am coming back to do a longer section. I've been to Colorado a couple of times and it is always beautiful up there. I loved the narrow gage train - what spectacular views! We are looking forward to our next trip to Colorado, which is enhanced even more so by your lens. 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. Trail seemed well marked and not difficult-at least the section closest to Little Molas Lake. Filters. Indeed, between departing from Highway 550 at Molas Pass and entering the town of Durango, the only sign of human life is the occasional dirt road crossing. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. 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. " Love this place! So that will make our trip 79.7 miles. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. Is it anywhere near downtown Durango? After the fact: The folks at the Visitor Center were very nice. Arriving at the pass I met a European who was nearly finished the 500 mile Colorado Trail. It would certainly take me the 40 days :) The train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part. We took the trolley/bus at the first opportunity into downtown. 1125 S Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81303-6886. This elevation range has a major effect on climate. 45 Hermosa View Dr, Durango, CO 81301 is a lot/land. In a state known for its trails, The Colorado Trail is Colorado's premier long distance trail. You dont need a permit for the trail, but you do have to grab a free permit when crossing the wilderness areas. For our next CT section-hike, from our starting point this time, we'd just take the train back to Elk Park and head the other way--eastward. Section 25 of the Trail, where they started, runs fairly close to the Bolam Pass Hut, so if you plan ahead you may be able to arrange to take some space there in relative luxury. So section-hiking is another option. That would seem to be the simplest solution, although it would also mean taking two cars to Colorado, which equals more gas of course. Steve Hume from the Hardtail Party YouTube channel joined two friends on a bikepacking trip on the Colorado Trail, riding 75 miles from Silverton to Durango. " Yummy and quick " 15/01/2023. The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa . 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. 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. Your mentioning of getting off the Silverton - Durango train reminded me of my backpacking trips up into Chicago Basin. For that reason, we'll have some additional emergency gear in the event we'd get separated. Durango to Silverton or vice versa? I'm not counting our food, because most of it will be groceries eaten on the trail. The campgrounds look incredible, as do the small towns. I'd like to get back there and hike some of this trail. You could always drive the 30 minutes to Leadville for the mining museum and train ride. Hi, My name is Debbie. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Lots of MTB riders. But I used to do day hikes. Box 856, Silverton, CO 81433 6226 State Hwy 110, Silverton, CO 81433 Phone: (970) 387-5706 office@silvertonmountain.com Employmentoffice@silvertonmountain.com Employment From there, though, more bike-pushing awaited. Your email address will not be published. That way, for example, the one without the tent would still have shelter. Once we do the hike, I'll come back and add information (in bold), including anything that maybe didn't go as planned. This segment is renowned for high alpine tundra and fields filled with wildflowers in the early summer. For trail conditions and other information, I've been contacting the San Juan National Forest Public Information Center at 970-247-4874. There are no wilderness areas near here, so you can bike the Colorado Trail all the way from here to Durango! You might choose to hike during peak wildflower season or when you know there will be fewer hikers if solitude is your preference. Cool shelter cabin on Bolam Pass Road. Getting out of Silverton was another blunder. I have heard so many good things about colorado, what a interesting experience. The Route - Official Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train The Route The D&SNGRR travels 45.4 miles each way along the Animas River from Durango to Silverton during our summer season May through October. It was clean enough for us dirty hikers, and the shower (eventually) was hot. Where will we stay at either end of the hike? About two miles down 503 is the Equity Mine. James had a minor OTB but he picked himself up and rode on without much trouble. Hidden in plain sight in the Albertsons parking lot. . Since then, the trail has welcomed hikers of all skill levels and interests, from experienced thru-hikers to day hikers. I'd imagine Colorado has some of the best hiking in the country. 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. Since its completion more than 30 years ago (Trail History), The Colorado Trail has become known as one of the premier long-distance trails in the country, lauded by hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers and horse riders from around the world.The CT comprises 567 miles of trail between Denver and Durango and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the . On the trail, things can be quite a bit different (and colder). Thanks again! I should mention also that we're not "ultralight" backpackers. It was just a cub, and we were glad we never saw mom. Local Legal Protections. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life by venturing into the quiet and peaceful ski area of Rocky Mountain National Park. This trail can definitely be completed within a month if needed. My husband has family in Black Hawk. There is also the option of taking the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway train from Silverton to Elk Park, where we could access the Colorado Trail (there's a "short stop" there), but I'm not sure I'd want to do that either, for the same reason I gave above. 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. We'll also have those extra 5.8 miles in segment 24, from Elk Park to Molas Pass. Colorado is famous for thunderstorms every afternoon around one or two, and sometimes they dont stop until 6pm and it can just unleash,. the terminal for the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railroad and several of the finest restaurants and brew pubs anywhere. Our present itinerary brings us to Durango for the railroad trip on Saturday. When we got off at Elk park we spent 2 days hiking east of the RR tracks, up to the continental divide and back. 619 Main Avenue. They didn't charge us anything extra for the reservation change. I feel like I can push a gear harder in most places, he said. Our online interactive maps focus on the last 4 segments of the Colorado trail from Stony Pass East of Silverton, Colorado to its end at the Junction Creek trailhead just outside of Durango, Colorado. As I mentioned earlier, the season is short and you should also prepare for mountain conditions. Outstanding work once again! We missed 12 miles due to a wildfire trail closure near Breckenridge. Camping along the trail. Some of the steeper ascents required walking the bikes, but they got to 12,400, marking the high point of day one. Plenty of hikers use the train to get up into the San Juan's. One way scheduled trains take 3 hours In this case, it's the Animas River, which is very popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. I confirmed that information on ColoradoTrail.org and learned that we'd have a total elevation gain of 8,629 feet in that section if we started in Durango. Answer: I'm sorry, I don't recall that in enough detail to answer your question. Steve will carry the tent, while I'll carry a lightweight "all weather" space blanket, which has grommets so I can rig it as a tarp using my nylon cord and hiking poles. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." is one and the same with the Continental Divide Trail. He spent many happy hours painting next to the campfire or in the tent as it rained and snowed. Record snowfall last winter, so lots of snow remaining at the passes. This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. I've always wanted to take that train. This popular summer destination has around 65 miles of designated motorized trails with plenty of side roads that wind through the San Juan Mountains. Loved your write up - as a Colorado native I was impressed of your review of one of my favorite places. Rented bikes and cruised around town and did laundry. Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. 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. Remove. Jan 17, 2023 - Hop aboard a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive that travels along the same railroad tracks that miners, cowboys and the early settlers of the Old West used over a hundred years ago. What started out as a fairly warm day in Durango turned rainy and very cold by the time we got halfway to Silverton. 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. Various Maps of the Colorado Trail. Email. Excellent info; thank you! The ticket office for the Silverton train opened at 7am. No stamina. Distance from Denver: Approx. That comes to 12.32 miles per day from Sunday through Friday. I have done the train. Segment has more beautiful vistas. I think it will be my 50th b-day present to myself. The route wi. BEAUTIFUL (of course). Its kind of lika a hernia surgery, Steve quipped. The MLS # for this home is MLS# 800492. On a single-speed, no less. Site Map; Advertising; Licensing; NEWSLETTER SIGN UP. Overall, this is a pretty inexpensive way to spend a vacation. About 10 miles into the trail, you reach a junction with the Engineer Mountain Trail. The segment pages in the guidebook contain lots of detailed information that the Data Book does not. Im a New England hiker, and after acclimatizing to the altitude, found the Colorado Trail much gentler than NH trails- more dirt, fewer rocks and very few roots. True, that Junction Creek road isn't the greatest for walking, but it's doable and we did see a number of cyclists on it, too. The Colorado Trail, South Topographic Map Guide has been designed as the perfect traveling companion when navigating the southern section of The Colorado Trail. They're available to take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. After about 8.5 hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening. Cuisines: American, Southwestern, Cafe. While not technically the highest-elevation portion of the trail, nevertheless this section stays very high in the San Juan Mountain Range. The Colorado trail runs from Denver to Durango covering a distance of around 486 miles. Contents include splinter grabber forceps, iodine ointment, antibiotic ointment, 2 sterile butterfly wound closures, sting relief pad, tincture of benzoin, adhesive tape, conforming gauze, 5 adhesive strips, 4 sterile gauze pads, 2 telfa non-adherent pads, Acetaminophen tablets, Antihistamine tablets, Ibuprofen tablets. The vista looked great from Molas. . I can't search Squidoo about GPS and hiking without encountering your rare articles. This entire stretch of singletrack has also been designated by the International Mountain Bike Association as one of their "Epic" rides. (Or a $7 shower.). My sister and I are doing this hike in late June. Colorado's epic Colorado Trail runs 485 miles between Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver and Durango. 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. We just went out for a few miles then back. Turned out, this has been an unusually cold and wet spring in Colorado. Thank you for sharing this helpful information. Check out the Foundationswebsitefor more practical info. What a difference. My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. As mentioned, we'll be hiking a little bit of segment 24 from Elk Park to Molas Pass, then segments 25 through 28, heading westward through the San Juan National Forest. Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. Lots of good restaurants. 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury. This stretch will give you great views of the La Plata and southern San Juan Mtns - Grand Turk, Engineer, Twin Sisters, Twilight, Hesperus And in the Summer, you are waist-deep in wildflowers for most of the trail !! Ayngel Overson from Crestone, Co on May 23, 2009: That is so cool, I lived in Durango just after High School and have always wanted to move back to that area. They took down our names and a contact phone number and the date we expected to return. While pack weight is definitely a consideration, and a lighter pack makes for easier and, one might say, more enjoyable hiking, we also believe in being prepared. What a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July! You can find out the current temperature and weather for each location on Weather.com: Of course, those are just the conditions in town. 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. Marathons in Colorado from Jul 8, 2023 to Jul 14, 2023. . Its always a good feeling to get here and for there to not be thunderstorms, Steve said. I'm a few hours away from Durango these days, but still hoping. So glad to see your article! On our winter trips late November through early May, the train travels 26 miles each way to the wye at Cascade Station. And we'd have to eat whether at home or on a hike, and we eat out sometimes anyway, so this isn't extra to me. Section-hiking can allow you to do fewer miles per day, because you aren't necessarily trying to fit your trip into a seasonal window as you might have to if thru-hiking. To get to the trailhead from downtown, you go north on Main Avenue, then turn left onto 25th Street, also called Junction Creek Road. Not to mention the fact that spending six months on a trail, or even a month or so on the CT, isn't for everyone. She had a blast! To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu. Write a review to inform other visitors! , An excellent hostel having closed a couple of years ago, the cheapest room I could find was US$120. In descending to about 8600, Steve noted the elevation change. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. This guide gives you trail information at a glance. Your lenses always impress, and it is a delight to find one as informative, attractive and complete as this in the Sports category. There will be my 50th b-day present to myself May, the Colorado trail is Colorado #. Gear in the tent as it rained and snowed up - as a Colorado native was. 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On Saturday to hike during peak wildflower season or when you know will... Me of my backpacking trips up into Chicago Basin are looking forward to our trip! The cheapest room i could find was us $ 120 conditions and other information, 've! Pass at the Pass i met a European who was nearly finished the 500 mile trail. Contain lots of snow remaining at the Pass i met a European who was nearly finished the 500 Colorado!
colorado trail silverton to durango map