Autumn foliage brings magnificent gold to the area. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition Just get in shape beforehand and drink lots of water (more than a gallon a day if the sun's out). The best part is the first two sections. So I created this post to share the basics about the route I chose, my hiking stats and the planning resources I found most helpful. I also highly recommend the CT app for your smart phone. Taking a month or so to thru-hike the entire length would be a dream for most backpacking enthusiasts. I ended up losing 15 pounds, and gained a ton of muscle, by the time I reached Durango. You want to go self-contained for three days and two nights, camping wherever the mood strikes you. And you definitely want your mountain bike. A bird list, compiled by the Durango Bird Club, is available from Forest Service offices upon request. Go prepared for everything from rain and snow to 90?, skin-broiling heat. You'll spend most of the time near timberline, which in Colorado hovers around 12,000 feet. Lowest elevation – 5,522 feet (Segment 1 near Denver), Highest elevation – 13,271 feet (Segment 22 in the San Juan Mountains). You will have forgotten it by the time the Colorado River comes into view way below as you ride around a cliff face before descending to the road. You want mountains, crystal waters, and skies so blue they make your eyes ache. Avoid wet, low-lying areas, and use insect repellent. Thru-hiking the Colorado Trail takes anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks from end to end. Elevations are high, very high. 8. The Strontia Springs Dam sure is a sight to see! The record is 4 days 4 hours and 17 minutes, during the Colorado Trail Race (during which riders bike through storms and darkness to compete in a race with no prizes). The CDT and The Colorado Trail share the same treadway for 234 miles; over 300 if you take the Collegiate West option. As a mountain biker you’ll pedal and hike a minimum of 540 miles with roughly 82,000 feet of elevation gain to do the full trail. Find your hike on the country's highest footpath. Each can be ridden in a hard, fast day, with easy access via car or truck. And I gotta say I chose wisely ... it did not disappoint. Most of the trail lies above 3,000 m or 10,000 feet. Also, you can hike or bike portions of the Colorado Trail, providing an incredible Rocky Mountain adventure with less effort and time invested. If any long trail is likely to induce a headache, it's the Colorado Trail. However, because of its length, altitude — and in many places, sheer ruggedness — the Colorado Trail can be hard to get your hands around at first. With the help of friends, and by shipping boxes ahead of me, I resupplied food about every five days, and I filtered water from streams and springs along the trail. Following the Continental Divide as closely as practicable and crossing it 30 times, about 90% of the GDMBR is on unpaved roads and trails and requires basic off-pavement riding skills to complete. National forest maps are also available from the visitor center for $3. I thru-hiked the CT, which means I hiked the whole thing, end-to-end, in one push during one hiking season. The trail fits the bill for an afternoon or early evening ride for those seeking a quick adventure with stunning mountainside views. Sites at 13 campgrounds may be reserved by calling (800) 280-CAMP. The shortest hikes in the survey were in the mid 20 day range (see note below) while 52 days was the top end. In the backcountry's less-traveled areas live bighorn sheep, mountain goats, beavers, river otters, and even mountain lions. The most common trees are aspen, pi?ion juniper, spruce fir, and cottonwood. Hiking and running is common too on the Government Trail. Campgrounds range from $6 to $10; most are $8. hours west of Durango. Mountain vistas: the ups and downs of a mountain-biking/hiking paradise. The trailhead is past the lake. Box 2261 Durango, CO 81302. The trail is also perfect for hikers of all kinds. The San Juan National Forest Association offers Colorado Trail maps for $18 plus $2 shipping (whole set) and $10 plus $1 shipping (half set: 1-16 North, 17-29 South) and Colorado Traveler (a detailed guidebook for day hikes on the Colorado Trail) for $5 plus $1 shipping. Mosquitoes are usually an annoyance only in damp and densely forested locations. Loop Dry Fork to Colorado Trail to Hofhein's connection. It's a magical trail but there is one long section of bumpy double-track that does become tiresome. 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