Frequently Asked Questions about The Colorado Trail

The CTF does not allow dogs to accompany volunteers on Trail Work Crews. Our camp cooks have requested this as dogs have been known to complicate kitchen operations. Another reason is that having dogs near sharp swinging trail work tools presents a possible risk to dog or worker. We appreciate your cooperation.

Gunnison Spur: The CTF does not maintain the Gunnison Spur.

The Gunnison Spur is approximately 50 miles long, running from the NE corner of the Western State College Campus to Hope Pass on the Clear Creek Road, FR 390 (San Isabel NF). The spur goes from Lake Ann over the Divide to Taylor Park. The spur is mapped, but maps are not distributed. The spur is marked, although we cannot guarantee accuracy. Currently, the Taylor River Ranger District & CTF disagree on motorized vehicles use of the spur.

Mancos Spur: The CTF does not maintain the Mancos Spur.

The spur terminus is in Boyle Park in the town of Mancos. There is a sign in the park with information about the spur and the Trail. Take Main Street through town, across Highway 160, and pick up Highway 184. Continue on Hwy. 184 for about 1/4 mile, and turn right on County Road 42. Follow CR 42 for about 4 miles to Mancos State Park (also known as Jackson Reservoir). Cross the dam at the reservoir until you reach Chicken Creek Trail, Trail #615. Go 8 miles on Chicken Creek Trail until you reach Transfer Campground. From Transfer Campground, the spur follows the West Mancos River. Where the river splits into the North Fork and the South Fork, the spur follows the North Fork. It ties into the Sharkstooth trail head #565. It may be difficult to follow where the spur follows some logging roads but when you reach Sharkstooth trailhead (10 miles) you will know that your are on the right trail. Follow Sharkstooth until you reach the Colorado Trail in the vicinity of Taylor Lake (7 miles). The spur section from Transfer Campground to the Sharkstooth trailhead does not show on the Forest Service map of the San Juan Forest, but Paul Peck (former Ranger of the Mancos District, USFS), said that the spur was well marked. He also said it is easier to follow the spur from Taylor Lake to Mancos than from Mancos to Taylor Lake. Nobody is maintaining this spur except for what the Forest Service can get done.

We no longer sell the waterproof maps because they are difficult to update and the cost of printing is very high. The Topo Maps of the CT can be purchased through the CT Store and include waypoints at approximately every 1/2 mile for those with GPS units and a detailed line of The Colorado Trail.

The Official Guidebook of The Colorado Trail Foundation, 7th edition REVISED, includes maps that are very useful for trip planning; they cover each Trail segment, show access pints and intersections, etc. However, the Guidebook maps are not highly detailed and not the best for navigating, however, the Guidebook does list the USGS topographic maps that assist with navigation. (Also very useful for navigating is The Colorado Trail: Trailside Databook which is easy to carry and includes GPS data that enumerate the intersections, etc.)

Note: Trails Illustratred does not cover the western section of the CT from Molas Pass on and a set for the rest of the CT costs well over $100. Many topos will cost over $200.

Sources of topographic maps in the Denver area:

Mapsco
800 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203
1-800-456-8703
www.mapsco.com

REI - Denver Flagship Store
1416 Platte St.
Denver, CO
303-756-3100
www.rei.com

on-line from: National Geographic/Trails Illustrated, www.ngmapstore.com

on-line from: Latitude 40°, http://latitude40maps.com/

Transportation from Denver International Airport to the CT is not an insignificant problem. They are located on opposite sides of the Denver metropolitan area which is a distance of about 60 miles. The Yellow Cab Company (303-777-7777) charged about $100 in 2004.

The local bus/light rail system will take you from the Airport to the Littleton/Mineral Ave. terminal, the closest one to the beginning of the CT, which is both bad news and good news. The bad news is it is still almost 10 miles to the beginning of the CT. The good news is that there is a hiking/biking trail starting at the terminal that leads to the CT. The "AT" bus leaves the Airport for the Littleton terminal every hour from early morning to late evening. The ride takes about an hour and a half. If you wish to go via downtown Denver for some reason the Skyride bus leaves the airport every few minutes for central Denver. From central Denver you would catch the light rail route 101, also known as the Southwest/Central line, to the Littleton terminal. It runs every 10 to 15 minutes from central Denver. The Yellow Cab Company quotes $60 from the Littleton terminal to the CT trailhead, a distance of 9 miles.

It is almost 10 miles (one hour by bike) to get from the Littleton/Mineral Ave. terminal to the CT parking lot. Waterton Canyon is visible in the distance when looking in a southwest direction. You will take the bike path and then a two-track dirt road around the west side of Chatfield State Park to reach the trailhead. From the terminal, proceed west on Mineral Ave. for 1/3 of a mile to where the sidewalk turns into the hiking/biking trail in the South Platte Park. Cross over the South Platte on the wooden bridge and head upstream (south). You will cross under Mineral Ave. and then in approximately a mile you will cross under Highway 470. From this point, proceed west and follow the bike path and signs to Chatfield State Park. After cresting the dam, proceed southwest on the bike path until you reach the main park entrance road and fee station. Immediately past the fee station, exit the bike path and walk/ride to the south along the main park loop road (parallel to the Lake). Beware: Do not proceed on the bike path on the east side of the road or you will have a lengthy detour. Instead, proceed south/southwest on the main loop road for approximately 1/2 mile until you reach an intersection signed "B&B Livery - Horse Rental." Take this road southwest and uphill for another half mile until you reach the public corral. At the corral, look to the west for a two track dirt road marked with brown carsonite posts with blue and white arrows. Proceed on this road following the signs until you reach the trailhead.

Chatfield State Park only allows camping in designated areas. Unfortunately these areas are all on the other side of the lake. There are however several nice areas where a tired hiker could settle down out of sight and "nap" for a while. The best areas are near the Mineral Ave. Station along the river and areas very close to the trailhead itself. Camping is not permitted along first 6.2 miles of the CT since it is the service road for the Strontia Springs dam. Bear Creek, 8 miles from the beginning of the CT, is the first camping spot with water.

The Lockheed Martin Discovery Pavilion (located mile north of the CT parking area) provides a place to stop and rest and information about the three major trails in the area. It forms the connecting link from the metro area through Chatfield State Park to The Colorado Trail.

There are public telephones at the Littleton Park-N-Ride, the Chatfield camping area, and the Waterton Canyon parking lot. Restrooms and drinking water are available at the Theo Carson Nature Center (in South Platte Park), at several locations in Chatfield State Recreation Area, and near the Discovery Pavilion.

RTD: www.rtd-denver.com or 1-800-366-RIDE