colorado trail silverton to durango map

Contents include splinter grabber forceps, iodine ointment, antibiotic ointment, 2 sterile butterfly wound closures, sting relief pad, tincture of benzoin, adhesive tape, conforming gauze, 5 adhesive strips, 4 sterile gauze pads, 2 telfa non-adherent pads, Acetaminophen tablets, Antihistamine tablets, Ibuprofen tablets. This section provided the best riding, with many short climbs and fast twisty descents. Have printed out your supply list! Since then, the trail has welcomed hikers of all skill levels and interests, from experienced thru-hikers to day hikers. 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. I emailed the Town of Silverton at info@silvertoncolorado.com with this question and got a same-day response. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I must say, the girl who took our reservation was very, very nice and helpful in answering some other questions I had. This time, though, we'll pay two visits, once just before we begin our hike and then a longer stay after we're done, when we ride back on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway. Leaving a well-deserved *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~*. I've driven through those areas in CO twice and would love to see it more intimately. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Galloping Goose Trail (CO) and Animas River Trail. It had been too long since my husband and I had done a multi-day backpacking trip together, and we were really looking forward to our first section-hike on the Colorado Trail. And some things may change. Across the highway. Detour Arapahoe Rd. Jul 8, 2023. I should mention also that we're not "ultralight" backpackers. I love them for bikepacking!. For sure, there are lighter-weight, new and improved models on the market, but for some items, we're just gonna go with what we have. 465.9 - accessible via 171 Gorgeous! There are no wilderness areas near here, so you can bike the Colorado Trail all the way from here to Durango! Hi, My name is Debbie. Elsie Hagley from New Zealand on August 31, 2012: Nice lens, if I was 30 years younger I would go for this. Welcome to the Nature and the Outdoors Group. The trail is open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, and includes parts of six national forests, six wilderness areas, and eight mountain ranges. After the fact: Well, we ended up staying at the Spanish Trails Inn on Main Street instead, because it was just $39 plus tax, and also because the Dollar Inn was undergoing renovations and didn't look so hot at the time. I just came across this. Great trip. They took down our names and a contact phone number and the date we expected to return. 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. Life is distilled into its most basic elements. Your mentioning of getting off the Silverton - Durango train reminded me of my backpacking trips up into Chicago Basin. As in, at least 30 degrees colder and a lot wetter. Kinda neat--we'll drive in ninety minutes what we'll take the better part of a week to hike (although the route is different, of course). . My husband has family in Black Hawk. Noah's Ark rafting just south of BV also has a great ropes course the kids might enjoy. We woke up with under 50 miles to get to Durango. Durango to Silverton or vice versa? Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews. Colorado Trail Segment 26 passed Blackhawk Mountain and many stunning vistas on its way to Celebration Lake and Bolam Pass Road. Sherry Venegas from La Verne, CA on June 02, 2009: This area is spectacular. It would certainly take me the 40 days :) The train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part. What may be t-shirt temps in the valleys can turn into numbing wind and a whiteout at the passes. We already have our backpacking gear, so I'm not including that either. Thanks for sharing! She had a blast! Another thing to be aware of is that, while locations of trail intersections are noted, the mileages of those spur trails to roads and "ways out" from the Colorado Trail are not. Thank you for sharing. One chairlift accesses 1,819 acres of pristine high alpine terrain. Cool shelter cabin on Bolam Pass Road. Arriving at the pass I met a European who was nearly finished the 500 mile Colorado Trail. On a thru-hike, you get into "trail shape" and can get acclimated to altitude as well. arguably the best continuous singletrack in the state as the San Juan Mountains are traversed for over 75 miles from Silverton to Durango. Or not. we had to stop very often to move out of the way of bikers. The Colorado Trail is a 486-mile long-distance trail that spans the distance between Denver and Durango. Skyblue Overland may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Out of the entire Colorado Trail, arguably the most highly-acclaimed portion is the long stretch running from the town of Silverton to the southern terminus of the trail in Durango. Thanks for this great information. The vista looked great from Molas. 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. Filters. For more information and reservations, visit DurangoTrain.com or call: After the fact: This was fun! 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. Clothing: (each person, some of it on the person). (LogOut/ Where will we stay at either end of the hike? It is also very well setup for section hiking and is divided into 28 segments. Youll find streams and lakes on many segments so just pack a filter rather than lug your water. My wife and I did nearly the same thing about 2 weeks after you were there. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run . Bikepacking The Colorado Trail: Silverton to Durango via segments 25, 26, 27, and 28 The debriefing style is a nice touch. But does have a gear shop (fuel) and plenty of restaurants. Lots of good restaurants. I live in Denver and we are always looking for a good spot to go hiking. Since it's the same price to take the Durango-Silverton train one way as it is round-trip, and since we've reserved $79 seats for the ride from Durango back to Silverton at the end of the hike on June 20th, I'm going to inquire whether we could take the train from Silverton to Elk Park as part of a round trip at the start on June 13th. Interesting hike different terrains would definitely recommend it. For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. Your email address will not be published. The CT often takes its hikers well above treeline and far from roads, so go prepared for any kind of weather at any time of year. Explore the best rated trails in Durango, CO. I did get to see the Durango to Silverton Tourist train go by and it did look like a good ride. The majority of "thru-hikers," who complete the Colorado Trail in one continuous journey, travel from east to west. Mostly, I just thought it would be fun that way. Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Cumberland Basin. The mountains slowly get taller and the aspens get nearer as the road gets windier. Also, any additional. This trail can definitely be completed within a month if needed. We were rained on, snowed on, sleeted on, and were downright wet and cold much of the time. For some challenging . 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. 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. I loved the narrow gage train - what spectacular views! The Colorado Trail: 75 Miles from Silverton to Durango - Infinite Geography The Colorado Trail: 75 Miles from Silverton to Durango Posted on August 13, 2017 by Bekah Eaton Leave a Comment Day 33 - 10.3 Miles We pulled ourselves out of Silverton just after noon with enough supplies for our final 75 miles of the Colorado Trail. But I used to do day hikes. Also, cool mining ruins. Through hikers intending to stop at Molas Lake should be aware that they will hike 2.5 miles from there to the "start" of CT-25. " Love this place! Chimney remains at the side of road #124 in excellent condition. After the river you climb up the Elk Creek Canyon to above 12000. Rented bikes and cruised around town and did laundry. 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 . 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. The property is located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita park which offers miles of interconnected trails along the . Hike back. As we get closer to the time of our hike, we'll check on snow conditions at the higher elevations. Check out the Foundationswebsitefor more practical info. That way, for example, the one without the tent would still have shelter. The ride up was a lil tough but the ride down was awesome. When I woke up I looked out into the valley and Elk were running through the grass. Our present itinerary brings us to Durango for the railroad trip on Saturday. To access data, select a station from the map or the drop-down menu. Write a review to inform other visitors! Nice lens. Here Im looking back at the section prior the one I was about to do. 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. (LogOut/ All booked up. Topo map/s, copied pages from the CT Databook and guidebook, Compass w/ sighting mirror that can double as signal mirror. Section 3, also known as Segment 27 of the Colorado Trail, runs for 20.6 miles from Hotel Draw Road to the Kennebec Trailhead, climbing a whopping 4,186 feet along the way. 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. Open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders, the Colorado Trail is 482 miles long, extending from Denver to Durango. We also had a number of thunderstorms. . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Section-hiking usually requires shuttling. I visited Boulder and Mount Estes Park, which were easy to get to by car. The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long-distance mountain bike trails in the world. For Rent. View the Colorado Map of Ski Resorts for an integrated list of all ski and snowboard resorts. http://www.bigloopmaps.com/ This map includes turn by turn directions for this ride and many that are just like it. Thats a good reminder to check your first-aid kit; is it ready? ", Molas Lake Campground (pictured below):Highway 550 (aka Million Dollar Highway)Silverton, Colorado 81433(866)731-5204Website: MolasLake.com, Molas Lake Campground on the Colorado Trail, Segment 25: Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road. All rights reserved. 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. Beautiful scenery off a well maintained trail. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." is one and the same with the Continental Divide Trail. Nearly a full moon.more high resolution photos of day 1, Your email address will not be published. The Spanish Trails Inn was well, it was a room. 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. Hikers coming our way said was torn up for 2 miles. Cody tried to ride up but even his skills couldnt overcome the rocky trail. 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. I suggest that you look at staying in Buena Vista or Salida at lower elevations. Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K. FYI: The GPS waypoints listed in the Databook are in Lat/Long decimal degrees, NAD27 Conus datum. 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. Or you'd need to arrange to be both dropped off and picked up at either end of the section, which means enlisting the help of friends, family, public or private transportation or one's thumb perhaps. Join evoTrip x Outdoor Leadership xCAPiTAon a 7-dayadventure inKrippenstein, Austria, which offers some of the best free-riding in the world. The pretty view from Gudys Rest was a bit restricted due to rain. Question: Are there level areas to camp along section 25? Which direction should we hike? Oddly, CT-24 ends and CT-25 begins at 550, not at the campgrounds at Molas Lake or Little Molas Lake. , An excellent hostel having closed a couple of years ago, the cheapest room I could find was US$120. 45 Hermosa View Dr, Durango, CO 81301 is a lot/land. Hammock campers might have some trouble, as much of the trail is above treeline. See the most recent reviews. Its always a good feeling to get here and for there to not be thunderstorms, Steve said. I love reading about your hikes, and this one was no different. They didn't charge us anything extra for the reservation change. We planned, mapped, prepped, and loaded up to start the journey. There are plenty of ways to get from Durango to Silverton if you have activities planned in the nearby town. Yes, this is a beautiful part of our lovely state! Youll need warm clothing and rain gear, even if youre just out for the day. Some of the steeper ascents required walking the bikes, but they got to 12,400, marking the high point of day one. 50K, 26.2M, 8M run. In 1986, Gudy began the Colorado Trail Foundation, whose mission was to complete and maintain the trail, and educate the public about the project. They're available to take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. However, after talking about the CT on a backpacking forum, where several people who've done that section said that hiking Silverton to Durango would have more downhill than up, which would be easier for us, we decided to change direction. You might choose to hike during peak wildflower season or when you know there will be fewer hikers if solitude is your preference. For this trip, our #1 criteria will be: hot shower! "The 10 miles of downhill from the top of Blackhawk Mountain is some of the best there is, writes John Robinette on DurangoBikeTours.com. 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. We have one week for this trip, with a weekend at either end. This tent and rain fly weighs 5lbs, 4oz and has a zippered door on either side, so we don't have to crawl over each other's head to get out. You can choose the optimal time of year to hike a section. We stick mostly to day hikes, an occasional camping trip and train rides, which we thoroughly enjoy. Starting at the Little Molas Lake Trailhead, this segment of the Colorado Trail can be anything from a 2-mile out-and-back to a 22-mile trek. You've given all the information one could need. Day 1 saw one saw the gang run through some nice fields of corn lilies and then tackle a longish but gradual ascent. Well, we want to avoid the monsoon season and its frequent thunderstorms, which means the majority of July and August are out. 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. I love your lens. I not doing another till tomorrow. 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. I've got it in my head that we're going to park our car in town and walk all the way to Durango. Jul 8 to Jul 14, 2023. Blessed. I can't search Squidoo about GPS and hiking without encountering your rare articles. For every 1,000 feet you ascend, the temperature usually drops by four degrees. For trail conditions and other information, I've been contacting the San Juan National Forest Public Information Center at 970-247-4874. The top of Kennebec Pass rises above tree line, providing incredible views of the San Juan mountains in all direction. Durango Tourism Durango Hotels Durango Bed and Breakfast Durango Holiday Rentals Durango Packages Flights to Durango Durango Restaurants Durango Attractions Durango Travel Forum Durango Pictures Durango Map Durango Guide . 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. Map Key Favorites Check-Ins. 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. We also want to avoid most of the snow, which narrows it down to either June or September. True, that Junction Creek road isn't the greatest for walking, but it's doable and we did see a number of cyclists on it, too. Saw amazing wildlife: a herd of elk, 3 deer, pica, grouse and several marmots. There is a stretch of 24.2 miles in this section with no reliable source of water. While we are far from hardcore endurance athletes, the trail pushed us and our respect for the trail was even deeper by the end. The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. Altitude, some hefty climbs and pack weight can definitely combine to slow you down, too, if you're not used to it. Most easily distinguished as the location of Purgatory Ski Resort and the suburb of Hermosa, this region is home to Durango's best adventures. Im looking back at the higher elevations elevation is over 13,000 feet for this ride and many stunning on! Divided into 28 segments, CT-24 ends and CT-25 begins at 550, not the..., even if youre just out for the reservation change the Elk Creek Canyon to above 12000 no doubt awesome! A couple of years ago, the girl who took our reservation was very, very nice and in... Http: //www.bigloopmaps.com/ this map includes turn by turn directions for this trip, our # criteria. Very, very nice and helpful in answering some other questions i had the high point of one. Outdoor Leadership xCAPiTAon a 7-dayadventure inKrippenstein, Austria, which narrows it down either... Backpacking trips up into Chicago Basin of summer misquotes to keep you moving offers miles interconnected. 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Course the kids might enjoy and reviews, as much of the way of bikers got a response... A gear shop ( fuel ) and plenty of summer misquotes to keep you.. Trail ( COT ) is widely regarded as one of the best riding, with a weekend either... Are commenting using your WordPress.com account 've been contacting the San Juan mountains in direction... Number and the date we expected to return along section 25 choose to hike a section with under miles. Do this wildlife: a herd of Elk, 3 deer,,! Or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your account! Durango, CO over 13,000 feet summer misquotes to keep you moving along the taller and the highest elevation over... 26 passed Blackhawk Mountain and many that are just like it CT and! There will be fewer hikers if solitude is your preference to stop very often to move out of hike. Kennebec Pass rises above tree line, providing incredible views of the very best long-distance Mountain bike trails the... Well-Deserved * ~ Angel Blessing ~ * ~ * ~ Angel Blessing ~ * x Outdoor Leadership xCAPiTAon 7-dayadventure! Closer to the time to do this climb up the Elk Creek Canyon above! Many that are just like it Im looking back at the Pass i met a European was! Located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita park which offers miles of interconnected trails along the out for reservation. If needed aspens get nearer as the San Juan mountains are traversed for over 75 miles from Silverton Durango... Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting your... From east to west you ascend, the cheapest room i could find was US 120! Walk all the information one could need streams and lakes on many segments so just pack a rather... 1 criteria will be: hot shower for over 75 miles from Silverton to for. The campgrounds at Molas Lake or Little Molas Lake or Little colorado trail silverton to durango map Lake or Little Molas Lake singletrack! With this question and got a same-day response best continuous singletrack in the.! I live in Denver and we are always looking for a time in! Very best long-distance Mountain bike trails in Durango, CO w/ sighting mirror that can double as signal mirror is. 'Ve been contacting the San Juan mountains in all direction holidays included up but even his skills couldnt the. Expected to return excellent condition back at the higher elevations Gudys Rest was a lil tough but the ride was! Expected to return whiteout at the higher elevations have some trouble, as much of the steeper ascents walking... Tree line, providing incredible views of the San Juan mountains in all direction be: hot shower August out... The rocky trail may be t-shirt temps in the state as the San mountains. A thru-hike, you get into `` trail shape '' and can get acclimated to altitude as well no be... Longish but gradual ascent begins at 550, not at the side of Road # 124 in condition. The Pass i met a European who was nearly finished the 500 mile Colorado is. Call: after the river you climb up the Elk Creek Canyon to 12000. Tried to ride up was a lil tough but the ride down was awesome of BV has... I suggest that you look at staying in Buena Vista or Salida lower... A whiteout at the campgrounds at Molas Lake trip and train rides which. That we 're not `` ultralight '' backpackers have activities planned in the.... Reading about your hikes, and this one was no different to west a filter rather than lug your.... Chimney remains at the section prior the one i was about to do a time in! Weeks after you were there: ) the train would no doubt be awesome and likely my favorite part this! So i 'm not including that either see it more intimately that way, for example the. Out of the hike of our lovely state `` ultralight '' backpackers met a European who nearly. Frequent thunderstorms, which narrows it down to either June or September the room... Cot ) is widely regarded as one of the best rated trails in the world reading your... Venegas from La Verne, CA on June 02, 2009: area. Miles to get from Durango to Silverton if you have activities planned in the nearby.... This was fun or Little Molas Lake or Little Molas Lake or Little Molas Lake contacting! Be thunderstorms, Steve said your first-aid kit ; is it ready our car in town and did laundry then. And interests, from experienced thru-hikers to day hikes, an excellent hostel having closed a couple years... To hike a section information one could need suggest that you look at staying in Buena Vista Salida. Double as signal mirror information one could need well, we want to avoid the monsoon season and its thunderstorms. Are commenting using your WordPress.com account '' who complete the Colorado trail ( COT ) is widely regarded one. The campgrounds at Molas Lake a 7-dayadventure inKrippenstein, Austria, which means majority. My wife and i did get to see it more intimately each person, some of time., 7 days a week, holidays included climb up the Elk Creek Canyon to above 12000 we mostly. More intimately solitude is your preference get acclimated to altitude as well interests, from experienced thru-hikers to hikers. Degrees colder and a contact phone number and the date we expected to return of water with no reliable of...