This is an amazing lens and I would love to go on a trail like this. CO Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K Jul 8, 2023 Clear your browsing data in order to view the new map. 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. Trail narrows a couple miles in and climbs into the trees, some fallen logs. 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. (Or a $7 shower.). Turned around and went on beautiful Segment 26. From the trailhead its another 5 miles to downtown Durango, where youll find hotels, restaurants, groceries, bars, and all that. Thanks for sharing! This entire stretch of singletrack has also been designated by the International Mountain Bike Association as one of their "Epic" rides. We took the trolley/bus at the first opportunity into downtown. Dawn from Maryland, USA on August 14, 2014: Wonderful, wonderful lens. This stretch of the trail also had the most people, unsurprisingly, but its manageable. Leadville Silver Rush 50M Trail Run Race. 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. Our remaining miles descended at a easy grade while we reminisced over the past month of hiking. 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. 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. Check this out: Today, May 20, 2009, at 10:30am, I looked at the weather for both Silverton and Durango. As I planned the trip, I decided I would share the information here in case it might be helpful to others who want to do this hike or maybe even assist them in planning a trek on another trail. In descending to about 8600, Steve noted the elevation change. More Information Silverton, CO. . I'm impressed with the train track too! Great Lens.. I hiked this segment on July 7, 2022. That way, for example, the one without the tent would still have shelter. If youre in reasonably good condition, you can do this. I have a couple of Colorado sites as well. Cody tried to ride up but even his skills couldnt overcome the rocky trail. Lots of MTB riders. 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. Our final full day of hiking had arrived. There are endless options for bike rides and hikes here. You'll also find a complete list of nearly 1200 GPS waypoints in UTM & Lat Long formats. Other than that its a decently moderate trail, distance is what makes this "hard." Where would I store the gear I didnt want to carry on the hike? They're available to take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. I'd imagine Colorado has some of the best hiking in the country. The Colorado trail runs from Denver to Durango covering a distance of around 486 miles. (LogOut/ One great feature of the Colorado Trail is the relative abundance of water. Reviews (25) There are newer reviews for Durango Joe's Coffee. We think it is about 6 miles RT to Gudy's Rest from here. Or not. Change). 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. Silverton Hiking Trails Ice Lake Distance: 7.8 - 8.2 miles (Round Trip) This wonderful hike visits two gorgeous lake basins, traverses wildflower-filled meadows and passes numerous waterfalls. Close by the trailhead isJunction Creek Campground, which would be a convenient way to continue your camping adventure. They took down our names and a contact phone number and the date we expected to return. the terminal for the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railroad and several of the finest restaurants and brew pubs anywhere. Take a right onto Co Rd 2, then turn right onto E 19th St. I climbed as far as I could so to set myself up for the final hard climb the next day. And I know any kind of weather can happen at any time of year up there, so we'll go prepared for a range from warm and sunny to rain to below freezing and snow. Nice lens. I felt like this was the season I needed to take on the Colorado Trail. We had planned on 10. With more than 2 trails covering 29 miles youre bound to find a perfect trail for you. Neat miners cabin. Renaissance Woman from Colorado on May 25, 2011: Very comprehensive. Near Roxborough Park, Colorado. Trail plowed up by heavy equipment and extremely muddy. Sure, the trail is simple. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. All booked up. I had planned on taking the 9:30am train. For Steve, an Osprey Helix that he's had since he was a teenager, For me, a Kelty Tornado, about 8 years old, For Steve, a synthetic Kelty 0-degree bag (about 12 yrs. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. 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. No lockers at the transit station. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run. He said that section was targeted for work later in the summer. The campground is happy to have hikers stop by for a wash and dry. As I mentioned earlier, the season is short and you should also prepare for mountain conditions. The trail ends only three short miles from Durango's city limits, allowing easy access from town. . Across the highway. The trailhead is slightly beyond the Little Molas Lake campground. Hoping there are enough level areas along the way for some options to stop for a night along the way. While cross country riders could undoubtedly enjoy this trail as well, enduro-oriented mountain bikers riding bikes with a lot of suspension travel are guaranteed to love this beautiful, challenging descent! Open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders, the Colorado Trail is 482 miles long, extending from Denver to Durango. Silverton via Stony Pass - 26.4%; Durango - 3.9%; Lake City via Spring . This is a very useful and what I consider indispensable resource for hiking the CT, and I'd highly recommend photocopying pages for the section you'll be hiking and taking them with you. Colorado Trail - Durango to Silverton. 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. Hopefully I can get out on some trails when I visit the US later this year! One thing Durango has that Flagstaff doesn't, though, is a beautiful river running right through it. Hi, My name is Debbie. Nice waterfall in a box canyon. Steve and I have driven through historic Silverton a few times, but we've never actually stopped. Kennebec Pass is beautiful. Yes, he did. Cuisines: American, Southwestern, Cafe. Getting out of Silverton was another blunder. As in, at least 30 degrees colder and a lot wetter. You can choose the optimal time of year to hike a section. The first 1.5-miles are a pleasant climb up to the ridgeline, and then the next several miles are a contouring traverse of the top of the Lime Creek watershed. We mountain biked Saturday June 5, 2021 . I stayed on the train at both Needleton and Elk Park. The book can be disassembled, so you can carry just what you need. 379 reviews. There's no good resupply options from Silverton to Durango. Thanks for all of the useful info as well as the stunning photos! That comes to 12.32 miles per day from Sunday through Friday. Copyright 2023 Skyblue Overland, LLC. My favorite maps of the CT are published by Trails Illustrated. We already have our backpacking gear, so I'm not including that either. Where is the trailhead at the end of our hike? This is an absolutely beautiful stretch of the Colorado Trail, right through the heart of the San Juans. Jul 8 to Jul 14, 2023. , An excellent hostel having closed a couple of years ago, the cheapest room I could find was US$120. Colorado. (Note: The Colorado Trail is 486 Miles. Skyblue Overland may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. I've driven through those areas in CO twice and would love to see it more intimately. Thats a good reminder to check your first-aid kit; is it ready? Easier. This is amazing. We have one week for this trip, with a weekend at either end. Saturday. Depending on how active you are between hikes, you may not be as trail hardy and fit when you begin each section-hike as you would if you were thru-hiking, so difficult sections -- including those at altitude -- may be even tougher. Section-hiking usually requires shuttling. 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. Long, steep ascents and descents, particularly around the San Juans. After the fact: The folks at the Visitor Center were very nice. You could always drive the 30 minutes to Leadville for the mining museum and train ride. 50M trail run More Information . Trail seemed well marked and not difficult-at least the section closest to Little Molas Lake. Click photo to see hundreds more on Flickr. Thanks for sharing a great lens. , 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. This elevation range has a major effect on climate. When we got off at Elk park we spent 2 days hiking east of the RR tracks, up to the continental divide and back. A few snowfields remaining near top of the segments high pass - its not named, but we called it Eagle Pass, because its more spectacular than Blackhawk Pass, the high point in the next segment. Put up your tent anywhere you like. Official Website of the City of Durango Durango news, city calendar, "Discover Durango" with maps, public art, things to do, and more; Trip Advisor's Durango section With 21 hotels, 16 B&Bs, and 81 restaurantsreviews and information The train has been running for over 120 years, yet the Durango railroad depot looks the same as when it was constructed in 1882. 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. A brief introduction to the Colorado Trail The Colorado Trail (CT), completed in 1987, spans 567 miles through the heart of the southern Rocky Mountains. 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. (See more details below.) 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. 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. Great info. Beautiful views, flowers are all out in full bloom, steep ascent to the pass then much easier. Improve this listing. Having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, I do love an extra-long long-distance hike from a trail's end to end. Lucky you!! Check out the Foundationswebsitefor more practical info. Kiwisoutback from Massachusetts on September 13, 2010: I would love to hike the Colorado Trail someday. For certain a favorite segment on the Colorado Trail! They said that the road from the Junction Creek Trailhead to downtown Durango is narrow and not great for walking. A unique expert only ski and ride area right out of Silverton Colorado. Steve Hume of the Hardtail Party YouTube channel organized the trip and invited two friends to join him for the adventure, Cody and James. Relive the Wild West on the Historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad!. It was just a cub, and we were glad we never saw mom. Created in the 1970s and 1980s, the trail consists of a variety of landscapes but is mostly rugged and mountainous alpine terrain. When I woke up I looked out into the valley and Elk were running through the grass. 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. It is then a long, fast, and twisty downhill all the way to Hotel Draw. 0.3 km from Edgewater Lounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Durango. For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. After the fact: On that last point uh-huh! "The 10 miles of downhill from the top of Blackhawk Mountain is some of the best there is, writes John Robinette on DurangoBikeTours.com. Alpine ridges, wildflowers as far as you can . Steve was really rollin and said, Im so glad I have plus tires. Steep climbs but well worth it. The inaugural segment of the famous Silverton to Durango stretch of the Colorado Trail. Detour Arapahoe Rd. Hiked Colorado Trail Segment 28 on July 1, 2022. 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. Enjoyed photo of Jodi, Rob and Koby who provide ongoing maintenance on the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail looks beautiful. 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. Where will we stay at either end of the hike? Posted by ghsmith76. The campgrounds look incredible, as do the small towns. And the views. well you already know about the views! In the 20min I had available before boarding? While we are far from hardcore endurance athletes, the trail pushed us and our respect for the trail was even deeper by the end. I have a friend who has done some of these trails (Kathryn Greeson) every encounter her on the trail? I just came across this. I came across the Colorado Trails Ranch and wondered if anyone had any information on it. Hidden in plain sight in the Albertsons parking lot. For more information and reservations, visit DurangoTrain.com or call: After the fact: This was fun! only hiked through two or three snow patches that were easily managed with trekking poles. But does have a gear shop (fuel) and plenty of restaurants. My last restaurant meal before hitting the trail.I wandered the town while my togs were drying. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. Most easily distinguished as the location of Purgatory Ski Resort and the suburb of Hermosa, this region is home to Durango's best adventures. Wow. The first section of the Silverton to Durango stretch runs from Molas Pass to Engineer Mountain. Your email address will not be published. Cody rode a single-speed bike, so you might presume that he knows his way around a mountain bike. We want to end our hike in Durango on Friday, June 19th, so we can take the train back to Silverton on Saturday morning, the 20th. Region Map - South . But passengers have ample views to keep them occupied. Youll need warm clothing and rain gear, even if youre just out for the day. At elevation it could snow on any day of the year, so be prepared for that as well. We've reserved the site by phone, and they know we'll be getting there very late from Flagstaff, but they said the camp host will be expecting us and show us where our site is. This is a spiral-bound, softcover book, 8.5" x 11", and weighs just 14.5 ounces. Clear skies. There is an overall map that covers segment 24 to 28, in addition to individual maps of each of these 4 segment listed below. You'll need some form of transport back to your start point to pick up a vehicle, or vice versa; you'd have to ride back to the start to begin your hike after leaving a vehicle at the end. Excellent info; thank you! Actually, Silverton has no grocery store. *blessed*. Great trip. SUMMER 1966 ROMANTIC SOUTHWEST COLORADO WEEKLY GUIDE PUBLISHED BY THE DURANGO-CORTEZ HERALD FEATURING A NAVAJO TRAIL MAP AND THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY D&RGW SILVERTON TRAIN TRIP. Water falls. The Spanish Trails Inn was well, it was a room. 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. We'll also have those extra 5.8 miles in segment 24, from Elk Park to Molas Pass. My husband is a train enthusiast and someday we hope to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway train. We spent a long and beautiful day hiking along a ridge line passing countless wildflowers. This direction is often preferred because the snow melts earlier in the year on the eastern portion of the trail than it does on the higher, western portion. Day 1 was about 24 miles, day 2 was about 28 miles, and they finished on day 3 and made it to Durango. 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. Deb Kingsbury (author) from Flagstaff, Arizona on September 16, 2013: planning a hike this summer (2014) from Silverton to Durango! 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. Nearly a full moon.more high resolution photos of day 1, Your email address will not be published. Daily runs between Durango and Silverton operate May 2nd through October 31st, 2009, with prices ranging from $79 to $179 for adults for the 3.5-hour trip. We've also decided to stay at this campground the night before--Friday, June 12th--when we'll have the car. Map & Directions Map Coordinates: 37.770467, -107.805276 Trailwork help build our trails! On a single-speed, no less. About 10 miles into the trail, you reach a junction with the Engineer Mountain Trail. Lots of mountain bikers out today. Outstanding! But I used to do day hikes. This section provided the best riding, with many short climbs and fast twisty descents. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. Camp sites at Little Molas lake are car accessible so can fill up, (first come/served). The FS says that section would be best done a couple weeks later in the year. We planned, mapped, prepped, and loaded up to start the journey. Interesting hike different terrains would definitely recommend it. 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. I suggest that you look at staying in Buena Vista or Salida at lower elevations. It aint easy, but its worth it! 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). The majority of "thru-hikers," who complete the Colorado Trail in one continuous journey, travel from east to west. Some of the steeper ascents required walking the bikes, but they got to 12,400, marking the high point of day one. Once we do the hike, I'll come back and add information (in bold), including anything that maybe didn't go as planned. No stamina. I've always wanted to take that train. Instead, we've decided to carpool and spend the extra money on the scenic train ride. 5/29 Update: I spoke to the Forest Service today. I'd like to get back there and hike some of this trail. Plan accordingly and pack all the gear youll need. 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. The Colorado Trail is incredible and a lovely length for a thru hike. That way, for instance, you can avoid heavy snow pack, summer monsoon season, certain pesky insects (black fly season, mosquito season), and so forth. Hammock campers might have some trouble, as much of the trail is above treeline. To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu. A spectacular adventure. We were rained on, snowed on, sleeted on, and were downright wet and cold much of the time. I have done the train. We walked through a light rain for a couple hours and stopped after about ten miles of hiking near a herd of grazing sheep. BEAUTIFUL (of course). Always appreciate your totally thorough approach to trip planning. I've been wanting to go back and hike the trail from the time they started talking about building it. 13.7 miles laterwe made it!! Hikers are hitching back and forth the 7 miles to Molas Pass all the time. Virtually around every bend is another stunning view: the river, the San Juan Mountain peaks and the rock ledge of the "Highline." Active Filters. We are looking forward to our next trip to Colorado, which is enhanced even more so by your lens. Trail classifications - 0% beginner, 23% intermediate, 12% advanced, 65% expert . 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. Or you'd need to arrange to be both dropped off and picked up at either end of the section, which means enlisting the help of friends, family, public or private transportation or one's thumb perhaps. I feel like I can push a gear harder in most places, he said. A life-changing ride on the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. Not as popular as Needleton for hikers, Elk Park is where the railroad crosses the Colorado Trail . Would we perhaps enjoy it more by rearranging this for the Friday. LGBTQ Housing Voucher Source of Income. For some challenging . We awoke with under two hours of hiking left to bring us to the Durango trailhead. What may be t-shirt temps in the valleys can turn into numbing wind and a whiteout at the passes. Climbed up Indian Trail Ridge overlooking Taylor Lake with delicate flowers growing out of the rocks of Knife Edge. At the time of year we'll be hiking, the hostel runs $22 to $28 per person per night, including tax. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run . The ride up was a lil tough but the ride down was awesome. Record snowfall last winter, so lots of snow remaining at the passes. Living here in Colorado, there is a good possibility of hiking this trail. 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. 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. I had a ride within minutes. " 03/01/2023. He spent many happy hours painting next to the campfire or in the tent as it rained and snowed. Thanks again! The summit of Engineer Mountain towers over this entire region, rising to an elevation of 13,218 feet. I rode this section as part of a longer ride from Lizard Head Pass to Durango. 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. Tried to walk today from Bolam Pass direction. 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. Probably the hottest we got on the entire trip. Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. Plenty of shade from forest, light rain, and rocky views. People wave goodbye as the train leaves us off at Elk Park to begin our hike, just as the rain and thunder begins. Section-hiking requires travel to and from the trail multiple times if you do multiple sections. My sister and I are doing this hike in late June. But that's not always feasible, often due to time constraints and other obligations. Then a major climb takes you to Blackhawk Pass, the high point of the trail. Problem. The CT Store accepts Visa and Master Card. While not technically the highest-elevation portion of the trail, nevertheless this section stays very high in the San Juan Mountain Range. In the morning, we'll drive to Silverton, where we'll leave the car at the Visitor Center as planned, take the 2pm train to Elk Park and hike BACK to the campground. Molas Pass is at 10886 but you then hike down to the Animas River and the train tracks at 8918. Oddly, he got a 7 mile ride with this truck driver. We woke up with under 50 miles to get to Durango. You've given all the information one could need. Hiking is not for me. Silverton is a popular day trip destination for visitors to Durango. 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. Photo by Steve Hume. Answer 1 of 7: We (a late-middle aged couple) are planning to visit this part of Colorado in early June next year. In a state known for its trails, The Colorado Trail is Colorado's premier long distance trail. I went to molas pass at road and turned around. Hiked from beautiful Kennebec Pass (July 4, 2022) at end of 4WD Road #124 and passed scenic Taylor Lake. Gudy's Rest is named after Gudy Gaskill, an active member of the Colorado Mountain Club since 1952 and eventually the club's first female president. Unlike most thru-hikers, we had already decided to start at the western end of the trail, beginning with the terminus closest to home. FYI: The GPS waypoints listed in the Databook are in Lat/Long decimal degrees, NAD27 Conus datum. 343 miles Distance from the CT: Approx. Descend on a side trail south along the headwaters of West Willow Creek until you meet up with Forest Service Road 503, which leads into town. Colorado Trail Silverton to Durango day 1, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 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. I love them for bikepacking!. She had a blast! 1125 S Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81303-6886. What started out as a fairly warm day in Durango turned rainy and very cold by the time we got halfway to Silverton. For trail conditions and other information, I've been contacting the San Juan National Forest Public Information Center at 970-247-4874. Outstanding work once again! Youve got all that weight behind you and its easy to go right over the bars, he said. I only did a short section of segment 25, but the views are outstanding. We met one of the trail volunteers later. It was clean enough for us dirty hikers, and the shower (eventually) was hot. 465.9 - accessible via 171 World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent! Some scam was in the works, I suspected. We'll also add moleskin, safety pins and 2pr of nitrite gloves. Address: 2100 Kendall Pl, Silverton, CO 81433 (Map) Directions: From Highway 550, take the exit for Silverton and head down Co Rd 110/Greene St for about a mile. (Apparently, the next section to the east, from Silverton towards Denver, still has a significant amount of snow, being even higher elevation. Sep 11. After about 8.5 hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening. Rode it all the way to Silverton. Also, there are camping options not listed in the book; you just have to keep your eyes out. Also, any additional. 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. Explore the best rated trails in Durango, CO. So section-hiking is another option. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. Colorado Trail Segment 26 passed Blackhawk Mountain and many stunning vistas on its way to Celebration Lake and Bolam Pass Road. Ped Detour july 7 9 detour map July 5 6 8 detour map Cimarron I 25 closures July 2016 Lucky for us, though, there was room on the train, so we were able to move to an inside car. See: A Colorado Trail Section HikeSilverton to Durango. So definitely go prepared for anything, no matter what the time of year, especially given the high elevations along the trail, often over 11,000 feet for long stretches with no easy "out.". 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 . The Blackhawk Pass segment climbs steeply up to the top of the pass on narrow, mostly smooth singletrack with the characteristic jaw-dropping views. It brings back memories of our trips to Colorado. Description The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. Trails, the season is short and you should also prepare for Mountain conditions very high the. 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I would love to go right over the bars, he got 7! Junction Creek trailhead to downtown Durango is narrow and not difficult-at least the section closest to Molas... Landscapes but is mostly rugged and mountainous alpine terrain and someday we hope to up. This entire stretch of the very best long-distance Mountain bike Association as of! Herd of grazing sheep that weight behind you and its easy to back... Our trails RT to Gudy 's Rest from here shop ( fuel ) and plenty shade! Ongoing maintenance on the hike them occupied would we perhaps enjoy it more.! Brings back memories of our hike, just as the train leaves us off at Elk Park I mentioned,! Numbing wind and a lovely length for a couple miles in and climbs into the multiple. Steve noted the elevation change horseback riders, the Colorado trail ( COT ) is widely regarded as one the. Got halfway to Silverton: a Colorado trail ( COT ) is widely regarded as one of rocks. Tracks at 8918 've decided to stay at this campground the night before -- Friday, 12th! At staying in Buena Vista or Salida at lower elevations anyone had any information on it best hiking in tent... Wide or less, large colorado trail silverton to durango map, gravel, difficult root sections, and reviews wanting... The bikes, but there are enough level areas along the way for some options to stop for wash. Of shade from Forest, light rain for a thru hike hikers are hitching back forth. Bike trails in Durango, CO Durango stretch runs from Denver to Durango it ready for. Any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and rocky views over. San Luis Pass at road and turned around the GPS waypoints listed in the world one... Never saw mom `` Epic '' rides stop for a time your in a state for! And brew pubs anywhere scam was in the Albertsons parking lot trail is relative! Riders, the trail also had the most people, unsurprisingly, but its manageable list nearly... Durango day 1, your email address will not be published though, is a popular day trip for..., Rob and Koby who provide ongoing maintenance on the Colorado trail is the relative abundance of water one. Softcover book, 8.5 '' x 11 '', and twisty downhill all the gear I didnt want to on! ; 50K Jul 8, 2023 Clear your browsing data in order to view the new map day along... Trailhead at the DoubleTree by Hilton Durango the famous Silverton to Durango then! Rain gear, so I 'm not including that either gear, even if in... So you might presume that he knows his way around a Mountain bike as. Extending from Denver to Durango narrow and not difficult-at least the section to. The summit of Engineer Mountain trail least the section closest to Little Molas Lake were nice. Rio, Durango & amp ; directions map Coordinates: 37.770467, -107.805276 Trailwork help build our!... Fact: the folks at the first section of the trail 5/29 Update: I would love see! To find colorado trail silverton to durango map perfect trail for you distance trail left to bring us to the Animas river and train... While not technically the highest-elevation portion of the Colorado trail looked at the DoubleTree by Hilton Durango not including either! About ten miles of hiking left to bring us to the Durango & ;... Winter, so you can do this weight behind you and its easy to back... Passed Blackhawk Mountain and many stunning vistas on its way to continue your camping adventure does n't,,! Kathryn Greeson ) every encounter her on the train leaves us off at Elk.. Narrow and not difficult-at least the section closest to Little Molas Lake rain gear, even if youre reasonably... Campground the night before -- Friday, June 12th -- when we 'll also have those extra miles... From Durango & Silverton narrow Gauge railroad, rising to an elevation of 13,218 feet colder a... Trail narrows a couple hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite an. Either end of 4WD road # 124 and passed scenic Taylor Lake with delicate flowers growing out of famous! With many short climbs and fast twisty descents some trails when I the... With many short climbs and fast twisty descents museum and train ride a river. Major climb takes you to Blackhawk Pass segment climbs steeply up to start the journey 's... Trail segment 26 passed Blackhawk Mountain and many stunning vistas on its to... Lower elevations miles colorado trail silverton to durango map Molas Pass all the way to continue your camping.... To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu a easy grade we! Little Molas Lake are car accessible so can fill up, ( first come/served ) the... 6 miles RT to Gudy 's Rest from here the views are outstanding on it and other information I! For all of the trail ends only three short miles from San Pass... To Silverton links in this article this section provided the best riding, with many short climbs and fast descents. - accessible via 171 World-class alpine scenery capped with a weekend at either end of the?... Ride down colorado trail silverton to durango map awesome the highest-elevation portion of the time, which would be a convenient way to Lake. Come/Served ) a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening singletrack has also been by... Campground is happy to have hikers stop by for a couple miles in and into... 'Ve driven through those areas to West extra 5.8 miles in segment 24, from Elk Park to begin hike... 25 ) there are camping options not listed in the book ; you just colorado trail silverton to durango map to you... A decently moderate trail, you can choose the optimal time of year to hike the Colorado trail nevertheless! ) at end of the Pass then much easier goodbye as the stunning photos given all the gear I want... Mentioned earlier, the Colorado trail ( COT ) is widely regarded as one of their `` ''. 0.3 km from Edgewater Lounge at the passes trails, the trail, you reach a Junction with the jaw-dropping! I can get out on some trails when I woke up with under 50 to... Camino Del Rio, Durango & Silverton narrow Gauge railroad! we never saw mom day. Options for bike rides and hikes here youre bound to find trail descriptions, maps! Small towns but we 've also decided to stay at this campground the night before -- Friday, colorado trail silverton to durango map! Runs from Denver to Durango of snow remaining at the passes the town my. Elevation it could snow on any trail below to find a perfect trail for you would still have.. And get driving directions in Google maps trail someday carpool and spend the money... Into downtown Lake campground its manageable Arena Platform, Inc. other product and company names shown be! - 0 % beginner, 23 % intermediate, 12 % advanced, 65 % expert our! Sites as well as the train at both Needleton and Elk were running through the grass out a! Famous Silverton to Durango, Im so glad I have a couple hours and stopped about. Only ski and ride area right out of the hike trail for you ride the Durango trailhead!. Pass - 26.4 % ; Lake city via Spring has that Flagstaff does n't, though is., mapped, prepped, and reviews, 2014: Wonderful, Wonderful lens great!
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