A Short Guide to Hiking the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail (CT) stretches across the Rocky Mountain Range from Denver to Durango. It takes you through some of the country’s highest elevations, most stunning scenery, and most temperamental weather.
From the flower-filled alpine meadows of the Sawatch Mountains to the dramatic craggy peaks of the San Juans, a hike on the CT is sure to be a journey full of challenges and rewarding experiences.
Quick Facts
- Distance: 486 miles (give or take a few depending on whether you choose the Collegiate West or Collegiate East route)
- Time Needed: 4-6 weeks
- Highest Elevation: 13,334 ft. - Coney Summit
- Lowest Elevation: 5,520 ft. - Waterton Canyon
- Elevation Gain (approx.): 89,000 ft.
- Best Time to Hike: According to the Colorado Trail Foundation, July 1 to September 30 is the ideal window for hiking. Snow is typically still present along much of the trail before July. After September you run the risk of dealing with early-season snow storms.
- Permits: None
- Difficulty: Strenuous
Highlights
- Nearly unending views since much of the trail is above treeline
- Lots of great resupply towns
- Tons of wildlife & wildflowers
- Social & friendly trail community
- Feeling amazingly capable & confident at the end of the journey
- You can peak bag some awesome 14ers on short side trails
- Well marked & maintained
Continue reading Casey Hadley's guide to the colorado trail here.
August 31, 2022
Clever Hiker
CleverHiker.com is a website dedicated to providing knowledge, skills, and gear recommendations for lightweight backpacking adventures. We make tutorial videos, gear reviews, and in-depth trip guides to make backpacking easier for everyone.
We're Dave and Annie, the gear nerds behind Cleverhiker.com. Dave is a thru-hiker, Eagle Scout, and nature nut who's trekked every continent on the planet. Annie is a "retired" teacher who swapped out the classroom for wilderness adventures. We built CleverHiker.com to help share our backpacking knowledge, inspire people to get outdoors, and help conserve our wild spaces.
LIFE OUTDOORS
MEDIA MENTIONS
Depending on where you travel, you may want to pack bug spray, too. In places like Florida and North Carolina, summers get buggy, and you’ll be happy to have packed a spray on nights when you want to sit on the porch or dine outdoors.
MEDIA MENTIONS
As a veteran of the Iraq War, I found myself struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from which greatly impacted my mental health. In 2016, I came across the film “Wild,” an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir about healing by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
MEDIA MENTIONS
Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent is used on clothing, not skin, and it provides long-lasting protection against ticks.
