IO/VMO Colorado Trail Thru-hike

This trip is a fastpack thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, starting at Waterton Canyon (near Denver) on June 29 and finishing in Durango around July 18–19 (ignore the meetup end date, meetup wouldnt allow the event to have a 3 week duration), in time for a July 20 flight from Denver. The route follows the Colorado Trail mainline end-to-end, covering approximately 486 miles across Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

The hike is planned assuming the ongoing low-snow year forecasts and is a fast paced, UL backpacking style hike with an average moving speed of 2.5–3.0 mph, hiking from early morning to dark, with pauses only to wait out storms. Daily mileage averages 20–30 miles, with longer days in lower terrain and shorter, conservative days in exposed alpine sections. Average daily elevation gain is 4,000–4,500 feet, with multiple days above 12,000 feet and a maximum elevation near 13,100 feet in the San Juan Mountains.

Resupply is intentionally minimal to maintain momentum. Planned resupply stops are Breckenridge, Twin Lakes (quick stop), Monarch Pass, Molas campground and Lake City, with overnights in Breckenridge, Lake City, and Durango.

Camping is primarily on trail, below treeline and well off high passes, with conservative camp placement during lightning-prone periods. The final stretch from Lake City to Durango (~125 miles) is treated as a single committed push with no intermediate town stops.

No permits are required anywhere along the route; however, standard wilderness regulations, LNT and seasonal fire restrictions apply. Success depends on early starts, disciplined storm management, efficient town time, and steady pacing.

Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/T9TN

Nat Geo CT north and south are recommended.

The Fine Print

I’m just a co-participant on this trip, not a guide or an expert. I have no special training, such as organizational, medical, or navigational. You are officially on the trip if you both RSVP on Meetup, we engage by email, text, or the app, and you meet me at the airport or trailhead. Otherwise, you are doing your own trip until you make physical contact with me and I recognize you as a co-participant.

By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to DC UL's liability waiver terms. (https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver)

If you are a member, don't forget to pay your annual $10 dues. You can check to see if you need to pay dues by seeing if the current year is listed next to your name in your DC UL profile. Applicants do not need to pay dues for their first trip with the group. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15