The Colorado Trail

by Colorado Trail Foundation

• The official Colorado Trail guide for thru-hikers, day hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians• Detailed information for the entire Colorado Trail, including five new chapters for the 80-mile Collegiate West trail addition • Updated color maps with trail and milepoint overlays The Colorado Trail is considered by many to be the most beautiful “long trail” in the world. Spanning 486 miles from the Denver suburbs to Durango, the trail passes through six national forests and six wilderness areas, traverses five major river systems, and crosses eight mountain ranges. The ninth edition of The Colorado Trail has all the information a day hiker, thru-hiker, mountain biker, or equestrian needs to plan and complete a trip on the trail. New to this edition are five chapters on the 80-mile Collegiate West trail addition. Maps and written descriptions for all twenty-eight segments of the Colorado Trail have also been updated throughout the guide. Each chapter provides essential logistical information for Colorado Trail trailhead directions; road access points; detailed trail descriptions including distance and elevation gain; color maps and elevation profiles; and information on water sources, campsite locations, and resupply towns. Additional town maps and mountain bike detour maps (around Wilderness Areas) have been included throughout the book. An extensive introduction includes information on planning, supplying, safety, equipment, navigation, mountain biking, horseback riding, regulations, and backcountry ethics—plus chapters on the heritage of The Colorado Trail, natural history, and geology. At the back of the book you will find useful contact information and an index.

Genres: Outdoors, Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

703 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kyle Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This won't tell you everything you need to know about the CT, but it's the first stop for forging a plan. The book opens with a tribute to Gudy Gaskill, "The Mother of the Colorado Trail," followed by several informative chapters on the CT Foundation, logistics for hiking the CT, history of Colorado in the CT regions, flora, fauna, and geology of the CT. The bulk of the book provides a section-by-section overview, including important statistics, trailhead directions and parking, water and resupply locations, and points of interest. It contains helpful links and bibliography to other resources. The volume is 26.8 ounces (762 g), for those counting.

[Kate Ringer]

I wish I had known prior to buying this guide that it wouldn't have the most up to date water information. Besides that, it was really useful while I hiked the Colorado Trail! However, we were the only ones on the trail using this guide. Most people just used Guthook, an app that doesn't weigh anything.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential tool for planning a detailed hike of the Colorado Trail.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially everything I needed to plan for the trail and more! Very excited to get started in July

[Sibylle · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good, with complete maps and trailheads.

[Devin L · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day

[Todd Salzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Potentially out of date, but I plan to use a newer version when I finally get around to doing the CO Trail. Have used this to help plan shorter runs.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for CT trippin'!

[Bill Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

As of now, the eighth edition is the latest. Full of essential and ancillary notes of interest for anyone wanting to hike/bike the CT, either in segments or as a through hike. August, 2014.