It will take most hikers between 4 and 5 hours to get to the campground on either trail. The trail is well-marked and is traveled often, providing packed dirt and rocks and an easy trail ⦠I did pick up the pace at the end so that I could get out of Waterton Canyon (I was a NOBO hiker) on a weekend (as it was closed during the week in September). Number of thru hiker respondents: 59Average age of female hiker: 36 yearsAverage female trip length: 34.6 daysAverage age of male hiker: 43 yearsAverage male trip length: 32.4 daysCombined average trip length: 33.3 daysAverage number of extra days wanted: 2Overall average trip length (with extra days included): 35 days or 5 weeksRange of start dates in survey: June 20th - September 1st. Ultrarunner Bryan Williams set the current Fastest Known Time for the Colorado Trail in 2017, finishing the route in eight days and 30 minutes with the help of a support crew. There were quite a few comments in the survey, and a few of them might prove useful to others planning a thru hike on the Colorado Trail: In general I found it more helpful to plan the number of hiking hours per day based on elevation gain rather than a constant mileage per day. It was late in the day and we were still climbing. Underneath the Eagle Lift of Copper Mountain resort, look for the white rock with the Colorado Trail logo. In the end, it will depend on your physical condition, experience level, and the weather conditions to know exactly how long it will take to hike Pikes Peak. And for post-hike aching muscles, try the nearby Cottonwood Hot Springs or Mount Princeton Hot Springs farther south on U.S. 24 (go west at Nathrop).Stats: 22.8 miles; 4,296-foot elevation gainAccess: On U.S. 24 in Buena Vista, go west onto Main Street, which turns into County Road 306. For the average hiker, it takes about 4-6 months. The mountain peaks are just starting to feature a white dusting. The Colorado Trail is a 486-mile-long greatest hits collection of the Centennial Stateâs most picturesque scenery, from wildflower-strewn meadows to sky-high rocky ridges, that runs from Denver to Durango. Over eight mountain ranges, along five river systems and traversing six national forests and six wilderness areas, the Colorado Trail is truly a natural wonderland. Thru-hiking (hiking a trail its entirety in one season) is a long-term commitment. This hike is a must-do for any Rocky Mountain National Park vacation. The trail is comprised of 28 segments, ranging from 11.4 miles to 32 miles. In fact, the route described here has been traversed solo and self-supported in an astonishing 3 days, 23 hours and 38 minutes by Jefe Branham of Gunnison in 2012. He ran between 54 and 89 miles a day. The San Juan Mountains is a rugged, Alps-like range that is often considered the state's most stunning. Looking for a great fall drive for leaf-peeping, with golden aspens fluttering in the breeze and snow-capped peaks as a backdrop? Lots of factors play into trip length including work, money, weather, and other constraints. Overall the average trip length reported in the survey was 33 days. Trail Description: The standard route to the summit of Quandary Peak begins from the Quandary Trailhead, located just north of Hoosier Pass. A: The South Kaibab Trail is 6.8 miles to Bright Angel Campground and the Bright Angel Trail is 9.3 miles. (Hiker with a 29 day trip). In a perfect world I would have taken more time if weather wasnât a concern. Females made up roughly 42% of the survey population with 25 females entering their hike data. The average age of the responding female was 36 years. Sign up below for an email newsletter from the site. If nothing else, I think it will be interesting! Before we dive into the survey results, here are some characteristics of the survey population. However, because of its length, altitude â and in many places, sheer ruggedness â the Colorado Trail can be hard to get your hands around at first. Out of the 2016 group of hikers the earliest start date was a June 20th hiker with a 36 day trip and the latest start was a hiker who started September 1st with a 35 day trip. This guide is geared towards bikepackers, but much of the information could also be beneficial to backpackers. The CDT and The Colorado Trail share the same treadway for 234 miles; over 300 if you take the Collegiate West option. The Colorado Trail Foundation states that the average thru hike typically takes 4-6 weeks so 33 days falls almost squarely in the middle of that range. Head up through Copper's cross-country ski trails, past Janet's Cabin (a backcountry hut that you can reserve through the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association), and over two passes. I finished mountain biking the Colorado Trail in early October and definitely pushed hard on some days to stay ahead of winter weather. The Colorado Trail Foundation states that the average thru hike typically takes 4-6 weeks so 33 days falls almost squarely in the middle of that range. How Much Time Does it Take to Hike the Colorado Trail? We donât advise heading to this beautiful place to ⦠Any questions or opinions? No spam, I promise! Life Above Treeline. See the Trekking sectionon this website for more information. This is the second article in a series about bikepacking the Colorado Trail, and it covers basic planning and logistical aspects of the trip. ELEVATION: average ~10,300 feet ROUTE: well maintained, popular trail, signed junctions GUIDEBOOK: Colorado Trail 9th Edition DATA BOOK: 7th Edition As a whole the survey population reported wanting an average of 2 extra days on the trail. I also stopped in too many towns. The final part of the Long Trail thru-hike is only 14.3 miles long. I like the idea of hiking more, and camping less. Hikers traveling the full length of the trail from Denver to Durango will climb a cumulative 89,354 feet. By J.B. Bissell ⢠July 24, 2018. Most visitors to Barr Camp hike up Barr Trail from the trailhead in Manitou Springs. The free Summit Stage bus — which runs between Silverthorne, Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon and Copper — gives you even more flexibility: you can hike farther without doubling back. Hike your own hike, not a race, take rest days. I only took one zero day and two half days but overall happy with my pace and time out there. The hike to Inspiration Point is about 1.5 mile round-trip, and takes approximately one hour to complete from the top of the falls. It is an advanced level trail because of the 12+ mile distance to the Pikes Peak Summit and its 7,800 feet altitude gain. I finished the trail in 37 days, taking three âzero days.â Day 1 â Waterton Canyon to the South Platte River â Segment 1 It took me 35 days to complete the Colorado Trail, taking two zero days and four nero days, leaving Denver on July 6, 2016 and arriving in Durango on August 10. The trail is comprised of 28 segments, ranging from 11.4 miles to 32 miles. Information about the train (you need to purchase a ticket in advance) can be obtained from their website durangotrain.com or by calling 970-247-2733. Watch for bighorn sheep, elk and deer. Officially, the average time is 5-6 hours. A good warm-up, the first 6 miles climb gradually along a dirt road, then turn onto rolling and climbing singletrack trail. With the re-route of this section, you can access the trail from the west side of Highway 9. Scroll to the bottom for a summary of the survey results. Meals are provided and gear shuttles enables trekkers to travel with just a day pack. Here, hikers can take in views of the Great Plains as they stretch out to the East and of views of the city of Colorado Springs below. (Hiker with a 27 day trip). (Hiker with a 30 day trip). I originally intended to analyze bikepacker trip length, but I created an online survey and 90% of the responses came from thru-hikers (57 out of 63 responses). The Colorado Trail, one of the nation's premier long-distance hiking trails, spans 500 miles from Denver to Durango, and it's arguably one of Colorado's greatest outdoor recreation and education achievements. Itâs important to remember though that this is an out and back trail, meaning that if you try and hike the entire Hermit Trail the round trip trail length is actually 17.8 miles and would take about 9 to 11 hours of hiking to complete. The shortest hikes in the survey were in the mid 20 day range (see note below) while 52 days was the top end. Anyone can hike the Colorado Trail. The Vermont terrain is rugged, and different hikers spend differing amounts of time in towns or have different daily mileage preferences. Colorado is a hiker's paradise, and the Colorado Trail will let you enjoy all its beauty to the fullest. A note on fast hikes: one 54 year old hiker reported doing an 18 day thru-hike in the survey. I had a great time looking through all the responses from hikers, and I hope itâs helpful to you as well! Make sure to take in the scenery: summer wildflowers followed by changing aspens, waterfalls and awesome views of Engineer Mountain (so high, engineers once used it on their surveys).Stats: 20.9 miles; 3,779-foot elevation gainAccess: For the best parking, head south on U.S. 550 about 5.5 miles past Silverton to a dirt road marked Molas Trail. On the flipside 58% of results were from males with 34 responding to the survey. The Pikes Peak Barr Trail is one of the most difficult hike you will find in the Pikes Peak region. 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