Rest and resupply towns along The Colorado Trail are generally small but most offer some services (such as a post office or cafe), a place to resupply (though options may be limited), and, possibly, accommodations. Your Support and feedback is cherished. It is commonly ridden in the opposite direction, however the 2015 Colorado Trail Race used the south to north course. Categories Quick and Dirty Guides, Trip Planning Tags collegiate loop, Colorado, Colorado Trail, resupply, thru hiking. If you’re into exploring the wild outdoors, sign up here for occasional emails with my best tips and inspiration for backpacking, hiking, and more. Do you want to hitchhike, or avoid it as much as possible? Buena Vista, located in the Arkansas Valley between the Mosquito Range and towering Sawatch Range, certainly lives up to its Spanish name (translation: good view). Affiliate Disclosure: This site participates in affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates. Learn more. Even years are raced North to South. My Colorado Trail Food Resupply Plan is finished and my Gear is all packed and ready to go. Thanks for reading! We are still opting to send ourselves resupply boxes along the trail…we know that many hikers aren’t into that style of resupply (they would rather buy in stores along the way), but for us, we really prefer it. Breckenridge is approximately 4 miles south of the Gold Hill Trailhead on Colorado Highway 9 at the junction of Segments 6 and 7. They also tend to be historic, in many cases mining towns with a cool vibe and interesting history. Resupply on the Colorado Trail Race is fairly easy except for one section. I’ve made separate tables for Collegiate East and Collegiate West, and highlighted the section where they differ in yellow. This is probably the hardest section of the entire race. You’ll want to be sure you have extra food. Interactively explore all 500 miles of The Colorado Trail between Denver and Durango using topographic maps and satellite imagery. Posted on July 14, 2011 July 21, 2011 Author Paul Mags Leave a comment. I finished the trail in 37 days, taking three “zero days.” Day 1 – Waterton Canyon to the South Platte River – Segment 1 The Colorado Trail meets real civilization where it crosses the Blue River between Frisco and Brekenridge. The town, one of the larger along the Trail, is an ideal resupply point for long-distance trekkers. The CT was first conceived in 1974, but was not completed until the late 1980's. It can also save you money and time, because it keeps you closer to the trail and more self-sufficient instead of allowing you to get lost in the vortex of zero days. For example, some hikers – especially solo folks – enjoy the social scene on the trail and want to spend time in towns with other hikers. If stretching your limits, it’s wise to think through backup resupply stops that could be added if your planned mileage doesn’t quite work out. The tiny campground store has snacks. The only downside, if you see it that way, is that they usually require hitchhiking or a pre-arranged shuttle. If you still haven’t made up your mind, here other resources you can consult for yet more information related to resupplying on the CT: For general advice on planning a CT thru-hike, here are answers to 35 important questions about the CT. For section hikers, or thru hikers wondering what to look forward to, here are the best segments of the Colorado Trail. Distance from the CT: Approx. Do you prefer to push through longer sections with a heavier food bag, or hop from town to town carrying less food? Not a town, but a campground, it offers showers, limited grocery items, and a mail drop. From Princeton Hot Springs to Silverton its 183 miles. It’s all part of the adventure anyway. My resupply will be in Lake City; I’ll hitch 17 miles on Colorado 149 to get there. 10 miles from San Luis Pass at the intersection of Segments 20 and 21. This one will be different. Training beforehand can prevent injury and improves the chance your CT trip will succeed. It travels through some of the most spectacular country in Colorado, through 6 wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges. COLORADO TRAIL THRU HIKE DAY 17 | Resupply in Salida - YouTube 143 miles to Tennessee Pass; 156 miles to the Timberline Lake Trailhead. Do you want to mail yourself resupply boxes, or shop as you go (or a mix)? Frisco is approximately 5 miles northwest of the trailhead. Before 2015 the Colorado Trail Race always travelled North to South. This area is used by people climbing nearby San Luis Peak, hunters during hunting season, and people on a self-guided mine tour. How to thru-hike the Colorado Trail from end to end complete with a detailed and zoomable interactive map of the entire 486 mile long distance trail. I’ve been over this section before, long ago, not long after The Colorado Trail … Salida, an old railroad town near the midpoint of The Colorado Trail, is now a commercial center for the Arkansas Valley and a popular spot for CT travelers who want to take a break from the Trail. Of course, you can mix and match between the two for a more varied experience. Here are the stops to consider first if you’re into the trail town scene: The towns listed above tend to be favorites of CT hikers, but of course you can fill in between them with other stops (see the Slow and/or Light plan), or skip those you don’t need. The others are small town grocery or general stores and you will have to be flexible with your menu choices, but a full resupply is definitely possible at all of them. It will start at Waterton Canyon in Denver at 4 am. Distance from the CT: The Trail runs through the property. The smaller Poncha Springs, which borders the western outskirts of Salida, has a small restaurant and convenience store. Not everyone can manage it. Golden CO 80401 And finally, for general advice about backpacking that will undoubtedly apply to the CT, check out these popular resources: Hi there, I’m Alissa. We are a print-on-demand company. That’s around three days at 60 miles a day. Honestly, barring a specific dietary restriction or tight resupply schedule (i.e. Date of experience: August 2020. July 7th, 2020 22 mile day hiking closer to Salida. This historic mining town of about 300 is the only incorporated town in sparsely populated Mineral County. Brewhike: Breweries on the Colorado Trail. Mile for mile the most beautiful trail in America… I started on August 1st in Denver and finished in Durango on September 6th. 39 miles (total) northwest on Colorado Highway 114, which the Trail crosses near the junction of Segments 17 and 18, then west from where 114 intersects with U.S. Highway 50. How to hike 20 mile days without (too much) pain, All about water filtration for backpacking, backpacking resources from Exploring Wild, 12 Stretches To Do in Your Tent For Better Sleep and Stronger Hiking, Review: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger After 35 Days on the Colorado Trail, Hiking the Colorado Trail: Answers to Essential Questions. Here in this Colorado Trail Resupply Guide you’ll find everything I learned and more to help you plan your own race/tour of the CTR. Distance from the CT: 4.5 miles southwest of Kenosha Pass, at the junction of Segments 5 and 6, on U.S. Highway 285. Its vibrant downtown features shops and restaurants, and there is a variety of overnight accommodations both there and along the U.S. Highway 50 commercial strip. Copyright 2020 Exploring Wild, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy. This a historic mining and railroad town, and highest U.S. city at 10,200 feet, offers a full range of services, including accommodations, several restaurants, grocery stores and camping equipment shops. 9.5 miles from the Avalanche Trailhead (mile 6.6 of Segment 13) east on Cottonwood Pass Road (County Road 306) to town. We wanted to minimize risks like hitchhiking and hostels, while still getting the food we needed and experiencing at least one or two of Colorado’s famed trail towns on a schedule that fit our pace. Email the CT Foundation to request the list of shuttlers and their contact information. The CT crosses the lower slopes of Copper Mtn ski area, making this one of the easiest resupply points. Also known as the 2020 pandemic plan… this Colorado Trail resupply plan keeps you away from towns and minimizes resupply-related transport as much as possible. An article on The Colorado Trail I wrote for the Boulder Weekly. The Colorado Trail flows through eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas, five major river systems, and six National Forests. Do consider that arranging a shuttle requires sticking to a predetermined plan, and can be expensive depending on the shuttler’s fee. Note: Molas Lake Campground is just 0.2 mile from the CT and southbound travelers can diverge at the sign as they approach Molas Pass. It can be accessed from two points on the Trail. My key references were the The Colorado Trail Foundation website, the Colorado Trail Databook (pocket-sized, lightweight, and a must-have for planning and as an on-trail reference), and the Colorado Trail Hiker app (as another on-trail reference). Silverton is a short hitchhike down from Molas Pass. Around 100 miles is a typical “long carry” for a thru hiker of roughly average pace. Rest and resupply towns along The Colorado Trail are generally small but most offer some services (such as a post office or cafe), a place to resupply (though options may be limited), and, possibly, accommodations. Hikers striving for fewer resupply stops should also make the most of town meals and on-trail snack stops to supplement their overall calorie count without needing to carry more food. I personally struggled with this while planning my 2020 CT thru hike, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. Another reason we hiked the Colorado Trail was to test out a few new resupply strategies. 8 miles northwest from the junction of Segments 3 and 4; turnoff is on Wellington Lake Road (Forest Service Road 560), which becomes County Road 68. It can also save you money and time, because it keeps you closer to the trail and more self-sufficient instead of allowing you to get lost in the vortex of zero days. On my thru-hike I resupplied in Frisco, Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida, Creede, and Silverton. The Summit Stage provides free bus service between the towns and beyond, including to Copper Mountain Resort. How to put the pieces together? On to the resupply info… Marginal resupply – Soda, chips, snacks. There’s more where this came from! It is a long hitch, however, from the trail on a lightly used county road. Distance from the CT: Approx. All that prep takes time before your hike. One note of caution: while this may seem attractively efficient during the planning phase, don’t be surprised if you find yourself craving a burger and bed when you’re 200 miles deep. Distance from the CT: 3.2 miles northwest along County Road 126; turnoff is at about mile 10 of Segment 2. Distance from the CT: Approx. There are limited resupply options on the West route until travelers reach U.S. Highway 50 near Monarch Pass. Had we been on a slower schedule we would have needed to add stops at Jefferson and Buena Vista to break up those stretches. Then tentatively schedule a few town stops depending on your hiking pace, using the tables above to choose which stops are best suited to the experience you’re seeking. Distance from the CT: Right off the Trail at mile 18.7 of Segment 24. Pick up northbound buses on the east side of the highway and southbound buses on the west side. Also known as the 2020 pandemic plan… this Colorado Trail resupply plan keeps you away from towns and minimizes resupply-related transport as much as possible. Distance from the CT: 4 miles to Breckenridge; 5 miles to Frisco. you're on a CDT speed run), there's little reason to stress about where you're going to buy food in Colorado before you've stepped foot on the trail. While not technically a town, Copper Mountain Resort offers a range of services, including accommodations, shops and restaurants. More social and popular than nearby Frisco because it has a hostel. For reference, my thru hike was 35 days which is a fairly average pace. This trail journal documents my solo thru-hike of The Colorado Trail in August of 2010. The Colorado Trail Databook covers the Resupply Places and is great for along the Trail. Our Public Path – Boulder Weekly. Tips and Tricks for thru hiking the Colorado Trail and what we learned on the CT. Keith ("Spreadsheet") and Gina ("Mulch") hike the 485 mile Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango over the course of 33 days. You can catch a free bus to either town. Super-fit and/or super-fast folks can get away with more. Here's the new Breweries on the Colorado Trail page. It will determine (and be determined by) your hiking pace, style, menu, pack weight, and overall trail experience. The Power Point-like presentation may be viewed online. Between approximately miles 180 and 260 from Denver, the route splits into these two parallel options for the next ~80 miles. Once a train stop, the town has a population of less than a couple dozen, with a tiny market, a post office and cafe. I tell hikers not worry too much about resupply before their thru-hikes, but I am not always believed. Step 1: Get Colorado Trail References and Maps. Once you’ve done a bit of research, you’ll have what you need to solve problems and change plans on the fly if necessary. Another former mining town, and only incorporated town in Hinsdale County, offers a full range of services, including restaurants, lodging, and grocery and convenience stores. Never be without town information again!! Distance from Denver: approx. Finally, take a deep breath and remind yourself that the trail tends to provide. The Monarch Crest Gift Shop, a short hike north from where the Collegiate West route crosses Highway 50, has some groceries and a restaurant. Note both of these: The Monarch Spur RV Park, about a mile east of where the Collegiate East crosses Highway 50 (and about 9 miles from the Collegiate West crossing), has camping and showers. …cared for by The Colorado Trail Foundation. Do you want to have the addresses and phone numbers of trail town Post Offices, resupply stor Take care to not mix up resupply stops on Collegiate West vs. East. If time is your primary concern, you may complete your hike faster overall by carrying a bit more weight and stopping less frequently. CT travelers often carry the pocket-sized, official Colorado Trail Databook . They’re a great way to top up your food supplies or stretch your meal plan a little further. Once a whistle stop on the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, the town survives with a few cabins, post office, small general store, pay phone, and Forest Service work center. I seeded the list with breweries from this post on The Trek. For 485 miles between Denver and Durango, the Colorado Trail (CT) winds over rocky, 13,000-foot peaks and passes, through wildflower-filled meadows, in and out of dusty mining towns, and past snow-clad vistas as it draws a line through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Distance from the CT: Approx. Vertical spacing of the rows is based roughly on mileage from Denver, to help you quickly understand the distances between them. Distance from the CT: less than a mile to services. But also unfortunately, the same is true! All sales are final. The CT comprises 567 miles of trail between Denver and Durango and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Colorado Rockies. These were heavy; I would not have wanted to go any longer between resupplies. Otherwise, mail a box to Molas Lake Campground. Also don’t expect phone service out there if you’re running late or early and need to contact your shuttler from the trail. The Colorado Trail is administered and maintained by Colorado Trail Foundation … I’m Alissa, your virtual guide, here to help you make your biggest, boldest adventure dreams a reality. Colorado Trail Day 13 – Twin Lakes Resupply | Average Hiker September 17, 2020 Posted by averagehiker Colorado Trail - 2020 Thru-hike Twin Lakes was about a mile down to the mountain, so we did not begin hiking until around 7:00. It answers the all-important questions about upcoming water sources, mileages, elevations and enlightens the traveler should they reach an unsigned intersection as happens more often than we’d wish. I only recommend and link to products I know and love. Written quite a few years ago for the Appalachian Trail, the guidelines work equally well for the growing amount of hikers on The Colorado Trail. Perhaps choose just one or two of these stops for convenience and then treat yourself to some town or lodge time when you want it. The town day vortex is real; once you get in, it’s hard to get out again. Picked up some people that had been out in tents for 39 nights. Learn more or say hi. Descend on a side trail south along the headwaters of West Willow Creek until you meet up with Forest Service Road 503, which leads into town. Was this helpful? Maybe some Ramen or canned goods if you are lucky.. Hard resupply basically. Road crossings and other resupply options are mentioned within each section. Distance from the CT: Approx. Creede can also be reached, if with difficulty due to the 33-mile distance and low traffic, from the Spring Creek Pass Trailhead. 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