Easier. Like I said, it's all good. 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. Created in the 1970s and 1980s, the trail consists of a variety of landscapes but is mostly rugged and mountainous alpine terrain. @KathyMcGraw2: Same here, im really enjoying reading about these trips. Living here in Colorado, there is a good possibility of hiking this trail. Very well done and lots of detail. My husband has family in Black Hawk. My plan was to take the train to Silverton. The trailhead is slightly beyond the Little Molas Lake campground. I love reading about your adventures. He said that section was targeted for work later in the summer. Rain, snow and more rain. . Leadville is a strange choice. Incredibly beautiful, there was even snow on ground!!!! This video documents our journey through this majestic landscape. Copyright 2023 Skyblue Overland, LLC. Day 3 was mostly downhill to the Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. I hiked this segment on July 7, 2022. Nearing camp, we spotted our first and only black bear on the Colorado Trail. Very remote. 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. 5/29/09 Update: Okay, we're all set. It is then a long, fast, and twisty downhill all the way to Hotel Draw. And we'd have to eat whether at home or on a hike, and we eat out sometimes anyway, so this isn't extra to me. Slept well in my tent. Thanks. All rights reserved. I'm sharing our gear list here just for the sake of sharing, not because I think our choices will suit all other hikers. I love them for bikepacking!. I also suggest picking up a copy of the guidebook. Steve and I have driven through historic Silverton a few times, but we've never actually stopped. 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. The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury. At the time, it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Durango, while it was 36 degrees in Silverton! I read that the year-round average temperature in Silverton is just 35.6 degrees, and the frost-free growing season can be as short as twelve days! Trail narrows a couple miles in and climbs into the trees, some fallen logs. It stretches from Denver to Durango across the Southern Rockies and can be hiked in 25-35 days. We took our time as we were not on a constricted time frame. Section-hiking can allow you to do fewer miles per day, because you aren't necessarily trying to fit your trip into a seasonal window as you might have to if thru-hiking. " Love this place! We walked through a light rain for a couple hours and stopped after about ten miles of hiking near a herd of grazing sheep. For more information and reservations, visit DurangoTrain.com or call: After the fact: This was fun! Outstanding work once again! The Spanish Trails Inn was well, it was a room. We spent our morning on a high ridge line then began a long descent that would bring us to town. I've been to Colorado a couple of times and it is always beautiful up there. 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. The Columbine Ranger District (367 Pearl St., Bayfield, CO 81122; 970-884-2512) of the San Juan National Forest oversees dozens of trails, both for day hikes and backpacking. 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. 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. The morning walk flew by and that was that! +1 970-382-5911. Jul 8, 2023. The metadata also shows the period of record and variables for which a station has reported. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. I have a friend who has done some of these trails (Kathryn Greeson) every encounter her on the trail? 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. I have a couple of Colorado sites as well. 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. States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa . Gradients are much less steep with long lovely alpine traverses and switchbacks, rather than the NH tendency to go straight up the fall line. 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. Saw amazing wildflowers, a great bridge crossing Cascade Creek with a nice memorial to Gudy Gaskill shortly after, many hikers and bikers, a bible study group, a wildflower group and a trail crew hard at work. Attached Dwelling Property For Sale at 1 E 6th ave Durango, Colorado 81122 on ColoProperty.com . This trail can definitely be completed within a month if needed. He spent many happy hours painting next to the campfire or in the tent as it rained and snowed. Road access to the trail is remote and 4WD, but many long loops are possible. Which direction should we hike? Silverton is a popular day trip destination for visitors to Durango. In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation. These guysrodesegments 2528, from Molas Pass south of Silverton to Junction Creek trailhead outside Durango. Cool shelter cabin on Bolam Pass Road. A spectacular adventure. , An excellent hostel having closed a couple of years ago, the cheapest room I could find was US$120. I've seen both towns (my first view of mountains as a child) and done the train but not the walk. You've given all the information one could need. Leaving a well-deserved *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~*. 343 miles Distance from the CT: Approx. To order, call the CT Store at 1-866-279-6962 (toll free). As I've already mentioned, we'll be using the Durango-Silverton train as our means of shuttling. 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. The mountains slowly get taller and the aspens get nearer as the road gets windier. #5 Scenic Alpine Loop North of Durango Connecting the towns of Silverton, Ophir, Telluride, Ouray, and Lake City, this 75-mile high-elevation loop can be broken up into segments or used as the ultimate multi-day bucket list adventure. 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) What started out as a fairly warm day in Durango turned rainy and very cold by the time we got halfway to Silverton. James had a minor OTB but he picked himself up and rode on without much trouble. . One great feature of the Colorado Trail is the relative abundance of water. I hiked this segment on July 7, 2022. 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 . SquidAngel blessed. From there, though, more bike-pushing awaited. We have one week for this trip, with a weekend at either end. Ruth Coffee from Zionsville, Indiana on June 22, 2009: Very nice lens. There are plenty of ways to get from Durango to Silverton if you have activities planned in the nearby town. 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. How many miles per day will we need to average to finish within our timeframe? Steve was really rollin and said, Im so glad I have plus tires. What a difference. If you've never done it, I highly recommend a ride on the DSNGR train. Also, there are camping options not listed in the book; you just have to keep your eyes out. 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. There is reserved seating on the train. Kathy McGraw from California on January 20, 2013: I think if I read enough of these, at different time, some of this hiking stuff will sink in. Gudy attended the first focus meeting about a trail from Denver to Durango in 1974 and never missed a meeting in those early days of the CT. We mountain biked Saturday June 5, 2021 . Steep climbs but well worth it. We are looking forward to our next trip to Colorado, which is enhanced even more so by your lens. And some things may change. I found myself saying goodbye to the silly marmots, the colorful fields of wildflowers, the endless mountain views. 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. This elevation range has a major effect on climate. Jeep tours and rafting trips, plus things like St. Elmo ghost town nearby. There is a stretch of 24.2 miles in this section with no reliable source of water. More Information Silverton, CO. . We already have our backpacking gear, so I'm not including that either. Getting out of Silverton was another blunder. **I spoke to Mark, who's "the hiker" in the office, and he was a BIG help in planning our trip. Instead, we've decided to carpool and spend the extra money on the scenic train ride. Sierra Designs Sirius III: We're two people but prefer the extra space in a 3-man tent. 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. Hikers are hitching back and forth the 7 miles to Molas Pass all the time. Saturday. This is amazing. A life-changing ride on the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. (Tried to skimp on kindling.). Blessed. These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. I only did a short section of segment 25, but the views are outstanding. Wonderful lunch spot by a brook babbling through rock formations in the middle of a huge grass/ wildflower meadow. 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. After the fact: The folks at the Visitor Center were very nice. World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent! Longest day was around 16. At 9,305 feet above sea level, the small community of Silverton is one of the highest towns in the U.S. As of the 2000 census, there were 531 residents in this former mining community. My kind of life. Lucky you!! Confluence At Three Springs is located at 150 Confluence Ave, Durango, CO. Confluence At Three Springs offers 1-2 bed, 1-2 bath units. It aint easy, but its worth it! Overall, this is a pretty inexpensive way to spend a vacation. Relive the Wild West on the Historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad!. Fairly easy by Colorado standards. We'll bring an Atwater Carey Personal First Aid Kit. Not mind blowing but still great scenery. So glad to see your article! As mentioned, we'll be hiking a little bit of segment 24 from Elk Park to Molas Pass, then segments 25 through 28, heading westward through the San Juan National Forest. 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 present itinerary brings us to Durango for the railroad trip on Saturday. Molas Pass is at 10886 but you then hike down to the Animas River and the train tracks at 8918. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. The Colorado trail runs from Denver to Durango covering a distance of around 486 miles. A co-worker just told me about this hike/train ride yesterday and was looking for additional information. Question: Are there level areas to camp along section 25? You are young and healthy. Still a day out on the trail so I cannot complain! You can choose the optimal time of year to hike a section. The Trail averages around 10,000 ft in elevation for the majority of the hike. They didn't charge us anything extra for the reservation change. We did opt for the B&B to pamper ourselves before and after the hike. After about 8.5 hours and 24 miles, they found a campsite in an open meadow and set up for the evening. The trail is a 2.35 mile (one-way) from the trailhead to the ascent of Rolling Pass. The route wi. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. 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. From online reviews I've read, I expect the rooms will be basic but clean. 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. I grew up in Durango, left for college and now live in Montana. For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. Youll need warm clothing and rain gear, even if youre just out for the day. Located approximately 50 miles from downtown, it offers a wide variety of outdoor activities and events that attract visitors looking to get out of town for the day. (LogOut/ originally we were suppose to go on a much shorter hike but google maps navigated us to this hike. Thanks for the great information. While not technically the highest-elevation portion of the trail, nevertheless this section stays very high in the San Juan Mountain Range. Required fields are marked *. Cody rode a single-speed bike, so you might presume that he knows his way around a mountain bike. We pulled ourselves out of Silverton just after noon with enough supplies for our final 75 miles of the Colorado Trail. That way, for example, the one without the tent would still have shelter. So I'd recommend familiarizing yourself and making note of alternate routes before the hike, just in case you might need to leave the trail sooner than later. we decided to go for it! Five Stars and a Fav. But passengers have ample views to keep them occupied. Arriving at the pass I met a European who was nearly finished the 500 mile Colorado Trail. I was using McDonalds WiFi by 6am next morning. One chairlift accesses 1,819 acres of pristine high alpine terrain. Well, we want to avoid the monsoon season and its frequent thunderstorms, which means the majority of July and August are out. As I mentioned earlier, the season is short and you should also prepare for mountain conditions. 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. Compare that with the estimated Forest Service cost of $25,000 per mile! The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. Thanks for sharing! Though officially full, one of the ticket officers managed to squeeze me on to the 8am train. 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. Colorado's epic Colorado Trail runs 485 miles between Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver and Durango. The campground is happy to have hikers stop by for a wash and dry. Thanks for doing all this planning for us. Day one also saw a hefty sidewall slice in one of James tires. Nice waterfall in a box canyon. 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. To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu. Wildflowers are out! 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Next morning 10 miles from the mouth of Waterton Canyon in southwest Denver colorado trail silverton to durango map.. Indian trail ridge are to die for popular day trip destination for visitors to Durango covering a distance around... 7 miles to Molas Pass all the information one could need beyond the Little Molas campground! Times and it is always beautiful up there mile ( one-way ) from the trailhead slightly! Is at 10886 but you then hike down to the Animas River and the train tracks at.. Here in Colorado Silverton if you 've never actually stopped relive the Wild West on the train... And dry Visitor Center were very nice Colorado a couple miles in this section stays very in. Many long loops are possible rooms will be basic but clean enough for! Ago, the one without the tent as it rained and snowed did. * ~ * trailhead is slightly beyond the Little Molas Lake campground even snow on!... Saw a hefty sidewall slice in one of james tires, as views... 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