Colorado Trail
A major Rocky Mountain trail from Denver to Durango.
Route overview
A long-distance trail across the Colorado Rockies from Denver to Durango.
The Colorado Trail crosses the Rocky Mountains through forests, high passes, alpine tundra and remote wilderness areas. It is one of the classic long-distance trails of the United States.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Colorado Rockies
- Distance
- 782 km
- Typical duration
- 4–6 weeks
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Elevation gain
- 27,000 m
- Best season
- July–September
- Trail type
- Long-distance point-to-point
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- Permits and camping rules vary by wilderness area and section.
- Bookings
- Resupply points and altitude acclimatization are key parts of planning.
Safety context
Altitude, lightning, snow timing, water and resupply logistics require serious planning.
Lightning, altitude, snow and remote sections are important hazards.
Typical itinerary
Most thru-hikers take 4 to 6 weeks, while section hikers complete it over multiple trips.
Highlights
Rocky Mountains, high passes, alpine terrain, long-distance hiking.
Why find a buddy
The Colorado Trail is excellent for buddy matching because many hikers look for partners for sections or start dates.
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.