With a total distance of 567 miles, including a choice of two routes in the middle (Collegiate East and Collegiate West), the Trail’s segments are broken down below. The Official Colorado Trail Guidebook has each of these segment maps (and more!) in full resolution. Persons planning Colorado Trail hikes can check with the appropriate US Forest Service Office (listed below for each segment) for Trail and jeep road conditions. See our maps page, or click on the Trail overview image below, for a better look at the trail in entirety.
The Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments, connecting Denver in the east with Durango in the west.
(CT map with segments, click to enlarge)
CT Segment Information
Use these links to jump to specific segments or information:
Segments 1-6 | Segments 7-12 | Segments 13-18 | Segments 19-24 | Segments 25-28 | CW01-05 | Trail Shuttlers | Rest & Resupply
SEGMENT 1
Waterton Canyon Trailhead to South Platte River Trailhead
- Mileage: 16.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,830 feet
- USFS Ranger District: South Platte Ranger District / 303-275-5610
- Nearby Towns: Denver metro area, suburbs including Littleton
SEGMENT 2
South Platte River Trailhead to Little Scraggy Trailhead
- Mileage: 11.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,482 feet
- USFS Ranger District: South Platte Ranger District / 303-275-5610
- Nearby Towns: Conifer (15 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 3
Little Scraggy Trailhead to FS-560 (Wellington Lake Road) Trailhead
- Mileage: 12.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,975 feet
- USFS Ranger District: South Platte Ranger District / 303-275-5610
- Nearby Towns: Buffalo Creek (3.2 miles from the CT), Bailey (8 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 4
FS-560 (Wellington Lake Road) Trailhead to Long Gulch
- Mileage: 16.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,271 feet
- USFS Ranger District: South Platte Ranger District / 303-275-5610 & South Park Ranger District / 719-836-2031
- Nearby Towns: Bailey (8 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 5
Long Gulch to Kenosha Pass
- Mileage: 14.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,858 feet
- USFS Ranger District: South Park Ranger District / 719-836-2031
- Nearby Towns: Bailey (8 miles from the CT), Jefferson (4.5 miles from the CT), Fairplay (20 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 6
Kenosha Pass to Goldhill Trailhead
- Mileage: 32.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 5,196 feet
- USFS Ranger District: South Park Ranger District / 719-836-2031 & Dillon Ranger District / 970-468-5434
- Nearby Towns: Bailey (8 miles from the CT), Jefferson (4.5 miles from the CT), Fairplay (20 miles from the CT), Breckenridge (4 miles to the CT), Frisco (5 miles to the CT)
SEGMENT 7
Goldhill Trailhead to Copper Mountain
- Mileage: 12.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,674 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Dillon Ranger District / 970-468-5434
- Nearby Towns: Breckenridge (4 miles to the CT), Frisco (5 miles to the CT), Copper Mountain (<1 mile to the CT)
SEGMENT 8
Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass Trailhead
- Mileage: 25.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 4,417 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Dillon Ranger District / 970-468-5434 & Holy Cross Ranger District / 970-827-5715
- Nearby Towns: Copper Mountain (<1 mile to the CT), Leadville (8 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 9
Tennessee Pass Trailhead to Timberline Lake Trailhead
- Mileage: 13.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,627 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Leadville Ranger District / 719-486-0749
- Nearby Towns: Leadville (8 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 10
Timberline Lake Trailhead to Mount Massive Trailhead
- Mileage: 13.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,628 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Leadville Ranger District / 719-486-0749
- Nearby Towns: Leadville (8 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 11
Mount Massive Trailhead to Clear Creek Road
- Mileage: 21.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,910 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Leadville Ranger District / 719-486-0749
- Nearby Towns: Leadville (8 miles from the CT), Twin Lakes Village (1 mile from the CT)
SEGMENT 12
Clear Creek Road to Silver Creek Trailhead
- Mileage: 18.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 4,866 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Leadville Ranger District / 719-486-0749
- Nearby Towns: Buena Vista (9.5 miles from the CT)
- Pass/permit: SWA pass required on a section of this segment
SEGMENT 13
Silver Creek Trailhead to Chalk Creek Trailhead
- Mileage: 22.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 4,296 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Salida Ranger District / 719-539-3591
- Nearby Towns: Buena Vista (9.5 miles to the CT), Mt. Princeton Hot Springs (on the CT)
SEGMENT 14
Chalk Creek Trailhead to US-50
- Mileage: 20.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 4,007 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Salida Ranger District / 719-539-3591
- Nearby Towns: Mt. Princeton Hot Springs (on the CT), Salida (15 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 15
US-50 to Marshall Pass Trailhead
- Mileage: 14.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,576 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Salida Ranger District / 719-539-3591 & Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600
- Nearby Towns: Salida (15 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 16
Marshall Pass Trailhead to Sargents Mesa
- Mileage: 15.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,184 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Salida Ranger District / 719-539-3591 & Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Saguache Ranger District / 719-655-2547
- Nearby Towns: none
SEGMENT 17
Sargents Mesa to Colorado Hwy-114
- Mileage: 20.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,810 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Saguache Ranger District / 719-655-2547
- Nearby Towns: Gunnison (39 miles from the CT), Saguache (31 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 18
Colorado Hwy-114 to Saguache Park Road
- Mileage: 13.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,447 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600
- Nearby Towns: Gunnison (39 miles from the CT), Saguache (31 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 19
Saguache Park Road to Eddiesville Trailhead
- Mileage: 13.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,239 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600
- Nearby Towns: none
SEGMENT 20
Eddiesville Trailhead to San Luis Pass
- Mileage: 12.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,104 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600
- Nearby Towns: Creede (10 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 21
San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass Trailhead
- Mileage: 12.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,105 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Divide Ranger District / 719-657-3321
- Nearby Towns: Creede (10 miles from the CT), Lake City (17 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 22
Spring Creek Pass Trailhead to Carson Saddle
- Mileage: 17.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,829 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Divide Ranger District / 719-657-3321
- Nearby Towns: Lake City (17 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 23
Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead
- Mileage: 15.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,515 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Divide Ranger District / 719-657-3321
- Nearby Towns: Silverton (6 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 24
Stony Pass Trailhead to Molas Pass
- Mileage: 17.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,475 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Divide Ranger District / 719-657-3321 & Columbine Ranger District / 970-884-2512 & San Juan National Forest Public Information Center / 970-247-4874
- Nearby Towns: Silverton (6 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 25
Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road
- Mileage: 20.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,779 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Columbine Ranger District / 970-884-2512 & Dolores Ranger District / 970-882-7296 & San Juan National Forest Public Information Center / 970-247- 4874
- Nearby Towns: Silverton (6 miles from the CT)
SEGMENT 26
Bolam Pass Road to Hotel Draw Road
- Mileage: 10.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,827 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Columbine Ranger District / 970-884-2512 & San Juan National Forest Public Information Center / 970-247- 4874
- Nearby Towns: none
SEGMENT 27
Hotel Draw Road to Kennebec Trailhead
- Mileage: 20.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 4,186 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Columbine Ranger District / 970-884-2512 & San Juan National Forest Public Information Center / 970-247-4874
- Nearby Towns: none
SEGMENT 28
Kennebec Trailhead to Junction Creek Trailhead
- Mileage: 21.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,897 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Columbine Ranger District / 970-884-2512 & San Juan National Forest Public Information Center / 970-247- 4874
- Nearby Towns: Durango
COLLEGIATE WEST 01 (CW01)
Twin Lakes to Sheep Gulch
- Mileage: 9.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,606 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Leadville Ranger District / 719-486-0749
- Nearby Towns: Twin Lakes Village (1 mile from the CT)
COLLEGIATE WEST 02 (CW02)
Sheep Gulch to Cottonwood Pass Trailhead
- Mileage: 25.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 6,122 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Leadville Ranger District / 719-486-0749 & Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600
- Nearby Towns: Buena Vista (9.5 miles from the CT)
COLLEGIATE WEST 03 (CW03)
Cottonwood Pass Trailhead to Tincup Pass Road
- Mileage: 15.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,532 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600
- Nearby Towns: Buena Vista (9.5 miles from the CT)
COLLEGIATE WEST 04 (CW04)
Tincup Pass Road to Boss Lake Trailhead
- Mileage: 15.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,750 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Salida Ranger District / 719-539-3591
- Nearby Towns: none
COLLEGIATE WEST 05 (CW05)
Boss Lake Trailhead to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek
- Mileage: 15.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,750 feet
- USFS Ranger District: Gunnison Ranger District / 970-874-6600 & Salida Ranger District / 719-539-3591
- Nearby Towns: Salida (15 miles from the CT), Gunnison (39 miles from the CT)
Looking for printed, detailed Colorado Trail maps and guidebooks in full resolution? You can find them (and more!) in the CT Store:
The Official Guidebook of The Colorado Trail Foundation
Particularly helpful with trip planning, getting to access points and as an on-Trail reference.
The Colorado Trail Databook
Small and light, it fits in your pocket and is popular with thru-hikers, bikers, and riders; providing all essential info for negotiating the Trail.
CTF Topographic Map Book
These topographical maps provide a much more detailed reference regarding the full terrain of the Trail.
Trail Shuttlers
The Foundation maintains a list of shuttle drivers – both individuals and businesses – in Denver and towns along the Trail who have offered to help travelers get to and from trailheads.
Rest & Resupply
Get more information about towns near the Trail, like which roads access the town, what services are available and whether accommodations are an option.
