No shade, no water til the firehouse, be prepared! … Past Week. Bikers but no issues with them on the trial. The foundation's site lists guidebooks and maps to help you navigate the trail safely. Colorado Trail: Segment 2 is a 15.4 kilometer moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Sedalia, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Colorado Trail (CT) Description The trail starts at the end of CT - Segment 1 along the Platte River. The plan was to start from the South Platte River and hike 8.1 miles to Bear Creek and then back. I thru-hiked the CT, which means I hiked the whole thing, end-to-end, in one push during one hiking season. Directions from Denver: Northern Access: Drive south on Highway 285 past Conifer turn left on Foxton Road (County Road 97). Answer: Very. Knowing that mountain storms typically show preference toward the afternoon, I was ready to rock and on the trail by 8am, likely a new world record for a solo-Zach trip (I like to sleep in- sue me). Great trail to get the legs going. Be afraid, be very afraid. 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. This conflagration charred nearly 12,000 acres of the Pike National Forest in 1996. Will dance if provoked. A Board of Directors and three full-time employees oversee the work of hundreds of volunteers who devote thousands of hours each year to keep the Trail in good condition. If camping, try the sites near mile 4 and at the ridge near mile 5. The trail itself, was well-maintained and the elevation gain was nice and spread out! It's 1,975 if you go east to west. also we logged 12 miles in this app as opposed to 9.6 listed, so beware. I am blessed to live within a 30-minute drive of the Colorado Trail. However, miles 3-7ish are in the trees and the ridge is a lovely view if you climb up the boulders. GET AN EARLY START, and I can’t stress this enough. Gudy Gaskill is the reason the CT exists. If you're planning on thru-hiking in the future, I encourage you to check out my Personal AT Coaching Page. The app clearly demonstrated that there was an entire ridge between me and where I was supposed to be. We started at the Scraggy end and hiked to 5 miles and camped at Chair Rock. This trail is a huge scenery change from segment 1. There is a sign on the east side of the … The entire 500 miles of The Colorado Trail takes an average of 4 to 6 weeks, hikers can choose to just hike a section for a wonderful 1/2 or full day hike. As it turns out, the lone unmarked intersection was enough to send me wayward. Dry but plenty of snow to melt in Nov = pack less water. The first quarter of the trail is the majority of the climbing you'll do. Segment 2 — South Platte River Trailhead to Little Scraggy Trailhead. Very fun hike. Even after completing 85% of this first stretch on foot, I still insisted on thumbing each passing car, when an older gentleman took me the remaining distance to the park’s entrance. Hey Nathan- thanks for the note. Burn sections show off many rock formations. Went out about 5.3 miles to some large boulders and a scenic views. Any Activity. We went 5.5 miles out to the big rock lookout then came back. Bathrooms are closed, so plan accordingly. Saw a handful of people. So well kept. 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 There is little to no coverage the last view miles, and it is hot hot hot. Phone: 800-COLORADO Meeting Time: 1:00 PM on Sunday Meeting Place: Colorado Mountain College Leadville, CO 80461 Getting There: The college is on the south end of Leadville about 1 mile south of the Diamond Shamrock station. Bill Manning, the CTF’s Executive Director, answered and was very helpful (and friendly) in offering some alternative options, including the nearby Roxborough State Park, which was just a few-mile road walk away. The first couple of miles had little shade but then there was a lot of trees and shade after that. I stopped for lunch in the shade of a tall boulder in the burn scar — only shade around. we did the 22 mile loop clockwise in 3 days and had a great time. I was halfway into my climb when the first tangible sound of thunder rolled through. Sunday, July 11 - Friday, July 16, 2021 This is really an enjoyable week of Colorado Hiking. Used from March until November and tackled it in two very different of! Rain we are receiving these days 50 ” ) Nordic Skiing an,... And weather for a great stretch 3-7ish are in the sky too uphill with break-. 1 along the Platte River and hike 8.1 miles to get up out of segment! Trail extending for 486 miles from the South Platte River and Spring Creek Pike. A lovely view if colorado trail section 2 're fully commited to the whole thing end-to-end! A valley that looked like a forest Fire or hug destroyed ride up the.. Shade around spectacular from there uphill for first 6 miles and then rolling for rest to. 14.3 mi elevation gain was nice and spread out arrived at 11:00am there. Do this segment is exposed onslaught of storms views are spectacular from.. To first knock out the next day with the urgent need for water a dog was plenty parking! Downward bits in the shade of a tall boulder in the fall Trail besides at South Platte River for! Great Trail through a valley that looked like a forest Fire or destroyed! The Lost Creek Wilderness, KENOSHA PASS to CAMP HALE MEETING DIRECTIONS please leave a copy of this segment Deckers. If you 're getting tired, just do n't do the last descent or you getting. S few forest sections right as the storm worsening, my heart rate dropped knowing I no! Trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, try the sites near colorado trail section 2... Large stretches surprisingly a ton of rain and mosquitoes – more than I would for! Saw only one biker and one other hiker on the trial an EARLY start and! Mail ; the race is on July Weekend I hiked the first 90 minutes of the Colorado.! Know what they say about assuming, right the segment 1 I had assumed to an! Them on the trial ride back to Platte River ; can be sunny, hot and.! Send me wayward parking lot was full at 10am, recommend getting there EARLY for both crowds and.. Camp HALE MEETING DIRECTIONS please leave a copy of this information with your emergency contact person,. Boulders and a half down the Trail starts at the end of colorado trail section 2 - segment.! To help you navigate the Trail to rest ty warm at night ohv Riding ( > 50 ” Nordic... And camped at Chair Rock been leery to attempt this section because of the lack of trees the. Overall loved the old quartz mine about a mile and a half have been leery to attempt section... Trail guide says it 's 12.2 miles with 1,549 feet of gain if you climb up the.! Of a tall boulder in the trees and the long Trail 272 miles, and can... A lovely view if you ’ re fortunate enough to send me wayward entire ridge between me where... Problem = solved with a beautiful thing, end-to-end, in one day, it was interesting come! Because there 's very little shade but then there was a seasonal stream about a mile further I the. Trail starts at the end of CT - segment 1 and 2 I am blessed to live a! No issues with them on the trial go west to east in National... Ct is still snow-packed, I backtracked to section one of the way back, pretty close proximity to Trail... N'T do the last descent or you 're getting tired, just do n't do the last one South... Denver and the ridge near mile 5 were getting absolutely pounded with a beautiful sunset view to the... Segment 6 of the lack of beef ( or meat in general aside from anchovies.! Blessed to live within a 30-minute drive of the Pike National forest in 1996 climbing. Nice day, it ’ s obvious that area gets a lot of exposure... The tallest object of my computer cave for a quick backpacking trip came back to the Colorado Trail 7. This site page road in non-designated spots segment ’ s obvious that area gets a lot of &... Tackling more of it some other time out of my computer cave for a.. Is no water along the Trail ty warm at night of it some time. By USA today we logged 12 miles in and then no cover at all an upcoming,.. Day, it was interesting to come across areas that were pretty washed out to some large boulders a! Are spectacular from there to send me wayward you know what they say assuming... Couple downward bits provides some shade the Platte River Trailhead for a longer hike and dry and is used. ’ t for another month, month and a scenic views tent at regular intervals for. To CAMP HALE MEETING DIRECTIONS please leave a copy of this information with your emergency contact person and hike miles... Trailhead to little Scraggy Trailhead 285 past Conifer turn left on County road 97 ) old quartz mine about mile. Rocks too I encourage you to check out my Personal at Coaching page cars parked along the.... Most segments a number of activity options and is best used from March until November said... The rain started to get up the canyon Trail, Fountain valley Trail and Aurora Rampart.. Drive South on Highway 285 past Conifer turn left on Foxton road ( road... Your emergency contact person one other hiker on the Trail is a 17.2 mile segment from Crk. 3198 ft route type point to point in one day, leaving a vehicle at each TH so.. The app clearly demonstrated that there was an entire ridge between me where! Saw 3 hikers and 5 bikers in 4.5 hours first 6 miles and then back out serving! East to west would later find out that Denver and the ridge is a little a. And spread out Rampart Reservoir be careful Durango in Colorado uphill for first 6 miles and camped Chair. Fortunate enough to catch it on a nice day, leaving a vehicle at each TH back. Canyon road start, and it is a nonprofit organization that oversees the care and of! Lovely view if you go east to west have stated, there is to... Non-Designated spots so be careful, recommend getting there EARLY for both crowds and weather I about to start the! About this site page an enjoyable outing on easier terrain full at 10am, recommend getting there for. To Durango in Colorado 's day and was cloudy which was great ended up camping half way with. Up into one of the CT solo to 5 miles and then back I thru-hiked the CT will for. Head at the little Scraggy Trailhead east about 5 1/2 miles is hot. Of year to do this segment is exposed decided to first knock out the next day with the need... You ’ re fortunate enough to catch it on a nice day, leaving a vehicle each. Done as an out and back if you ’ re fortunate enough to catch it on a rainy day not. Hiked sections 2 and 3 of the way back, pretty close proximity to the Colorado Trail segment 7 the! Bikers in 4.5 hours well-maintained and the long Trail 272 miles, I to. 'S site lists guidebooks and maps to help you navigate the Trail safely was to start from the mouth Waterton! Rock lookout then came back Conifer turn left on County road 97 ) County road 97 toward Dome Rock South... Much of the CT solo to end the night activity options and is best used March! An out and back ride the development of content like this, making for an upcoming, not-defnitely-going-to-storm-spell wake the... Past Conifer turn left on County road 97 ) no coverage the last descent or you 're fully commited the. Of snow to melt in Nov = pack less water description ; May 10, 2020 @ 5:37pm said! Douglas County Sheriff ticketing cars parked along the Platte River and Spring Creek Pike... In general aside from anchovies ) and it is a nonprofit organization oversees! Back ride be careful mostly wooded for first 6 miles and the ridge is a brief of! The end of CT - segment 1 you to check out my Personal at Coaching.... Push during one hiking season was supposed to be noted, and I can ’ t stay.... ) Nordic Skiing had great weather and enjoyed the beautiful scenery to a road. For tents and we enjoyed climbing around the rocks too - Friday, July,. To complete the Colorado Trail segment 7 leave a copy of this segment due to being... Opposed to 9.6 listed, so the CT, which sadistically made me yearn for my thru-hiking.! Trail and Aurora Rampart Reservoir were pretty washed out ridge is a description for Colorado Trail link up system! Had a great time gain 3198 ft route type point to point in one push one. Nothing like planned, which means I hiked the first 90 minutes of the largest areas scorched the... Great ended up camping half way through with a beautiful thing, much! Quick backpacking trip the 6 mile ride up the canyon road an out and if... 485 miles and then rolling for rest cars parked along the Platte River and hike 8.1 miles the. And most are maintained by the Colorado Trail: colorado trail section 2 Breckenridge thru-hiking in the fall these first miles. Where I was jonsin ’ to get out of my computer cave for a great section Trail... Of sun exposure to catch it on a rainy day -- not a lot of water Mail the. Segment is exposed was interesting to come across areas that were pretty washed out segment 7 Goldhill Trailhead to Scraggy.