With Colorado experiencing its driest year on record, many people are asking us how low snowpack across the state will affect hikes along the Colorado Trail this year. With summer conditions arriving two months early this season (as I write this, it is 80 degrees in Salida), we are expecting several impacts on this season’s hiking.
Fire Danger
Forest fires are our #1 concern for summer 2026. With record-low snowpack and record-high temperatures, many mountain ranges have already experienced the spring melt. While anyone traveling across the West over the past decade has become accustomed to fire restrictions, this year might be extreme. Last year, our staff put together a great article on “A firewise approach to the CT”. Any hiker, camper, or day user would be wise to review that short article.
With fire danger high, there are two possible ways this could affect hiking this year: the fires themselves and/or low air quality they create
Being prepared before you go on your hike will be important in both scenarios. Several apps like “Firewatch” or “Watchduty” display real-time forest fire information for active fires. Additionally, the state of Colorado has a wonderful website that outlines fire restrictions by area and county. While we expect almost every county to have some type of restriction this summer, the state website is a helpful resource to see what type of fire restriction is in place along the trail.
Due to the prevailing winds, air quality is often a larger issue in the west during a high fire season, even if there are no active fires in our state. It is not uncommon to experience air quality issues from fires in Utah, Idaho, or even Canada. Popular weather apps like WeatherUnderground and even your phone’s weather app measure air quality. Staying informed will be important this summer as you hike.
Water Sources
For backpackers hiking overnight who need to rely on water resupply, this could be a tricky year. With low snowpack and high temperatures, many seasonal streams may not even form this season or be dry by early summer. For through hikers this season, research and patience are essential.
We expect all streams may be affected to some degree this year, but knowing which areas are traditionally hard to find water will help you best prepare for your hike. Sections like Buffalo Creek and Sargent’s Mesa are tricky in a normal season; this year, they may be extreme. Expect to carry more water in these sections this summer. Our suggestion is to bring a collapsible water bladder with you to carry more water in dry sections. Collapsible bags weigh almost nothing when empty, but can help you make that extra 2 miles on a hot day.
High altitude areas may also be affected this season(e.g., Collegiate West, sections 20 – 24)..In high sections where snowmelt may be gone by June, expect to “drop down” to the tree line to find water. Again, this is where your research, preparation, and flexibility will come into play.
Tools like our guidebook and data book can help you research potential water supplies ahead of time, but the Farout App really shines in this situation. Because the Farout app relies on crowdsourcing for water stops, you can see while on the trail what other hikers are reporting in real-time. This season, it will be an important tool for hikers to know what water sources are still flowing.
Facebook groups also help with conditions, as many users report on what they experienced when they returned from hiking. Make sure to check this season and check into the Facebook groups when you are resupplying in town.
Snowpack and Start Times
At this point, you have most likely gotten the message about the low snowpack. One silver lining to low snow is better early-season access. As I write this, there is no snow to be seen on 3 of the 14ers we can see from our office. As much as this is a depressing sight to see, it does mean that several late-season areas of the trail, like Lake Ann Pass, might be accessible earlier in the season this year.
I would think that this year will be a good year for an early start. With most CT thru-hikers starting in early July, this year, a mid to late June start would not be out of the question. Time will tell, but the long-term forecast does not appear to be favorable for late heavy-season snow. This might be a good year to experience more of the trail earlier. If you do get out early, please remember it takes us a few weeks to get the trail cleaned from the winter. Hiking earlier may mean more holdover issues from the winter that we have not had time to address (e.g., downed trees, encroaching branches, trail debris, erosional features).
However you enjoy the trail this season, help protect this great resource by eliminating campfires, staying fire aware, and working extra hard to keep water sources clean and available for all. This year, that small trickle of a stream you let your dog play in may be the best water source for hikers (and wildlife) for miles around.
Stay safe out there this season!
The CTF Staff
