Across the highway. I have another trip planned with some friends in late June, so Steve and I have decided to do this hike mid-month. We have had a very wet spring you are right. Beautiful views, flowers are all out in full bloom, steep ascent to the pass then much easier. Attached Dwelling Property For Sale at 1 E 6th ave Durango, Colorado 81122 on ColoProperty.com . Colorado Trail Silverton to Durango day 1, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Jul 8 to Jul 14, 2023. Located approximately 50 miles from downtown, it offers a wide variety of outdoor activities and events that attract visitors looking to get out of town for the day. The morning walk flew by and that was that! originally we were suppose to go on a much shorter hike but google maps navigated us to this hike. Beautiful hike, great scenery. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Thanks for the info! From on pass to the next through meadows of flowers, this route offers huge views in all directions, techy climbs, and long descents. I climbed as far as I could so to set myself up for the final hard climb the next day. The elevation of the Colorado Trail ranges from 5,280 feet at the eastern end near Denver to 13,000 feet at Silver Mesa near Durango to the west, passing through three "life zones" along the way. Have printed out your supply list! This section provided the best riding, with many short climbs and fast twisty descents. Where do we access the trail at the beginning of our hike? Outstanding work once again! These give a great overview of the trail and surrounding area. That was easy enough! After a rainy night and morning, we parked at 2nd trailhead (at switchback). Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest367 Pearl St.P.O. Most afternoons there was a storm. The famous Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the country's only coal-and-steam-powered train operating daily. Silverton is a popular day trip destination for visitors to Durango. 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. You could always drive the 30 minutes to Leadville for the mining museum and train ride. Leadville is a strange choice. It was clean enough for us dirty hikers, and the shower (eventually) was hot. Some officially designated wilderness sections are closed to mountain bikes, but there are detours for bikers around those areas. 379 reviews. At the time, it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Durango, while it was 36 degrees in Silverton! I also updated the information after the trip. I've been wanting to go back and hike the trail from the time they started talking about building it. Thanks for the read! That way, for instance, you can avoid heavy snow pack, summer monsoon season, certain pesky insects (black fly season, mosquito season), and so forth. All booked up. Distance (one-way): 12 miles Northern trailhead/minimum elevation: 10,700 feet (FR 585) Southern trailhead elevation: 11,100 feet (FR 578) Maximum elevation: 12,500 feet At a Glance General Information Directions: From Durango, CO : Take U.S. 550 30 miles north of Durango to FDR #578 and go 16 miles on this road until you reach the trailhead. Enjoy it as a BIG day ride or a more relaxed bikepack over a few days. The time needed to thru-hike can range from less than 10 days for supported trail runners to about 40 days, the latter being much more the norm. When I woke up I looked out into the valley and Elk were running through the grass. . On June 20th, we'll then have the train ride back to Silverton, where our car will be. Elsie Hagley from New Zealand on August 31, 2012: Nice lens, if I was 30 years younger I would go for this. The majority of "thru-hikers," who complete the Colorado Trail in one continuous journey, travel from east to west. Nearly a full moon.more high resolution photos of day 1, Your email address will not be published. We spent our morning on a high ridge line then began a long descent that would bring us to town. Climbed up Indian Trail Ridge overlooking Taylor Lake with delicate flowers growing out of the rocks of Knife Edge. They're available to take orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, holidays included. For trail conditions and other information, I've been contacting the San Juan National Forest Public Information Center at 970-247-4874. There is an overall map that covers segment 24 to 28, in addition to individual maps of each of these 4 segment listed below. Your lenses always impress, and it is a delight to find one as informative, attractive and complete as this in the Sports category. I am coming back to do a longer section. We had completed the entire Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. We'll be in Segment 24 at that point and have 5.8 miles of hiking to Molas Pass, the beginning of segment #25. Youll find streams and lakes on many segments so just pack a filter rather than lug your water. Loved this hike, but directions to trailhead were wrong. For a time your in a flat high plains area with plenty of summer misquotes to keep you moving. I just came across this. The miles will feel like theyre ticking along quickly, as the views from Indian Trail Ridge are to die for! Hi, My name is Debbie. One great feature of the Colorado Trail is the relative abundance of water. Cody rode a single-speed bike, so you might presume that he knows his way around a mountain bike. Cody rolled in chipper as hell, as if hed only done a mile or so downhill. 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. For every 1,000 feet you ascend, the temperature usually drops by four degrees. All along this stretch, the views of the surrounding jagged mountains are incredible, the singletrack is narrow and sinuous, and theres nary a sign of civilization. Not that there won't be ascents going the other way, of course; just not as many long ones. Crossed a fairly long slickrock talus slope. Also, any additional. Tried to walk today from Bolam Pass direction. After the fact: We did stop in at the Silverton Forest Service Office, but the man there didn't know anything about hiking from the CT into downtown Durango. Day 3 was mostly downhill to the Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. I have heard so many good things about colorado, what a interesting experience. Section-hiking requires travel to and from the trail multiple times if you do multiple sections. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. "The line takes you back to the late 1800s." It stretches from Denver to Durango across the Southern Rockies and can be hiked in 25-35 days. But we don't want to wait till September when we might end up doing another CT section anyway so we've chosen to go in June. My last restaurant meal before hitting the trail.I wandered the town while my togs were drying. Very nice looking lens. The trail ends only three short miles from Durango's city limits, allowing easy access from town. For 200 miles (or 320 km), the "C.T." Colorado Colorado Frequently Requested Maps Web Maps BLM Colorado Interactive Map - view and interact with BLM Colorado's GIS data such as mining claims, grazing allotments, wilderness boundaries, surface management agency and more without the need for specialized installed software. Walking alone on the Colorado Trail can be pure bliss. Thanks for the great information. Every 100 feet the topography changes, Steve said. Excellent, the lens is so well done, I can walk on your steps. #16 of 151 Restaurants in Durango. Very well done and lots of detail. Access: For the best parking, head south on U.S. 550 about 5.5 miles past Silverton to a dirt road marked Molas Trail . The average elevation is over 10,000 feet and the highest elevation is over 13,000 feet. But once on top, its time to rip down! And the views. well you already know about the views! It is so beautiful. Mostly, I just thought it would be fun that way. Local Legal Protections. We spent a long and beautiful day hiking along a ridge line passing countless wildflowers. Leaving a well-deserved *~*~ Angel Blessing ~*~*. Page 295 - LandWatch has 7,485 land listings for sale in Colorado. Daily runs between Durango and Silverton operate May 2nd through October 31st, 2009, with prices ranging from $79 to $179 for adults for the 3.5-hour trip. The top of Kennebec Pass rises above tree line, providing incredible views of the San Juan mountains in all direction. Thats a good reminder to check your first-aid kit; is it ready? Road access to the trail is remote and 4WD, but many long loops are possible. 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. Kiwisoutback from Massachusetts on September 13, 2010: I would love to hike the Colorado Trail someday. Lots of good restaurants. Though officially full, one of the ticket officers managed to squeeze me on to the 8am train. Section 25 of the Trail, where they started, runs fairly close to the Bolam Pass Hut, so if you plan ahead you may be able to arrange to take some space there in relative luxury. While cross country riders could undoubtedly enjoy this trail as well, enduro-oriented mountain bikers riding bikes with a lot of suspension travel are guaranteed to love this beautiful, challenging descent! After the fact: On that last point uh-huh! What a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July! What a difference. This is exactly what I was looking for! In the 20min I had available before boarding? Lucky you!! Dawn from Maryland, USA on August 14, 2014: Wonderful, wonderful lens. There is so much valuable information on here for for a novice hiker such as myself. Hiked from beautiful Kennebec Pass (July 4, 2022) at end of 4WD Road #124 and passed scenic Taylor Lake. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. One chairlift accesses 1,819 acres of pristine high alpine terrain. Metadata includes the station's name and ID, latitude, longitude, and elevations. I also suggest picking up a copy of the guidebook. Thank you for sharing. The property is located just across US 550/160 from Santa Rita park which offers miles of interconnected trails along the . Youve got all that weight behind you and its easy to go right over the bars, he said. My sister and I are doing this hike in late June. At elevation it could snow on any day of the year, so be prepared for that as well. I'd imagine Colorado has some of the best hiking in the country. 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). 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. My wife and I did nearly the same thing about 2 weeks after you were there. The Blackhawk Pass segment climbs steeply up to the top of the pass on narrow, mostly smooth singletrack with the characteristic jaw-dropping views. To get to the trailhead from downtown, you go north on Main Avenue, then turn left onto 25th Street, also called Junction Creek Road. Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K. BLM Colorado Seasonal Closure Map We already have our backpacking gear, so I'm not including that either. A bit over 100 miles. We able to get to the very top out of Lil molas lake trail was snowed over . On the trail, things can be quite a bit different (and colder). This will take you to Coal Bank Pass or Cascade Creek. Thanks for sharing a great lens. Alpine ridges, wildflowers as far as you can . Rain, snow and more rain. The railroad arrived in Durango on August 5, 1881 and construction on the line to Silverton began in the fall of the same year. There is also the option of taking the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway train from Silverton to Elk Park, where we could access the Colorado Trail (there's a "short stop" there), but I'm not sure I'd want to do that either, for the same reason I gave above. 3-liter water bladder for extra capacity for the long, dry stretch, (1) 12-pack of Aquamira purification tablets (carried by the one who isn't carrying the filter), Nylon water tote (for carrying extra water from the source back to camp), Dental floss (long section, each person; has other uses besides teeth cleaning), Comb (share, because Steve doesn't have cooties), All Weather space blanket with grommets (just me), Nylon cord, 50 ft., carried by me for use with the emergency blanket (as a tarp) if necessary or to bear bag food or whatever else, Duct tape (wrapped around a trekking pole), Cell phone (1 each, turned off! Welcome to the Nature and the Outdoors Group. 0.3 km from Edgewater Lounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Durango. I hiked this segment on July 7, 2022. High average elevation of 10,000 feet and a few passes over 12,000 feet. We spent our whole day hiking eagerly with the finish line virtually in sight. Change). Cuisines: American, Southwestern, Cafe. But that's not always feasible, often due to time constraints and other obligations. It aint easy, but its worth it! Left our car at the B&B we stayed out. On a single-speed, no less. After the river you climb up the Elk Creek Canyon to above 12000. A life-changing ride on the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango. Not a cloud on the sky. Colorado. I rode this section as part of a longer ride from Lizard Head Pass to Durango. 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. People wave goodbye as the train leaves us off at Elk Park to begin our hike, just as the rain and thunder begins. 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. In a state known for its trails, The Colorado Trail is Colorado's premier long distance trail. The trailhead is slightly beyond the Little Molas Lake campground. It is also very well setup for section hiking and is divided into 28 segments. Open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders, the Colorado Trail is 482 miles long, extending from Denver to Durango. States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa . At the time of year we'll be hiking, the hostel runs $22 to $28 per person per night, including tax. For 140 years, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad has been transporting passengers through the remote, scenic wilderness and high mountain landscape of the San Juan National Forest.. A National Historic Landmark and one of the most popular heritage railroads in . Email. accessing station data Colorado Trail - Molas to Durango This is an absolute classic alpine ride along the Colorado Trail between the San Juan and La Plata Mountains. Created in the 1970s and 1980s, the trail consists of a variety of landscapes but is mostly rugged and mountainous alpine terrain. Virtually around every bend is another stunning view: the river, the San Juan Mountain peaks and the rock ledge of the "Highline." In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation. 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. We hiked the 3 miles from Junction Creek into town. But he needed to resupply in Silverton, staying at the hostel there one night. It's along these high-clearance roads where you'll find most of our recommendations. It is then a long, fast, and twisty downhill all the way to Hotel Draw. This is amazing. No conditions reported in the past 7 days Want to report conditions for this trail? The hostel is also serviced by the Durango "T" public transportation. Lone Spur Cafe. In descending to about 8600, Steve noted the elevation change. It's going to be an awesome trip! For Sale. We'll also add moleskin, safety pins and 2pr of nitrite gloves. I'm sharing our gear list here just for the sake of sharing, not because I think our choices will suit all other hikers. On a thru-hike, you get into "trail shape" and can get acclimated to altitude as well. My trek in the Lofoten Islands of Norway got me in pretty good shape but it also meant I would get a late start on the CT. That translated to starting in Durango with the northbound goal of hiking to . That way, for example, the one without the tent would still have shelter. Steve was glad he brought his travel watercolor set. I started hitchhiking in the wrong direction. Their website states they have 25 rooms and offer pet-friendly and non-smoking rooms. We want to end our hike in Durango on Friday, June 19th, so we can take the train back to Silverton on Saturday morning, the 20th. Clear skies. Reviews (25) There are newer reviews for Durango Joe's Coffee. Take a right onto Co Rd 2, then turn right onto E 19th St. One thing Durango has that Flagstaff doesn't, though, is a beautiful river running right through it. World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent! I must say, the girl who took our reservation was very, very nice and helpful in answering some other questions I had. I haven't been on a good hike in a long time. 11. I found lots of useful information, great lens, Thanks! Ideal for advanced-level riders. 6/3 Update: The Forest Service says the section we'll be doing is now pretty much snow-free above treeline. Probably the hottest we got on the entire trip. The 4 stars is because it is more of a biking trail than hiking. Sunny every day,great hiking.1999,june. So, if we take the 2pm train from Silverton to Elk Park (wilderness access) on Saturday, June 13th, and hike to Molas Lake Campground that afternoon, we'd have six full days remaining to hike the remaining miles to Junction Creek trailhead in Durango. I ended up stashing a black garbage bag in bushes adjacent to the nearest grocery store. At a top speed of 18 miles an hour, the train takes about 3.5 hours to travel from Durango to Silverton. What I see as some of the up-sides to section-hiking are: And there are a few things that might be considered drawbacks of section-hiking: As I write this article, we're currently in the process of gathering information and making our plans, so there will be some things I'll have to add. 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. All rights reserved. 465.9 - accessible via 171 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 21, 2012: Looking good after the photo rearrangement. My plan was to take the train to Silverton. One of my all time favorite back packs for sure. The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury. Jul 8, 2023. Once we do the hike, I'll come back and add information (in bold), including anything that maybe didn't go as planned. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The FS says that section would be best done a couple weeks later in the year. Hopefully I can get out on some trails when I visit the US later this year! This guide gives you trail information at a glance. We can park at the Visitor Center. 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. The Colorado Trail on Trails.comClick on the map for information by section. We walked through a light rain for a couple hours and stopped after about ten miles of hiking near a herd of grazing sheep. We think it is about 6 miles RT to Gudy's Rest from here. By July of 1882, the tracks to Silverton were completed, and the train began hauling both freight and passengers. We've visited this small city of about 16,000 residents several times. Brilliant. Hikers are hitching back and forth the 7 miles to Molas Pass all the time. We are mentally prepared for three miles of downhill to lose 2000 feet of elevation.. Thanks again! We completed the trail from July 5 August 10. 45 Hermosa View Dr, Durango, CO 81301 is a lot/land. You'll also find a complete list of nearly 1200 GPS waypoints in UTM & Lat Long formats. It was just a cub, and we were glad we never saw mom. We're planning to leave our house on Friday, June 12th after Steve gets off work and drive all the way to Molas Lake Campground, which is just off Highway 550 about seven miles before the town of Silverton. You dont need a permit for the trail, but you do have to grab a free permit when crossing the wilderness areas. Day 1 was about 24 miles, day 2 was about 28 miles, and they finished on day 3 and made it to Durango. Colorado Trail - Durango to Silverton. Dedicating a month of your life to the Trail has its price. What may be t-shirt temps in the valleys can turn into numbing wind and a whiteout at the passes. 13.7 miles laterwe made it!! Great, very specific overview. He said that section was targeted for work later in the summer. 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. Getting out of Silverton was another blunder. Met Brett and Ann working hard on Segment 26 of the Colorado Trail which is always appreciated! Kathy McGraw from California on January 20, 2013: I think if I read enough of these, at different time, some of this hiking stuff will sink in. The train has been running for over 120 years, yet the Durango railroad depot looks the same as when it was constructed in 1882. I had planned on taking the 9:30am train. Great Lens.. This is now on my list of bucket list hikes (perhaps in prep to thru-hike the whole CT in the next 5 years or so). Browse our Colorado land for sale listings, view photos and contact an agent today! They completed section 26 and moved onto section 27 and endless climbing, including the joy of pushing their 50-lb bikes uphill. About two miles down 503 is the Equity Mine. Riding fully loaded bikes hugely affects the balance of the bike.
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