The Complete Guide to the 7 Best Section Hikes on the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail is a backpacker’s dream, winding 486 miles through the heart of the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Durango. The trail consists of 28 segments that are filled with towering peaks, lush meadows, alpine lakes, dramatic vistas, and an unparalleled backcountry experience. While completing a thru-hike is a bucket-list achievement for many, it’s not always feasible for those with limited time. That’s where section hiking comes in.
Section hiking the Colorado Trail still allows you to experience the trail’s stunning beauty, rugged challenges, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re looking for a weekend trip or a week long backpacking adventure, there are so many unique sections to choose from.
This blog post highlights my top 7 backpacking sections of the Colorado Trail. You’ll find information on trip planning, trail logistics, and highlights of each section. Whether you’re an amateur or seasoned backpacker, this guide covers everything you need to know to plan an epic adventure on one of the most iconic trails.
Let’s dive into everything!
Initial Planning - Things to Consider
Section hiking the Colorado Trail can be an incredible experience, but takes some planning. Here are some important factors to keep in mind before hitting the trail:
Duration
How many days do you have? What is your pace? Most backpackers on the Colorado Trail will aim for a minimum of 10-15 miles per day, but this may vary based on fitness and experience. It’s important to keep in mind the trail difficulty and elevation change in the sections you plan to hike.
Altitude
Most sections of the trail vary between 10,000 and 13,000 feet. If you’re traveling from a lower elevation, you will want to spend a day or two acclimating to avoid altitude sickness.
Weather
Colorado’s weather can be VERY unpredictable. Snow lingers at high elevations early in the season, while thunderstorms are common in the summer. I experienced afternoon thunderstorms almost every day in August. I’d recommend backpacking between July and early October for best conditions.
Water Sources
Depending on the sections you choose and the time of your trip, water may be scarce. It’s important to research this prior to your trip and know where the reliable sources are. I use the app, FarOut, to not only understand where sources are, but to see real-time comments of each source’s flow rates.
Camping Regulations
When planning your trip, it’s important to know camping regulations for that area. There are some “no camping zones” along the Colorado Trail. It’s also good to review the Leave No Trace principles about camping – no camping 200 feet from water sources.
Trip Planning
Now let’s jump into the fun part - trip planning! It’s important to plan your hike properly to ensure you’re prepared physically, mentally, and logistically. These are the main steps to take when planning your section hike:
1. Choose the right section
This comes down to experience level, time available, and ideal terrain. Do you prefer remote wilderness, easy terrain, mountain views, etc.?
2. Research maps
Take time to plan your route – researching maps is important to understand elevation gain, campsites, and water sources. I use the app FarOut for most of my research.
3. Organize gear
Backpacking gear should be lightweight and efficient. I have created a Colorado Trail Gear Guide that provides detailed information on every piece of gear.
4. Determine transportation logistics
Plan how to get to and from trailheads. Many section hikes can be logistically difficult due to arranging transportation. These are some transportation options:
If you have two cars, you can park one car at each end.
If you have one car, you can park a car at the end of the section then hitch/shuttle to the start.
If you don’t have a car, you can look into shuttle services for the Colorado Trail or ride-share Facebook groups.
5. Check the weather
As mentioned above, Colorado mountains are knowns for their unpredictable weather. Before heading out, make sure to check the forecast, carry rain gear, and have a plan to bail if necessary.
6. Plan for food and/or resupply
It’s important to pack meals and snacks carefully to ensure you have enough food and enough calories. If your trip spans more than a couple days, research nearby towns for a resupply. You can either ship a box of food to the town or pick stuff up when you get there.
Section Hikes
These are seven section hikes of the Colorado Trail (in no particular order), that are accessible, varying levels of difficulty, and incredibly scenic. It’s important to note that I did not hike the Collegiate East (sections 11-15), and instead hiked the Collegiate West section. I would love to go back one day to hike the other one!
1. Segments 4-5: Long Gulch to Kenosha Pass
Mileage: 30.7 miles
Elevation: ~5,100 ft. gain & ~5,400 ft. loss
Number of Days: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate; steady elevation with some rocky terrain
Description: This is a great option for a beginner backpacking trip.These segments follow the Lost Creek Wilderness, which is filled with peaceful forests, vast meadows, aspen groves, and unique granite formations. The climb to Kenosha Pass offers views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Transportation & Logistics: This section starts at a trailhead along Wellington Lake Road, off of US-285, in Bailey, Colorado. The parking lot does get crowded, but overnight parking is allowed. This section ends at Kenosha Pass, which is located off of US-285. Overnight parking is also allowed at this parking lot. I’d recommend using two cars and parking one at each end, if possible.
2. Segment 6: Kenosha Pass to Goldhill Trailhead
Mileage: 32.9 miles
Elevation: ~5,700 ft. gain & ~5,500 ft. loss
Number of Days: 2-4 days
Difficulty: Moderate. This is the longest individual section of the Colorado trail, with significant elevation change.
Description: This section offers classic Colorado scenery, reliable water sources, and is the start of high alpine views of the Colorado Trail. You begin by climbing Georgia Pass, then start to see views of the Tenmile range as you descend into Goldhill.
Transportation & Logistics: This section starts at Kenosha Pass, which is located off of US-285, and ends at Goldhill Trailhead near Breckenridge, Colorado. Both of the trailheads allow overnight parking. It is best to either park a car at either end or coordinate with a trail angel/local shuttle.
3. Segments 7-8: Goldhill Trailhead to Tennessee Pass
Mileage: 42.7 miles
Elevation: ~8,100 ft. gain & ~6,700 ft. loss
Number of Days: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Strenuous. These segments include steep climbs and descents, and a lot of high elevation sections.
Description: These are some of my favorite sections! The sections start with a climb out of Breckenridge and a traverse of the Tenmile range, as you reach the highest elevation on the trail thus far (12,500 feet). You then descend into Copper Mountain Resort before climbing up to Elk Ridge and Kokomo pass. The high alpine views and expansive mountain terrain make it a stunning, but challenging section.
Transportation & Logistics: These segments start at Goldhill Trailhead near Breckenridge, Colorado and end at Tennessee Pass, which is located on US-24. The trailheads are about an hour apart and allow overnight parking. You can either leave a car at each end, coordinate a ride from a trail angel/shuttle, or do a mix of hitchhiking and local transportation from Leadville to Breckenridge.
4. Collegiate West
Mileage: 83 miles
Elevation: ~16,000 ft. gain & ~15,000 ft. loss
Number of Days: 4-7 days
Difficulty: Very strenuous. This route includes high elevation, significant elevation change, and remote terrain.
Description: If you have the time and you’re up for a challenge, this is an amazing option. The Collegiate West is an alternate route to the typical Collegiate East section of the Colorado Trail. It is a more remote, high elevation route that traverses the Collegiate Peak Wilderness. The trail offers unparalleled scenery, views of towering 14,000 foot peaks, and alpine lakes. It’s important to note that this route can be very dangerous in bad weather since it is mostly above tree-line. If the weather doesn’t look good, I’d recommend choosing a different section or opting for the Collegiate East route.
Transportation & Logistics: The Collegiate West route starts at Twin Lakes, which is accessible from CO-82. The end of this section is at Monarch Pass directly off of US-50. Twin Lakes and Monarch Pass are only an hour away from each other and both allow overnight parking, so it’s best to park a car at each end if possible.
5. Segment 20-21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass
Mileage: 17.3 miles (3 additional miles to get to starting trailhead)
Elevation: ~2,500 ft. gain & ~2,800ft. loss
Number of Days: 2 days
Difficulty: Challenging. This section has high elevations and rugged terrain.
Description: This segment is perfect for a one night backpacking trip. It traverses the La Garita Wilderness, which offers alpine meadows, rugged terrain, and continuous panoramic views. The section ends with a hike over Snow Mesa – a beautiful vast landscape. There are no trees on Snow Mesa, so make sure the weather is good before crossing it!
Transportation & Logistics: San Luis Pass Trailhead is unfortunately not accessible by car. However, there is a parking lot three miles from the trailhead that is just outside of the town of Creede, CO. The end of this section, Spring Creek Pass, is located on CO-149 near Lake City, Colorado. Overnight parking is allowed at Spring Creek Pass. If you have two cars, I’d recommend parking a car in Creede and a car at Spring Creek Pass. If you only have one car, park one at Spring Creek Pass and either hitch or shuttle to Creede.
6. Segments 22-24: Spring Creek Pass to Molas Pass
Mileage: 54 miles
Elevation:~9,875 ft. gain & 11,900 ft. loss
Number of Days: 3-5 days
Difficulty: Strenuous. These sections present numerous challenges – extended high altitudes, rugged terrain, and significant elevation change.
Description: If you’re looking for high altitude hiking with incredible ridge-walking, these sections are amazing. They pass through the heart of the San Juan Mountains, offering some of the most picturesque views and challenging high-elevation terrain on the Colorado Trail. In segment 22, you will reach the trail’s high point at 13,271 feet.
Transportation & Logistics: Spring Creek Pass is located on CO-149 near Lake City, Colorado. Molas Pass is located on US-50 near Silverton, Colorado. Overnight parking is allowed at both lots, but the trailheads are just over 3 hours from each other so it’s important to figure out logistics prior to your hike. Utilizing local shuttles, trail angels, or hitchhiking are recommended.
7. Segments 25-28: Molas Pass to Junction Creek
Mileage: 73 miles
Elevation: ~10,000 ft. gain & ~10,000 ft. loss
Number of Days: 4-6 days
Difficulty: Challenging. There is difficult climbs, rugged terrain, and high elevation.
Description: These sections are remote and magical. They are the final four sections of the Colorado trail and perfect for those who want to explore rugged backcountry terrain. They offer a diverse range of landscapes as you’re immersed in the San Juan Mountains – high alpine, dense forest, stunning valleys, and alpine lakes. The trail gradually descends towards Durango, which is the end of the Colorado Trail.
Transportation & Logistics: This section starts at Molas Pass located on US-50 near Silverton, Colorado. Although this lot allows overnight parking, it’s a popular trailhead. You can park in the town of Silverton and hitchhike to the trailhead. This section ends at Junction Creek Trailhead, which is located off US-550 near Durango, Colorado. It is a 20 minute drive into town. When you are finished your hike, I’d highly recommend taking the steam train from Durango to Silverton. It is a beautiful and incredible experience, and gets you right back to your car!
The Colorado Trail offers endless opportunities for backpackers to experience the beauty of the Rockies, even if you don’t have time to complete an entire thru hike. Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend trip or a week-long adventure, all of these section hikes offer challenge and serenity. Remember to plan thoroughly, check conditions, and properly acclimate prior to your trip.
If you have any questions or want to share your experiences, comment below. Happy Trails!