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Colorado Trail


Colorado Trail -- Copper Mountain to Denver

Colorado trail sign
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 campsite on the Colorado Trail
Georgia Pass
Long Gulch Valley on the Colorado trail
Conditions were smoky with the jet stream pushing California smoke into the area
Raleigh Peak area on the Colorado Trail
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)

Searle Pass on the Colorado trail
Above the treeline near Searle Pass.  It would be possible to stay at a mountain hut called Janet's Cabin here
Kokomo Pass on the Colorado Trail
I camped at Kokomo Pass, beautiful spot
Town of Twin Lakes in Colorado
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
Chalk Creek Pass on the Colorado Trail
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

Great Sand Dunes National park between the mountain ranges in Colorado
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

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Contact: darnoldhiking@gmail.com

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