@KathyMcGraw2: Same here, im really enjoying reading about these trips. Someday .. Hi! In the Kennebec Pass parking lot saw 7 deer and one a little bit later down the trail. Arriving at the pass I met a European who was nearly finished the 500 mile Colorado Trail. 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. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Galloping Goose Trail (CO) and Animas River Trail. Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K. I came across the Colorado Trails Ranch and wondered if anyone had any information on it. At such a high altitude, the weather can change rapidly. Region Map - South . Silverton via Stony Pass - 26.4%; Durango - 3.9%; Lake City via Spring . Nice waterfall in a box canyon. Reviews (25) There are newer reviews for Durango Joe's Coffee. Granted, some through hikers and bikers report going numb to the incredible views that the Colorado Trail affords by the time they reach this section. The pretty view from Gudys Rest was a bit restricted due to rain. Overall, this is a pretty inexpensive way to spend a vacation. My last restaurant meal before hitting the trail.I wandered the town while my togs were drying. Problem. The MLS # for this home is MLS# 800492. I just came across this. Distance (one-way): 12 miles Northern trailhead/minimum elevation: 10,700 feet (FR 585) Southern trailhead elevation: 11,100 feet (FR 578) Maximum elevation: 12,500 feet At a Glance General Information Directions: From Durango, CO : Take U.S. 550 30 miles north of Durango to FDR #578 and go 16 miles on this road until you reach the trailhead. Our remaining miles descended at a easy grade while we reminisced over the past month of hiking. Neat miners cabin. Welcome to the Nature and the Outdoors Group. 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. A local gent drove me up to the correct highway and to the best place to hitch. Being at the higher elevations at the eastern end of the trail, and hiking in mid-June, we know we may encounter snow, on the ground at least. Where would I store the gear I didnt want to carry on the hike? We'll leave our tent, sleeping pads and bags and some of our food and cooking equipment at the tent site. Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. Renaissance Woman from Colorado on May 25, 2011: Very comprehensive. Thanks for the great information. The Colorado Trail is mostly dispersed camping. It would certainly take me the 40 days :) The train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part. 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. Answer 1 of 7: We (a late-middle aged couple) are planning to visit this part of Colorado in early June next year. The summit of Engineer Mountain towers over this entire region, rising to an elevation of 13,218 feet. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." is one and the same with the Continental Divide Trail. Your mentioning of getting off the Silverton - Durango train reminded me of my backpacking trips up into Chicago Basin. 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. Youll need warm clothing and rain gear, even if youre just out for the day. Also, any additional. A moderate climb about halfway through the descent will keep you honest, and then the shredding continues! Beautiful hike, great scenery. Photo by Steve Hume. As we get closer to the time of our hike, we'll check on snow conditions at the higher elevations. . My kind of life. 411.1 - US Hwy 550: Silverton. We spent our morning on a high ridge line then began a long descent that would bring us to town. 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. Leaving a well-deserved *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~*. "It is EPIC!. (Apparently, the next section to the east, from Silverton towards Denver, still has a significant amount of snow, being even higher elevation. 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. Cody rolled in chipper as hell, as if hed only done a mile or so downhill. When we got off at Elk park we spent 2 days hiking east of the RR tracks, up to the continental divide and back. I'm planning a Molas Lake to Coal Bank Pass hike (CT segment 25 to Engineer Mountain Trail then down to Hwy 550) this summer. My trek in the Lofoten Islands of Norway got me in pretty good shape but it also meant I would get a late start on the CT. That translated to starting in Durango with the northbound goal of hiking to . It is tedious work. Beautiful views, flowers are all out in full bloom, steep ascent to the pass then much easier. The Colorado Trail is a 485-mile point-to-point backpacking route in Colorado. Turned out, this has been an unusually cold and wet spring in Colorado. Thanks for the read! View the Colorado Map of Ski Resorts for an integrated list of all ski and snowboard resorts. That was easy enough! Sep 11. You might want to contact ColoradoTrail.org to ask about camping spots in that section. It didn't surprise me at all when I realized it was yours. At a top speed of 18 miles an hour, the train takes about 3.5 hours to travel from Durango to Silverton. Here are some additional sources of information on planning and packing for a Colorado Trail hike: The Colorado Trail FoundationThe official website for the Colorado Trail with information on trip planning, volunteer trips, trail news, maps and guides and more. I have heard so many good things about colorado, what a interesting experience. This will allow us to "slack-pack" those first steep miles of the trip. Crossed a fairly long slickrock talus slope. Very well done and lots of detail. Still a day out on the trail so I cannot complain! We can park at the Visitor Center. 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. It is estimated that 150 people complete the CT each year. In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation. Hikers coming our way said was torn up for 2 miles. 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. Explore the best rated trails in Durango, CO. Thanks for sharing! But passengers have ample views to keep them occupied. I found lots of useful information, great lens, Thanks! About two miles down 503 is the Equity Mine. There are plenty of ways to get from Durango to Silverton if you have activities planned in the nearby town. That sounds like so much fun. I love reading about your adventures. Might be in the area this year, there is bound to be some good geocaches out there! So as of right now, we're planning to hike the railroad right-of-way from Silverton along the Animas River to rendezvous with the CT. 5/28/09 Update: Well, I didn't realize it's illegal to hike a railroad right-of-way (people apparently just do it, but I don't like to break rules), so we're coming up with plan B. Camping along the trail. One chairlift accesses 1,819 acres of pristine high alpine terrain. Most afternoons there was a storm. 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. Climbed up Indian Trail Ridge overlooking Taylor Lake with delicate flowers growing out of the rocks of Knife Edge. Email. I have done the train. They're available to take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. We met one of the trail volunteers later. For that reason, we'll have some additional emergency gear in the event we'd get separated. Copyright 2023 Skyblue Overland, LLC. Filters. One thing Durango has that Flagstaff doesn't, though, is a beautiful river running right through it. That ease was soon to change, though. Enjoy it as a BIG day ride or a more relaxed bikepack over a few days. Lots of MTB riders. Learn how your comment data is processed. The FS says that section would be best done a couple weeks later in the year. Created in the 1970s and 1980s, the trail consists of a variety of landscapes but is mostly rugged and mountainous alpine terrain. " 03/01/2023. Probably the hottest we got on the entire trip. Which direction should we hike? Trail plowed up by heavy equipment and extremely muddy. They also have rooms with full kitchens. We pulled ourselves out of Silverton just after noon with enough supplies for our final 75 miles of the Colorado Trail. Also, there are camping options not listed in the book; you just have to keep your eyes out. 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. Blessed. It's going to be an awesome trip! The average elevation of the Colorado Trail is over 10,300 feet and users traveling from Denver to Durango will clock 89,354 feet of elevation gain. accessing station data A co-worker just told me about this hike/train ride yesterday and was looking for additional information. Your lenses always impress, and it is a delight to find one as informative, attractive and complete as this in the Sports category. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. Day 3 was mostly downhill to the Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. Thanks for sharing a great lens. I found an excellent campsite hidden along the edge of the river in a Park currently under construction. Right off the top, the trail drops fast and furious, hugging the mountainside as it traverses a technical scree field. 13.7 miles laterwe made it!! 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. 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. trip report by site editor Rick McCharles, day 1|day 2|day 3|day 4|info page, Durango Silverton Molas Pass Lime Creek. Saturday. Tried to walk today from Bolam Pass direction. For trail conditions and other information, I've been contacting the San Juan National Forest Public Information Center at 970-247-4874. Rode it all the way to Silverton. ), After the fact: Well, you can't count on the weather. The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail extending for 486 miles from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado. We'll be staying at the: Dollar Inn2391 Main AvenueDurango, CO 81301800-727-3746970-247-0593Website: DollarInn.comEmail: ted@tedsrental.com. Confluence At Three Springs is located at 150 Confluence Ave, Durango, CO. Confluence At Three Springs offers 1-2 bed, 1-2 bath units. This stretch of the trail also had the most people, unsurprisingly, but its manageable. The 500-mile Colorado Trail is one of the nation's premier long-distance hiking trail and runs from Denver to Durango. 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. We also want to avoid most of the snow, which narrows it down to either June or September. Sunny every day,great hiking.1999,june. 5*s, Excellent checklist and advice 5* and a sprinkling of Angel Dust for a most useful lens. Getting out of Silverton was another blunder. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad operates 45.2 miles (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton The steam-powered locomotives used today on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad were built during the 1920s. SquidAngel blessed. 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. http://www.bigloopmaps.com/ This map includes turn by turn directions for this ride and many that are just like it. We've visited this small city of about 16,000 residents several times. Well detailed & photographed!! Various Maps of the Colorado Trail. No stamina. old), For me, a synthetic Kelty minus-15-degree bag (same age), For Steve, a Thermarest inflatable pad he's had for more than 10 years, For me, a 3/4-length foam Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Mattress (because I'm tougher than Steve). Our final full day of hiking had arrived. 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. Dawn from Maryland, USA on August 14, 2014: Wonderful, wonderful lens. The trail ends only three short miles from Durango's city limits, allowing easy access from town. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The property is located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita park which offers miles of interconnected trails along the . After the river you climb up the Elk Creek Canyon to above 12000. It's not even good for cyclists. 18,000) by Roadrunner, the only long distance bus in and out of town. This guide gives you trail information at a glance. But that's not always feasible, often due to time constraints and other obligations. Jul 8, 2023. 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. Most easily distinguished as the location of Purgatory Ski Resort and the suburb of Hermosa, this region is home to Durango's best adventures. Plenty of shade from forest, light rain, and rocky views. Rain, snow and more rain. Daily snacks, such as trail mix, pretzels, dried fruit, jerky, candy bars (bite-sized), peanut butter crackers and trail bars. The top of Kennebec Pass rises above tree line, providing incredible views of the San Juan mountains in all direction. Colorado Springs, CO. City Location El Paso County, CO. details update save claim feature. (See more details below.) The majority of "thru-hikers," who complete the Colorado Trail in one continuous journey, travel from east to west. Steve was glad he brought his travel watercolor set. Or stay on the Colorado Trail, and the next junction hits the Rico-Silverton Trail, which will take you down into South Mineral Creek and Silverton. Sure, the trail is simple. The idea behind the trail was born in 1973, but the trail itself wasn't created and connected until 1987. The center closes at 4pm, so if you're going to park there, either get there before then or call to let them know. Trail was in very good shape except for one 5 mile section that had about 50 down trees. Clear skies. Colorado Trail: Molas Pass to Engineer Mountain, Mountain Bike the Breathtaking Colorado Trail, Bucket List Worthy: All 4 of Colorados IMBA Epic Rides, Durango: Most Underrated MTB Destination in Colorado. Wilson and Lizard Head Peak, for example. Great info. Five Stars and a Fav. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. Hopefully I can get out on some trails when I visit the US later this year! Living here in Colorado, there is a good possibility of hiking this trail. After the fact: We did stop in at the Silverton Forest Service Office, but the man there didn't know anything about hiking from the CT into downtown Durango. 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. It is so beautiful. 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. The Colorado Trail on Trails.comClick on the map for information by section. So we'll keep looking. Colorados epic Colorado Trail runs 485 miles between Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver and Durango. Unlike most thru-hikers, we had already decided to start at the western end of the trail, beginning with the terminus closest to home. Lots of good restaurants. BLM Colorado Seasonal Closure Map After about 8.5 hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening. Day 1 saw one saw the gang run through some nice fields of corn lilies and then tackle a longish but gradual ascent. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Cumberland Basin. Month January; February; . Hope you enjoy your visit to my neck of the woods and if you happen through Naturita stop in and say hi!!! Sunshine and rainbows and green rolling mountaintops as far as the eye can see. 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. Breathtakingly beautiful. I've got it in my head that we're going to park our car in town and walk all the way to Durango. This item: Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City Map (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, 141) by National Geographic Maps Map $14.95 Durango, Cortez Map (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, 144) by National Geographic Maps Map $14.95 Weminuche Wilderness Map (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, 140) Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K. 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. My husband is a train enthusiast and someday we hope to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway train. Not that there won't be ascents going the other way, of course; just not as many long ones. Our total mileage will be 79.7. Bikepacking The Colorado Trail: Silverton to Durango via segments 25, 26, 27, and 28 I've always wanted to take that train. (LogOut/ For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. Enjoy your hike. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. They said that the road from the Junction Creek Trailhead to downtown Durango is narrow and not great for walking. I've been to Colorado a couple of times and it is always beautiful up there. From there, though, more bike-pushing awaited. This section of the Colorado Trail is popular for high elevation mountain biking routes. This is amazing. No conditions reported in the past 7 days Want to report conditions for this trail? I also suggest picking up a copy of the guidebook. You'll also find a complete list of nearly 1200 GPS waypoints in UTM & Lat Long formats. Colorado Colorado Frequently Requested Maps Web Maps BLM Colorado Interactive Map - view and interact with BLM Colorado's GIS data such as mining claims, grazing allotments, wilderness boundaries, surface management agency and more without the need for specialized installed software. we decided to go for it! But, really, if you'd prefer to pamper yourself a bit after your backpacking trip and not be quite so close to the busy road, I definitely don't recommend this place. . Thanks. Metadata includes the station's name and ID, latitude, longitude, and elevations. Created in the 1970s and 1980s, the trail consists of a variety of landscapes but is mostly rugged and mountainous alpine terrain. Very nice looking lens. is one and the same with the Continental Divide Trail. Wildflowers are out! What are the typical weather conditions for that time of year? On a thru-hike, you get into "trail shape" and can get acclimated to altitude as well. World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent! Some scam was in the works, I suspected. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. At the time, it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Durango, while it was 36 degrees in Silverton! LGBTQ Local Legal Protections. A comprehensive breakdown of everything about the Continental Divide Trail from 2022 - from CDT resupply and gear to alternates and advice. We able to get to the very top out of Lil molas lake trail was snowed over . 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. 50M trail run More Information . I should mention also that we're not "ultralight" backpackers. 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.". Yes, he did. The Colorado Trail near Silverton has popular high elevation routes for mountain biking and hiking. You might choose to hike during peak wildflower season or when you know there will be fewer hikers if solitude is your preference. 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. Site Map; Advertising; Licensing; NEWSLETTER SIGN UP. Youve got all that weight behind you and its easy to go right over the bars, he said. We're now planning to do this hike with a third person, so we could use two cars and leave one in Durango at the trailhead. Open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders, the Colorado Trail is 482 miles long, extending from Denver to Durango. Steve Hume of the Hardtail Party YouTube channel organized the trip and invited two friends to join him for the adventure, Cody and James. Map & Directions Map Coordinates: 37.770467, -107.805276 Trailwork help build our trails! Every 100 feet the topography changes, Steve said. The COT forms one-third of the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, along with the Arizona Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Silverton Lakes South RV Resort What a difference. 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. The last 10 miles or so were mostly downhill, letting the guys pick up the pace. Met Brett and Ann working hard on Segment 26 of the Colorado Trail which is always appreciated! I have another trip planned with some friends in late June, so Steve and I have decided to do this hike mid-month. The vista looked great from Molas. This is a spiral-bound, softcover book, 8.5" x 11", and weighs just 14.5 ounces. A popular hike includes the first 4-5 miles, enough to reach the saddle between North Lime Creek and Bear Creek. 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. 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. Then take Junction Creek Road to where it enters the San Juan National Forest. This trail can definitely be completed within a month if needed. We think it is about 6 miles RT to Gudy's Rest from here. What I see as some of the up-sides to section-hiking are: And there are a few things that might be considered drawbacks of section-hiking: As I write this article, we're currently in the process of gathering information and making our plans, so there will be some things I'll have to add. But we don't want to wait till September when we might end up doing another CT section anyway so we've chosen to go in June. I only did a short section of segment 25, but the views are outstanding. We just went out for a few miles then back. Local Legal Protections. Outstanding! So glad to see your article! If youre in reasonably good condition, you can do this. People wave goodbye as the train leaves us off at Elk Park to begin our hike, just as the rain and thunder begins. 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. A life-changing ride on the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. Browse our Colorado land for sale listings, view photos and contact an agent today! Thanks for providing such extensive and useful information. the terminal for the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railroad and several of the finest restaurants and brew pubs anywhere. We completed the trail from July 5 August 10. We took our time as we were not on a constricted time frame. Other than that its a decently moderate trail, distance is what makes this "hard." I loved the narrow gage train - what spectacular views! Steve and I have driven through historic Silverton a few times, but we've never actually stopped. No lockers at the train station. My husband has family in Black Hawk. Marathons in Colorado from Jul 8, 2023 to Jul 14, 2023. . 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. He said that section was targeted for work later in the summer. 45 Hermosa View Dr, Durango, CO 81301 is a lot/land. Loved your write up - as a Colorado native I was impressed of your review of one of my favorite places. 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. You dont need a permit for the trail, but you do have to grab a free permit when crossing the wilderness areas. 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." Click photo to see hundreds more on Flickr. We're planning to leave our house on Friday, June 12th after Steve gets off work and drive all the way to Molas Lake Campground, which is just off Highway 550 about seven miles before the town of Silverton. Check this out: Today, May 20, 2009, at 10:30am, I looked at the weather for both Silverton and Durango. And a sunny day in the valleys can be cold and wintry on the peaks. Their website states they have 25 rooms and offer pet-friendly and non-smoking rooms. When I woke up I looked out into the valley and Elk were running through the grass. Page 295 - LandWatch has 7,485 land listings for sale in Colorado. 5/29 Update: I spoke to the Forest Service today. We walked through a light rain for a couple hours and stopped after about ten miles of hiking near a herd of grazing sheep. Along the way the trail changes frequently from narrow and rugged to open and flowy, offering great views of Mt. #16 of 151 Restaurants in Durango. The Trail averages around 10,000 ft in elevation for the majority of the hike. Distance from Denver: Approx. Though my pack felt heavy. We are mentally prepared for three miles of downhill to lose 2000 feet of elevation.. 6/3 Update: The Forest Service says the section we'll be doing is now pretty much snow-free above treeline. The Colorado Trail, South Topographic Map Guide has been designed as the perfect traveling companion when navigating the southern section of The Colorado Trail. About 13 mi from Little Molas, a waterfall is passed, in another half miles a constructed bridge crosses another one, with a site for 2-4 tents at the bridge, and 1-2 tents at a flat spot at the base of the falls, bit of a scramble to get to but worth it. 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. The trailhead (elevation: 6983 ft) is on Junction Creek Road, around 2.5-3.0 miles from downtown Durango (there is also another parking lot that grants access .

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