Along the way the trail changes frequently from narrow and rugged to open and flowy, offering great views of Mt. I just want to let you know that I admire your passion for the outdoors and I appreciate your effort in sharing it with us. 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. " Yummy and quick " 15/01/2023. What a difference. Getting out of Silverton was another blunder. We also had a number of thunderstorms. Hopefully I can get out on some trails when I visit the US later this year! We'll be staying at the: Dollar Inn2391 Main AvenueDurango, CO 81301800-727-3746970-247-0593Website: DollarInn.comEmail: ted@tedsrental.com. Underwear (I don't know about Steve, but I take 3 pr. This will display the station's metadata in the Station Metadata window. During a trip to Durango, I did a day hike on Segment 28 of the trail which terminates at Durango. Very remote. Most easily distinguished as the location of Purgatory Ski Resort and the suburb of Hermosa, this region is home to Durango's best adventures. we decided to go for it! Where is the trailhead at the end of our hike? Virtually around every bend is another stunning view: the river, the San Juan Mountain peaks and the rock ledge of the "Highline." People wave goodbye as the train leaves us off at Elk Park to begin our hike, just as the rain and thunder begins. Hike back. I loved the narrow gage train - what spectacular views! Or not. Thank you for sharing. #16 of 151 Restaurants in Durango. There's a parking area on the left, near the trailhead. I hiked Colorado Trail Segment 25 on July 8, 2022. How many miles per day will we need to average to finish within our timeframe? They just ask that we go inside and let them know our plans. What started out as a fairly warm day in Durango turned rainy and very cold by the time we got halfway to Silverton. But once on top, its time to rip down! Hoping there are enough level areas along the way for some options to stop for a night along the way. The metadata also shows the period of record and variables for which a station has reported. Ped Detour july 7 9 detour map July 5 6 8 detour map Cimarron I 25 closures July 2016 Its always a good feeling to get here and for there to not be thunderstorms, Steve said. I started hitchhiking in the wrong direction. 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. Plan accordingly and pack all the gear youll need. Leadville is a strange choice. I have heard so many good things about colorado, what a interesting experience. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." is one and the same with the Continental Divide Trail. That way, for example, the one without the tent would still have shelter. Youve got all that weight behind you and its easy to go right over the bars, he said. My kind of life. The inaugural segment of the famous Silverton to Durango stretch of the Colorado Trail. To order, call the CT Store at 1-866-279-6962 (toll free). It is so beautiful. After about 8.5 hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening. 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. World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent! From on pass to the next through meadows of flowers, this route offers huge views in all directions, techy climbs, and long descents. They didn't charge us anything extra for the reservation change. A couple of differences. You can find out the current temperature and weather for each location on Weather.com: Of course, those are just the conditions in town. It would certainly take me the 40 days :) The train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part. We stopped for a break and the view at Gudy's Rest four miles before Durango. Durango, Colorado, Travel Information. Right off the top, the trail drops fast and furious, hugging the mountainside as it traverses a technical scree field. Segment has more beautiful vistas. We took the train from Durango to Elk Park. The trail travels from Denver to Durango and is considered one of the nation's most beautiful and varied long-distance hikes. 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. Not a cloud on the sky. Photo by Steve Hume. Well detailed & photographed!! The CT Store accepts Visa and Master Card. 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. Local Legal Protections. Map & Directions Map Coordinates: 37.770467, -107.805276 Trailwork help build our trails! Colorado Trail Silverton to Durango day 1, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. There is reserved seating on the train. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. The trail is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, and includes parts of six national forests, six wilderness areas, and eight mountain ranges. I am coming back to do a longer section. 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. Brilliant. The center closes at 4pm, so if you're going to park there, either get there before then or call to let them know. ), After the fact: Well, you can't count on the weather. Thanks again! Put up your tent anywhere you like. Youll need warm clothing and rain gear, even if youre just out for the day. No lockers at the train station. Thanks for providing such extensive and useful information. 184Dolores, CO 81323970-882-7296, See the Colorado Trail Segment Chart: Resources by Segment, Portion of Segment 24: Elk Park to Molas Pass, There is a 1,840-foot elevation gain between Elk Park and Molas Pass. Confluence At Three Springs is located at 150 Confluence Ave, Durango, CO. Confluence At Three Springs offers 1-2 bed, 1-2 bath units. Obstacles may include unavoidable bridges 24in/61cm wide or less, large rocks, gravel, difficult root sections, and more. Evelyn Saenz from Royalton on June 03, 2009: Thank you for joining us on A Walk in the Woods and don't forget to add your lens to the appropriate plexo. 619 Main Avenue. Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K. I'd like to get back there and hike some of this trail. Cuisines: American, Southwestern, Cafe. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. This guide gives you trail information at a glance. But he needed to resupply in Silverton, staying at the hostel there one night. Box 439Bayfield, CO 81122970-884-2512, Dolores Ranger District29211 US Hwy. We are looking forward to our next trip to Colorado, which is enhanced even more so by your lens. A local gent drove me up to the correct highway and to the best place to hitch. Plenty of hikers use the train to get up into the San Juan's. One way scheduled trains take 3 hours I've always wanted to take that train. What are the typical weather conditions for that time of year? Sunny every day,great hiking.1999,june. The forest is healthy and green! Camping along the trail. Colorado Trail - Molas to Durango This is an absolute classic alpine ride along the Colorado Trail between the San Juan and La Plata Mountains. The campgrounds look incredible, as do the small towns. "Be sure to plan a day excursion on the Durango & Silverton line," recommends O'Neal Smith. . We able to get to the very top out of Lil molas lake trail was snowed over . 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. 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." . Favorite place to camp and backpack.Picture # 8,10 is where I camped . 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. And the views. well you already know about the views! Kiwisoutback from Massachusetts on September 13, 2010: I would love to hike the Colorado Trail someday. View the Colorado Map of Ski Resorts for an integrated list of all ski and snowboard resorts. Browse our Colorado land for sale listings, view photos and contact an agent today! Website. Question: Are there level areas to camp along section 25? Thanks. On our last trip, we rode the cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak and had lunch at the restaurant at the top. Great Lens.. 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. Page 295 - LandWatch has 7,485 land listings for sale in Colorado. Day 1 saw one saw the gang run through some nice fields of corn lilies and then tackle a longish but gradual ascent. We'd probably be better off waiting a week or two, but my other plans prevent us from doing that. One of my all time favorite back packs for sure. Living here in Colorado, there is a good possibility of hiking this trail. After the fact: The folks at the Visitor Center were very nice. My last restaurant meal before hitting the trail.I wandered the town while my togs were drying. Here Im looking back at the section prior the one I was about to do. 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). How to Survive the West Coast Trail, Canada. Crossed a fairly long slickrock talus slope. Enjoy it as a BIG day ride or a more relaxed bikepack over a few days. They also have rooms with full kitchens. We are mentally prepared for three miles of downhill to lose 2000 feet of elevation.. "The 10 miles of downhill from the top of Blackhawk Mountain is some of the best there is, writes John Robinette on DurangoBikeTours.com. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run . The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. This is an easy answer, since we're just one state over in Arizona: We'll drive. We do plan to spend the night in Durango before taking the train back to Silverton, but we don't want to spend big bucks on a hotel, so we're looking at some inexpensive options. Trail plowed up by heavy equipment and extremely muddy. Youll find streams and lakes on many segments so just pack a filter rather than lug your water. The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. 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. More Information Silverton, CO. . Not as popular as Needleton for hikers, Elk Park is where the railroad crosses the Colorado Trail . Detour Arapahoe Rd. Access: For the best parking, head south on U.S. 550 about 5.5 miles past Silverton to a dirt road marked Molas Trail . The Colorado Trail; San Juan Skyway; Four Corners Monument; Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; See All Sights 56 Recommedations; . The trail is a 2.35 mile (one-way) from the trailhead to the ascent of Rolling Pass. Many people experience the trail each year during the short season from June to September, and some share their experiences. 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. I hiked this segment on July 7, 2022. The route wi. Colorados epic Colorado Trail runs 485 miles between Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver and Durango. We mountain biked Saturday June 5, 2021 . Then a major climb takes you to Blackhawk Pass, the high point of the trail. Lots of good restaurants. While that might not sound like a lot compared to Colorados numerous 14ers, this mountain is still impressive! On the trail, things can be quite a bit different (and colder). And some things may change. All rights reserved. That was easy enough! 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. I grew up in Durango, left for college and now live in Montana. Hike the whole thing or take it in these suggested hiking-trail segments over mountains, lakes and towns. 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. We planned, mapped, prepped, and loaded up to start the journey. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. We'll be in Segment 24 at that point and have 5.8 miles of hiking to Molas Pass, the beginning of segment #25. A life-changing ride on the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. 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. 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. We spent our whole day hiking eagerly with the finish line virtually in sight. 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. So, if we take the 2pm train from Silverton to Elk Park (wilderness access) on Saturday, June 13th, and hike to Molas Lake Campground that afternoon, we'd have six full days remaining to hike the remaining miles to Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. All along the trail youll enjoy great views, but pull off of rough sections so you dont wipe out while gawking! Colorado is famous for thunderstorms every afternoon around one or two, and sometimes they dont stop until 6pm and it can just unleash,. 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. With nearly 500 miles of length from Denver Metro to Durango, it may take up to six weeks to complete its entire length. 13.7 miles laterwe made it!! James had a minor OTB but he picked himself up and rode on without much trouble. Longest day was around 16. Met Brett and Ann working hard on Segment 26 of the Colorado Trail which is always appreciated! That must have taken a long time to build. It brings back memories of our trips to Colorado. We spent our morning on a high ridge line then began a long descent that would bring us to town. This entire stretch of singletrack has also been designated by the International Mountain Bike Association as one of their "Epic" rides. We also want to avoid most of the snow, which narrows it down to either June or September. If youre in reasonably good condition, you can do this. Trail was in very good shape except for one 5 mile section that had about 50 down trees. Incredibly beautiful, there was even snow on ground!!!! Excellent info; thank you! Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. Where would I store the gear I didnt want to carry on the hike? In this case, it's the Animas River, which is very popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. It's not even good for cyclists. They took down our names and a contact phone number and the date we expected to return. Marathons in Colorado from Jul 8, 2023 to Jul 14, 2023. . To get to the trailhead from downtown, you go north on Main Avenue, then turn left onto 25th Street, also called Junction Creek Road. I ran sag wagon for a good friend of mine who did the complete Colorado Trail a couple years ago by herself. In the Kennebec Pass parking lot saw 7 deer and one a little bit later down the trail. Slept well in my tent. Email. For certain a favorite segment on the Colorado Trail! 411.1 - US Hwy 550: Silverton. Day one also saw a hefty sidewall slice in one of James tires. 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. Their website states they have 25 rooms and offer pet-friendly and non-smoking rooms. In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation. Once we do the hike, I'll come back and add information (in bold), including anything that maybe didn't go as planned. "It is EPIC!. Durango. The Colorado Trail is mostly dispersed camping. But I used to do day hikes. And thunder and lightning and hail. The segment pages in the guidebook contain lots of detailed information that the Data Book does not. Various Maps of the Colorado Trail. I also suggest picking up a copy of the guidebook. So glad to see your article! I live in Denver and we are always looking for a good spot to go hiking. That ease was soon to change, though. There are no wilderness areas near here, so you can bike the Colorado Trail all the way from here to Durango! @Ramkitten2000: how much did your backpack (with supplies) weigh? Met Brett and Ann working hard on Segment 26 of the Colorado Trail which is always appreciated! CO Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K Jul 8, 2023 Clear your browsing data in order to view the new map. For 140 years, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been transporting passengers through the remote, scenic wilderness and high mountain landscape of the San Juan National Forest.. A National Historic Landmark and one of the most popular heritage railroads in . Between our miles on the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Colorado Trail, we have now walked over 5,000 miles together! 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. Skyblue Overland may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. 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. You might want to contact ColoradoTrail.org to ask about camping spots in that section. You might choose to hike during peak wildflower season or when you know there will be fewer hikers if solitude is your preference. Leaving a well-deserved *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~*. Since then, the trail has welcomed hikers of all skill levels and interests, from experienced thru-hikers to day hikers. On June 20th, we'll then have the train ride back to Silverton, where our car will be. LGBTQ Local Legal Protections. Steve and I would love to do a (somewhat leisurely) thru-hike, but we just don't have that kind of time these days, at least not all at once, so we'll do contiguous section-hikes instead. What may be t-shirt temps in the valleys can turn into numbing wind and a whiteout at the passes. Turn left onto Cement St, then make your next left, and the RV park will be straight ahead. These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. When we get off the train, we'll have an elevation gain of more than 1,800 feet, right off the bat.