The Colorado Trail

Mile for mile the most beautiful trail in America
… built and maintained by the volunteers of The Colorado Trail Foundation

A spectacular adventure.

Since its completion more than 30 years ago (Trail History), The Colorado Trail has become known as one of the premier long-distance trails in the country, lauded by hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers and horse riders from around the world. The CT comprises 567 miles of trail between Denver and Durango and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Colorado Rockies. Users traveling end to end encounter the high mountain lakes and towering peaks of six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges as they climb nearly 90,000 vertical feet. The average elevation of the Trail is 10,300 feet, topping out at 13,271 feet just below 13,334-foot Coney Summit in southwest Colorado.

The Trail

Who We Are

The Colorado Trail Foundation is a nonprofit organization that oversees the care and improvement of the Trail. A Board of Directors and three full-time employees oversee the work of hundreds of volunteers who devote thousands of hours each year to keep the Trail in good condition. Most of that work is accomplished by trail crews lasting from one to eight days and by dozens of individuals and groups that adopt sections of the trail and conduct annual maintenance. Corporate and foundation grants and individual contributions from hundreds of supporters provide the $250,000 needed annually to sustain the CTF’s efforts.

About the Foundation

How You Can Help

Volunteer. Contribute. Spread the word. Volunteers are the life-blood of the organization. Without them, there would be no Trail. Most supporters began as Trail users. Touched by how the experience has enriched their lives, they seek a way to give back. Some love the pick-and-shovel work of trail building and maintenance. Others participate in mailing parties, helping send out newsletters and raise funds. Some support our office staff with data entry, writing thank-you notes, and doing other tasks. Many write checks or donate online to support the Foundation’s ongoing work and encourage others to do the same. The rewards of joining other like-minded individuals in sustaining this Colorado treasure are many. Find out for yourself.

Volunteer Many Ways to Contribute

Waterton Canyon Closure – October 10 -13, 2022

October 5, 2022 / Amy Nelson

Updated October 5, 2022 – WATERTON CLOSED October 10-13, 2022 Weekday access to Waterton Canyon will be closed Monday, October 10 through Thursday, October 13 for work by Aurora Water. Neither the parking lot at the canyon’s entrance nor the canyon will be accessible during this time. WATERTON ALTERNATIVES. Those wanting to travel CT Segment […]

Ursack / Opsak combo works well for many CT travelers.

2022 Food Storage Reminder

July 20, 2022 / Amy Nelson

As a result of unconfirmed reports of active bears in the area, the South Platte Ranger District has asked us to remind all Colorado Trail users to please use food storage when on the trail at all times, and specifically between Segments 1 – 4, where the activity has been reported. Proper food storage includes […]

2022 Maildrop – Consider UPS-Brown or FedEx

June 6, 2022 / Amy Nelson

2022 Maildrop – Consider UPS-Brown or FedEx If you are planning to ship yourself any resupply boxes this trail season, consider sending them UPS-Brown or FedEx. (Not USPS.) Reports from maildrop locations are that boxes being sent via the United States Postal Service including Priority Mail are not being delivered in a timely manner. The […]

Bear eyeballs hiker food along The Colorado Trail

Bear Problems Happen Every Trail Season

May 19, 2022 / Bill Manning

Posted May 19, 2022 – Every single Trail season, bear problems happen along The Colorado Trail. Now in my 17th year as Executive Director with the CT Foundation, I cannot remember a trail season without reports like, ‘yeah, the bear got our food and shredded my bag.’ This is one reason the CTF recommends that […]