Colorado Trail
Summer 2024
Colorado
– Southbound from Denver to Durango –
Miles
Days
Vertical Feet
About the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail (or CT) is one of North America’s premiere long-distance hiking trails – running nearly 500 continuous miles through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The trail’s northern terminus begins in Waterton Canyon (on the outskirts of Denver) and its southern terminus is just north of Durango, resulting in a high-altitude route that ranges from 5,520′ to 13,271′ above sea level.
The trail has an average elevation of 10,300′ as it winds through the Rocky Mountains. Thus, hikers must wait until mid-July for the trail to thaw out and then must be finished hiking before mid- to late-September snow storms return. The summer monsoon season in Colorado adds to this logistical complexity, often bringing heavy and dangerous thunderstorms through the region during the peak hiking months.
The Colorado Trail sat on my bucket list for more than a decade, and 2024 was finally the year for me to make it a reality!! Rather than journaling during this trail (as I typically do), I opted to capture my Colorado Trail thru-hike with photos. My gear list, itinerary, resupply, and some of the many lessons I learned during this wonderfully scenic journey are also here for readers to peruse!
Trail Journal
- Day 1: Starting in Waterton Canyon (Miles 0 to 16.2)
- Day 2: My First Rain (Miles 16.2 to 35.6)
- Day 3: Camping Solo at 11,000′ (Miles 35.6 to 54.2)
- Day 4: Trail Magic at Kenosha Pass (Miles 54.2 to 73.7)
- Day 5: I Think I Have a Trail Family (Miles 73.2 to 89.4)
- Day 6: A Much-Needed Stop in Frisco (Miles 89.4 to 102.4)
- Day 7: Massive Climb to Copper Mountain (Miles 102.4 to 123.6)
- Day 8: WWII Bunkers and Leadville (Miles 123.6 to 141.8)
- Day 9: Holy Cross Wilderness (Miles 141.8 to 161.3)
- Day 10: Heading into Twin Lakes (Miles 161.3 to CW 4.2)
- Day 11: Collegiate West to Lake Ann (CW 4.2 to CW 18.4)
- Day 12: Cottonwood Pass and 3 Big Climbs (CW 18.4 to CW 40)
- Day 13: It’s Too Hot to Hike Any Farther (CW 40 to CW 56)
- Day 14: Threading the Needle to Monarch Pass (CW 56 to CW 76.7)
- Day 15: A Zero in Salida
- Day 16: A Return to the Colorado Trail (CW 76.7 to 272.7)
- Day 17: Longest Water Carry Yet (Miles 272.7 to 292.6)
- Day 18: Cruisy Forest Roads & Trail Magic (Miles 292.6 to 313.4)
- Day 19: Are We in Wyoming? (Miles 313.4 to 329)
- Day 20: A Detour Up San Luis Peak (Miles 329 to 345.4)
- Day 21: Snow Mesa & Lake City (Miles 345.4 to 356.1)
- Day 22: The Trail’s Highest Point (Miles 356.1 to 375)
- Day 23: Moose!! And Lots to Switchbacks (Miles 375 to 397)
- Day 24: The Trail (Not the Train) to Silverton (Miles 397 to 410.6)
- Day 25: Red Rock Views and an Ultramarathon (Miles 410.6 to 431.9)
- Day 26: Leaving the San Juans (Miles 431.9 to 453.4)
- Day 27: A Roller Coaster of Peaks (Miles 453.4 to 473.4)
- Day 28: The Final Day on the Colorado Trail (Miles 473.4 to 483)
Other Colorado Trail Posts
My Colorado Trail Family
When I began my Colorado Trail thru-hike in Waterton Canyon on July 23, 2024, I started out hiking alone. This is pretty typical of my approach to...
Colorado Trail Itinerary
According to the Colorado Trail Foundation, approximately 500 people complete the Colorado Trail annually, and their thru-hikes average between 4 to...
Resupply on the Colorado Trail
One of the biggest problems every long-distance hiker encounters on the trail is figuring out where to resupply during their hike. All the trail...
Colorado Trail…By the Numbers
Mile for mile, the Colorado Trail was one of my favorite high-altitude adventures. But the elevation wasn't the only notable thing about this epic...
Colorado Trail Packing List
I thru-hiked the Colorado Trail (CT) from mid-July to mid-August. This timing put me about a week or two ahead of the main bubble of summer hikers,...
PLANNING RESOURCES
- Overview of the Colorado Trail (Co. Trail Foundation)
- Navigation for the CT (Far Out App – formerly Guthook)
- Official CT Databook (Co. Trail Foundation)
- CT Resupply Guide (The Trek)
