You can camp near the start of the segment or continue about 3 miles for your next widespread options. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. There are one-off spots before that point. It usually takes thru-hikers 4-6 weeks to complete but it can be completed in sections over several years. Sample a taste of the Colorado Trail on this 160-mile loop that circles the Collegiate Peaks, a collection of picturesque 14ers along the Continental Divide. Hiking the Colorado Trail: Segment 1 and 2 I am blessed to live within a 30-minute drive of the Colorado Trail. Although mountain biking is not allowed in the wilderness area (about half of the segment), it is possible to bike the western portion of the trail. He produced The Walkumentary , a trail documentary that covers his 2006 southbound Continental Divide Trail thru-hike and is one of co-hosts of the new hiking podcast, The Trail Show . Keep it in a Ziploc bag to keep it from getting wet. Kenosha Pass however has plenty of parking options both along 285 itself and towards the bathrooms I mentioned above. An uncomfortable backpack mean an uncomfortable trip so choose wisely. Although the SPOT cannot be used for navigation it is great for emergencies. SECTION 2 - KENOSHA PASS TO CAMP HALE. As a general rule, you should pack 1.5 - 2 lb of food for each day in the backcountry. Capacity of backpacks are measured in liters. Colorado Trail Hiking - Imagine going on a hiking and camping vacation on the Colorado Trail with a light daypack, delicious prepared meals, and all the logistics planned! You can watch the virtual trail guide of Colorado Trail Segment 5 below and check out some pictures from our hike. In some towns the selection is great and in others not so much. Hiking the Colorado Trail. Besides the last .1 miles, Long Gulch TH should be accessible to all vehicles but does travel on dirt roads. Laced up my hiking boots and packed up plenty of snacks and water for what I knew was going to be a long, steep, and mostly dry hike. On a clear day with good weather, you really can’t go wrong on this segment. By J.B. Bissell • July 24, 2018. Highlights of Colorado Trail Segment 5. After hiking Segments 1-3 of The Colorado Trail, since they melted early, we decided to tackle a high elevation segment. The Databook is a must have for navigation on the CT. All rights reserved. For more information on hitch hiking, read the how to hitchhike guide. Examples: Instant potatoes and summer sausage, Knorr pasta sides and tuna packets. It assumed that the cheapest beds in hostels were chosen for each town stop. Activate the SOS function and mountain rescue will be notified of your position. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. The highlights of Colorado Trail segment 5 include the Lost Creek Wilderness, Kenosha Pass and lots of beautiful leaf viewing in the fall. The Big 3 refers to the three items that are the most important and will take up the most weight in your back. On day two, backtrack 3.4 miles to turn off-trail for a 1,300-foot climb of Zephyr Peak. Colorado is a hiker's paradise, and the Colorado Trail will let you enjoy all its beauty to the fullest. Parking: Long Gulch Trailhead has a small parking areas that can fit 10-20 cars at the most. The Colorado Trail reaches its highest point here, at 13,200 feet, on the second day of hiking. Sleeping bags are rated by temperature. Camping: While hiking Colorado Trail Segment 5, you will have plenty of options to camp along the way. The treefall starts around mile 3 and continues through mile 5 or so with some breaks in between. The new app makes navigation easy. Another highlight of segment 5 is its moderate terrain. The Colorado Trail Foundation provides great resources on hike preparation. Rather than hiking together, Justin would drive his dad to the trail and then meet up with him every few days to resupply his food and gear, keeping him insulated from the virus. The Colorado Trail, one of the nation's premier long-distance hiking trails, spans 500 miles from Denver to Durango, and it's arguably one of Colorado's … The mountain bike version detours Wilderness Areas, where mechanized travel is off-limits, and can be done any number of ways: from weekend warrior-ing it a couple segments at a time, to a supported through-ride with a sag vehicle, to bikepacking it unsupported in a single push. New grads to new retirees hike the trail together and so can you. CT hikers carried backpacks ranging from 40L to 70L. Although everyone has their own preference, you will never go wrong with the MSR Pocket Rocket. Fees: There is no fee to hike segment 5 of the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail is divided into 28 segments with an access point at the beginning and end of each. Advantages: Less hassle in town, can save by buying in bulk. Anyone can hike the Colorado Trail. Colorado Trail Example Gear List from the Colorado Trail Foundation. Hitchhiking may be necessary when you are thru hiking so it is best to be prepared. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! There are many shelter options (hammocks, tarps, bivys) but the most popular option are freestanding tents. For more information on recommended tents visit the 5 Best Backpacking Tents of 2017. June 3, 2016 – 16.2 miles. Brian decided that he’d attempt a thousand-mile section starting in South Pass, Wyoming, and ending just south of Cuba, New Mexico (where he stopped in 2016). The Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments which includes a choice of two routes in the … For 485 miles between Denver and Durango, the Colorado Trail (CT) winds over rocky, 13,000-foot peaks and passes, through wildflower-filled meadows, in and out of dusty mining towns, and past snow-clad vistas as it draws a line through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Many backpackers prefer to not send any packages ahead and simply buy their meals in town. They are the backpack, sleeping system, and shelter. Colorado Trail Segment 5 is by far the most pretty of the first 5 segments while working through 14.6 miles of hiking and 1,858 feet of elevation gain. One of the country’s premier long trails, stretching from Denver (technically, Littleton) to Durango, the Colorado Trail winds its way 486-miles from central to the southwestern corner of Colorado. According to the Colorado Trail Foundation, trail maintenance in 2020 will not be the standard efforts due to COVID-19. Research your trail section before you go, paying special attention to the elevation. Mick’s Tip: If you are flexible on when you hike this segment, head to this segment in the fall. A water purification system is necessary to filter water from streams and lakes along the way. Many hikers will pack enough food to get them to the next hostel. It usually takes thru-hikers 4-6 weeks to complete but it can be completed in sections over several years. The hiking starts off in thick forest, works through a marshy area with beautiful mountains in the distance and ends with miles and miles of hiking through high fields and spanning views. If you have ever hiked any section of the Colorado Trail, you know that it’s a fun experience to be on a trail that winds 468 miles through beautiful Colorado. Food is one of the heaviest items you can carry while backpacking. The author enjoying a prime section of the Colorado Trail, which overlaps briefly with the Monarch Crest Trail here. Comments from other hikers can help you avoid bad campsites or poor water sources. But for those who like a challenge, a 25-mile loop hike featuring the Knife Edge is an incredibly memorable journey. For more information on water purification visit our Backpacking Water Treatment Guide. October 22, 2016 by John Nestler in Bikepacking , Camping , Photography This is an introductory article, the first in a series about bikepacking the Colorado Trail . Most of the trail lies above 3,000 m or 10,000 feet. Your email address will not be published. End Trailhead (Kenosha Pass): From Morrison, take US285 for 45 miles to reach Kenosha Pass. Section (segment) hiking is a great way to see the trail and being able to do the trail a weekend, week or more at a time. Most hikers on the Colorado Trail use canister stoves or hike stove-less. SECTION 7A, 2021 is full. This may be an issue for several months unless a good simaritain with a chainsaw comes along. Check out an Example Timeline of a thru hike that started in early in the season. Water is heavy, so it is necessary to balance safety with weight. If you are hiking the Colorado Trail you will not carry enough food to hike the entire trail. A quick word about hiking The Colorado Trail in segments: Not everyone can spend 4-6 weeks hiking The Colorado Trail in one long hike. Distance: 160 miles Best time to hike: July–August Days on trail: 12–16. The new edition is rumored to be waterproof. Best Views: In my opinion, Colorado Trail Segment 5 offers the best views on the first five segments of the trail. Advantages: Never bored of food, can find new ideas, Disadvantages: Expensive, at the mercy of store selections. Each one is a moderate to exceptional hike in its own right, from 11.4 miles (18.3 kilometers) to 32 miles (51.5 kilometers) in length. To protect others from disease, bury human waste 6-8 inches into the ground and at least 200 feet from natural water. On my thru-hike I resupplied in Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida, Creede, and Silverton. Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. These bathrooms are seasonal, along with the road itself. Colorado Trail (CT): Collegiate Peaks Loop . As of 2020, miles 3.5-4.5 have a TON of downed trees which making camping more difficult, but there is a great spot around mile 4.7 where we camped. Access to Water: Colorado Trail Segment 5 has a great water source right off the bat in a stream you must cross. A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use". Many people are intimidated by the thought of hitch hiking. Backpackers need to be aware of the 4 main contaminants: Cryptosporidium (Crpto), Giardia intestinalis (Giardia), Bacteria, and Viruses. More Activities & Information Our hike of on this segment of the Colorado Trail was filled with snow and graupel showers, thundersnow and poor visibility. Disadvantages: Requires a dehydrator, large time and effort. Each contaminate can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps and can be caught by drinking water contaminated with human and animal fecal waste. It is basically Google Maps for the Colorado Trail but can be used in airplane mode or without service. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. After this point, your next sources will not be for 3-5 miles in, but are usually pretty consistent. The Colorado Trail is a 486 mile backpacking route starting in Denver, Colorado and ending in Durango, Colorado. The Colorado Trail is a long-distance trail running for 486 miles (782 km) from the mouth of Waterton Canyon southwest of Denver to Durango in Colorado, United States.Its highest point is 13,271 feet (4,045 m) above sea level, and most of the trail is above 10,000 feet (3,000 m). One man offers his sage advice on how to tackle the 486-mile Colorado Trail, piece by piece. Section Hiking and shuttle transportation info for The Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail is broken down into 28 “Segments.” Rather than diving deeply into each individual segment, I’m going to break down the main sections of the trail according to my own thru-hiking resupply strategy. Questions or comments about our hike along Colorado Trail Segment 5? I finished the trail in 37 days, taking three “zero days.” Day 1 – Waterton Canyon to the South Platte River – Segment 1 Fortunately, more bridges and markings are added every summer. Your email address will not be published. The trail is maintained by the Colorado Trail Foundation which organizes groups of volunteers to work on the trail. This allows hikers to prepackage meals and supplies and send them ahead of time. Here are the best ways to keep you on the trail. You are putting your safety in a stranger's hands and it can be difficult to wrap your head around. Colorado Trail Hiking: Main Routes and Access Points The Colorado Trail is broken up into 28 segments, each with its own individual entry points at the beginning and end. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. It would be impossible to carry all of the water needed for hiking. As of June 2020, Colorado Trail Segment 5 is victim of serious tree fall across the trail from mile 3-5ish with a section in there that is really hard to navigate around and will kill quite a bit of time until cleared. If you want to eat a warm meal you will need to bring a stove. Connecting to present and past CT backpackers is an invaluable source of information. The trail starts up the gully and shortly after intersects with the CT. "A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use", Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes, Factors that effect filtration's effectiveness are the filter's pore size, amount of the contaminant, particle size of the contaminant, and charge of the contaminant particle, Factors that effect disinfectant's effectiveness are contact time, disinfectant concentration, temperature, cloudiness, and water pH. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. After tackling the first three segments of the Colorado Trail in 2019, Jackie and I were itching to continue our segment hiking of the CT in 2020. The Trail also covers a wide range of elevations and terrain, offering something for hikers of all skill levels. Colorado Trail: Segment 1 is a 18 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Littleton, Colorado that features a river and is rated as difficult. The Colorado trail meander through the following Wilderness Areas: lost Creek, Holy Cross, Mt Massive, Collegiate Peaks, La Garita and the Weminuche. This information can be found on packaging but takes time to do the math. Colorado Trail : Segment 8 is a 24.1 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Frisco, Colorado that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. Advantages: Can be used in most situations, multi-fuel options. General Trail Information: Colorado Trail Segment 5, Virtual Trail Guide: Colorado Trail Segment 5, Colorado Trail Segment 5 Rating: ★★★★ (⅘ Stars), Estimated Time to Complete: 5-8 Hours One Way, Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty System Explained, Season: Early May – Early December (Expect snow outside of this period). 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