Colorado South

Colorado Trail

Colorado Trail -- Copper Mountain to Denver

With Covid travel restrictions lingering, I stayed close to home and completed half of the Colorado Trail in the summer of 2021 from Denver to Salida. The entire trail covers 500+ miles from Denver to Durango. A popular trail with a wealth of information already available online (PMags guide)

Crossing the Tenmile Range hiking the Colorado Trail

Crossing the Tenmile Range, home to Breckenridge Ski Resort in the winter

Daily Log of Colorado Trail milage and elevation chart

This section was completed over two weeks using the Colorado bus system for transport. The Copper to Denver section was done south to north walking downhill from the mountains to the city

Georgia Pass

Conditions were smoky with the jet stream pushing California smoke into the area

The trail became more desert-like near Denver, even requiring a firehouse to resupply on water

Bighorn Sheep in the Waterton Canyon area of the Colorado Trail

Bighorn sheep at the end of the walk in Waterton Canyon

Colorado Trail -- Copper Mountain to Monarch Pass (Collegiate West)

Above the treeline near Searle Pass. It would be possible to stay at a mountain hut called Janet's Cabin here

I camped at Kokomo Pass, beautiful spot

I planned two nights at Twin Lakes Inn in order to climb Mount Elbert. I resupplied at the general store and had several hot meals in town. I happened to sit next to the Hall-of-Famer Goose Gossage at the hotel bar who was nice enough to pick up my tab!

Selfie on Mount Elbert the tallest mountain in Colorado

Dan "Buji" Arnold

I was given the trail name "Buji" on the walk for my liking of expensive camping gear and extended legroom airline tickets

Lake Ann campsite with a view of Mount Huron on the Colorado Trail

Nice view of Mount Huron from the Lake Ann campsite

High Alpine section south of Tincup Pass

Final morning on the descent of Chalk Creek Pass before hitching to the town of Salida

Colorado Trail Side Trips -- Collegiate Peaks

The Missouri Gulch trail that leads to the summit of Mount Belford and Oxford in Colorado

The summit of two 14ers Belford and Oxford can be combined on the same walk from the Missouri Gulch trailhead (9 miles return, 6000 ft gain)

View from the summit of Mount Belford in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in Colorado

Fall colors in mid-September from Mount Belford

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Afternoon thunderstorm from a roadside pulloff near the entrance of the park

Star dune hike in Great Sand Dunes national park in Colorado

There are backpacking opportunities in the park that I would like to explore. I hiked to Star Dune on a short visit.

Sunflowers in bloom in September at Great Sand Dunes national park

Sunflowers blooming on the dunes at the end of a rainy summer