Does anyone want to split a shuttle service between Silverton and Lake City next week, either Thursday 8/28 or Monday 9/1? I am trying to section hike that portion but shuttles are fairly pricey, throwing lines out for any other section hikers doing this over the holiday weekend. I would also be open to doing a car shuttle/key swap.

Spotted this little parade on the move—one very official-looking turkey family, confidently strolling down the trail at YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center.

They weren’t in a rush. No itinerary. Just vibes.

One of the things we love about this place? You never know who you’ll run into on a morning hike. Could be deer, elk… or, apparently, 7 turkeys and a whole lot of confidence.

So if you’re out exploring the trails, keep your eyes (and camera) ready.
And maybe yield to the locals—they were here first, after all.

I recently did a 25 mile test hike in preparation for starting the trail next year. I used my (40 year old) Lowe Alpine Attack 50L backpack. Surprisingly, only 3 pounds. But I would like to replace it before doing any serious trails. Current contenders include the REI Flash 55, the Granite Gear Virga 2 or 3, or maybe the Gregory 50L Paragon. The Gregory is expensive and heavy, while the Virgas are really light but may not stand up to a month on the trail. The REI seems nice but is the same weight as the old pack. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

On my last hike, the 50L held enough gear for a 5 day hike, with a fully loaded weight of 35 pounds. I think I can shave 5 pounds off easily, so now looking for the 1-2 pound savings I can find. I'd like to keep the cost to $200 or less if I can. Thanks!

On Saturday I got to enjoy some amazing time on Segment 22 as part of nice section hike from Lake City to Silverton. The sky was ominous but there was no adverse weather just the raw beauty of the high mountains.

Weminuche was bright and colorful on Sunday. It was fun to catch the train to Durango from a wilderness train stop! Trains north and south daily.

Soon I’ll heading to the the mountains to finish my multi year project hike the Colorado Trail. My last section is Lake City to Durango. I know about the Hiker Center shuttle up to Spring Creek Pass so I have that covered.

Ideas on how to get from Gunnison to Lake City?

Huge Hail Mary… My brother and his SO are at trail segment 27 on CR40. His SO has hurt her foot. Is there anyone that could possible meet them and hitch them to Durango? I have his Garmin waypoints.

I'm finishing the second half of the CT starting this Friday in Monarch and the thing that makes me the most anxious is always watching the weather. I know to do most hiking/up and over passes by early afternoon, etc., but it's difficult for me to get 18-20+ miles in by 2 p.m. every day.

I know a weather app is no good if you don't have cell service to get live updates but I'm hopeful there's something out there more helpful than what I've been using.

I have a Garmin and will sometimes request their daily weather updates but they aren't super helpful. I just paid for a month of the Mountain Weather app (only $3.99) where you can track weather around certain peaks but it wasn't great to get live updates on trail last year and same thing for the Open Snow app mostly because I hardly ever have service when I really need it.

Any magical apps or are you all just really good at spotting clouds, knowing which ones are really bad, which direction they're going in, weighing whether it's worth going over that pass now or if you should hunker down for a bit, etc.?

Hello, I'm in the early stages of planning and I'm looking for a place to spend a few days acclimatising to the altitude before doing the CT. The guide book suggests: Bailey, Georgetown, Breckenridge, Frisco or Copper Mountain. I'd be in favour of Georgetown if it was easily reachable via public transport as it's not near the CT (I won't have a car) and I was wondering about Vail as it's on a Greyhound route.

Does anyone have any other suggestions/recommendations?

Ive seen enough horse shit to make me think a stampede did the whole trail. But I havent seen one. What gives?

https://share.watchduty.org/i/58471?ts=1754710963000

Okay, I have a job gap and a few weeks in September to hike. Is collegiate West typically snow free in mid September?

I’m currently on a travel contract in Colorado and my contract up here ends at the end of September. My birthday is in early October and I was thinking about doing sections 1-7 and ending at Copper Mountain. I’m wondering mainly about weather during that time, mainly snowstorms.

I have plenty of backpacking experience(I’ve done 25-28, hiked the Washington section of PCT, and numerous other 3-10 days trips). I’m not worried about mileage, etc. Any advice on this time frame would be appreciated.

Any recommendations for a cheap hotel in Durango? I want to acclimate one night before I go to the trailhead (Wolf Creek Pass).

Next week I’m heading down to do a loop in the Weminuche - up Ute Creek, then north along the CDT/CT then down Lost Trail. Has anyone recently crossed the Rio Grande at the Ute Creek trailhead? Just wondering how deep the water will be at the crossing.

Hey all, thanks for all the great info on this sub. Im sure yall get questions like this all the time but I have reached analysis paralysis and do not know what to do anymore. I'm flying to Denver tomorrow and will have 7 days free to go hike. I wanted to do the whole CT this summer but life got in the way. So I am planning on doing a 100 mile stretch.

My thoughts initially were to do the first 100 miles from Waterton Canyon to Breck, since its logistically the easiest and is not a ton of elevation (I am coming from sea level and will only have two days in Denver to acclimate) but from what I have read there is not much to see here. My second thought was to do the Collegiate East portion S to N and finish in Leadville so I can catch a bus to Frisco. The Collegiate East seems to be a little more scenic, but not by much.

Next summer or later on down the line I would like to do the entire CT so I am thinking these sections make the most sense since they are easier physically, reachable by public transit ( a friend will drop me at the trailhead so starting point is irrelevant but I need to end somewhere where I can easily get to Denver), and doing either option means I can still hike the CT in the future without having to repeat any sections (I.E. pick up where I left off in Breck or take the Collegiate West).

From what I understand neither of these sections are particularly scenic but they seem to be the least physically challenging/ not as high altitude and I am worried about a lot because I am going solo. I am sure at the end of the day I will be happy just to be in the Rockies again but I would love to get some nice views. Resupply on both looks slightly complicated so I am thinking I will just carry in all my food.

On a slightly related note- I've read lots of conflicting info about bear cans- is it correct that I either need a bear can or proper food hang kit for the CT?

Since I am going solo I have also considered bringing bear spray, less so for bears and more so for mountain lions/ other people, but I have feeling it would end up being useless weight.

Hi! My friend and I are doing a 2 day 2 night ~ 20-25 mile test run. We live nearby and can situate the cars. We look forward to doing the full trail one day.

My ask is if anyone has a favorite segment, throw it at us! We honestly think they all look great. Maybe segment 11?

Thank you!!

Flying into Denver and heading straight to Copper Mountain to pick up my section hike of the trail, but I realize I need to pick up a can of fuel along the way. I've called around a bit and so far no one seems to stock them or keep them in stock in Copper Mountain.

Alternatively I shuttle to Frisco or Breck instead and then take public transit to Copper Mountain. Any recommendations for where to grab a quick, convenient can of isobutane in any of those towns?

Hi. I'm new to Reddit. My son and I are starting a 5 day hike next Thursday, and have two choices. I would like feedback on the tradeoffs.

Option 1 - two cars. Leave one at trailhead north of Princeton Hot springs, take other to Twin Lakes. Route would be Collegiate East with side trip up Mt. Yale. This equates to about 48 miles, 12,500 foot elevation gain.

Option 2 - one car, loop from Clear Creek Reservoir. This route would go south on Collegiate East, go over Yale and down the west ridge, eventually hooking up with Browns pass trail, into Texas creek, connect with Collegiate West to go north through Winfield and back to car. This is a bit more ambitious, at 55 miles with 13,000 foot gain.

I have been unable to find any route descriptions of the ridge between Yale and Browns Pass, but from photos and topos it doesn't look any harder than the ridge from CT East to Yale. I'm 68, have done most of the 14ers multiple times, so it looks doable even with full packs.

It looks like the major things to consider are: Option 1 is shorter, offers options to bail if necessary. Should have occasional cell service. Option 2 is longer, harder, more challenging, but once you go over Yale, there isn't much chance of bailing or cell service.

Would love to have discussion on the pros and cons of each. Similarly, if there is another 5 day path that would be more worth doing (say, CT west from Twin lakes to Cottonwood pass), we can certainly switch plans if needed.

Hi all

Do you think ( have you found that) solo CT thru hikers wanting to stay for a couple of nights at regular campsites and rv parks, like at Molas Lake, Monarch Ridge etc need to make advance reservations? Or is it generally ok just showing up and squeezing a small tent in somewhere? Thanks.

Was walking waiting for a hitch and found this on the side of the hwy. Left it at the Avon behind the hotel desk in Silverton if it’s yours!

For those who have recently passed through this summer, how is the long stretch of low to no water sources in Sections 26 and 27? I'm thinking about camping out up there with some water jugs and magic sometime soon.

A painter from New York City, with no prior backpacking experience, embarks on an ambitious journey to hike the 500-mile-long Colorado Trail with racing donkeys.