Pike National Forest
Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail travels some 500 miles across Colorado and connects Denver with Durango. Parts of the trail are handicapped accessible, parts are quite difficult.

Elevations:

• Trail beginning: 5,500' (at Denver)
• High Point: 13,240'
• Trail ending: 7,000' (at Durango)

Notes: Crossing 7 national forests, 6 wilderness areas, 8 mountain ranges and 5 major river drainages, the Colorado Trail is a magnificent monster. Most of the trail is above 10,000', and many long stretches are above 12,000'. There are a lot of different access points to the Colorado Trail and it has something for nearly everyone: from day hikes for the family to extended backcountry adventures for the strong of heart (and leg). If you're intent on hiking the whole trail, figure 6 to 8 weeks of fun. Because quite a bit of the trail is across wilderness areas, mountain bikes need to go around them. However, a fit mountain biker can make the trip in about 4 weeks.

On the Pike National Forest, the Colorado Trail travels from the South Platte Trailhead to the Little Scraggly Trailhead to the Rolling Creek Trailhead to the Long Gulch Trailhead and then over Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass to North Cottonwood to South Cottonwood where it crosses into the San Isabel National Forest.