Colorado Trail System (High Country)
Durango to TH
43 Miles
Gain
89354 Feet
Condition
Poor
Region
Trail Length
500 Miles
Trails in this system
The iconic Colorado Trail stretches 500 miles from Denver to its terminus in Durango and is one of the state’s great recreational assets. The trail travels at high elevations through the spectacular Rocky Mountains and traverses craggy peaks, alpine lakes, and creeks amongst diverse ecosystems. The trail’s thru travelers experience six wilderness areas, pass through eight mountain ranges and top out at 13,271 feet, just above Coney Summit.
The average elevation of the Colorado Trail is over 10,300 feet and users traveling from Denver to Durango will clock 89,354 feet of elevation gain. The trail ends only three short miles from Durango’s city limits, allowing easy access from town. The Colorado Trail near Silverton has popular high elevation routes for mountain biking and hiking. Road access to the trail in this section is remote and 4WD, but many long loops are possible.
History
Maintenance of Colorado’s premier long-distance trail is undertaken by teams of volunteers who caretake sections. Durango Trails 2000 adopts the longest section in the state – rugged singletrack from Champion Venture Road (near Kennebec Pass) to the town of Durango. To learn more about the Colorado Trail or the primary entity responsible for its upkeep, visit the Colorado Trail Foundation.
Map & Directions
Map Coordinates: 37.331364, -107.902931
Where's the Trailhead?
dIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD
Molas Pass Parking Lot
To access the Colorado Trail (High Country), take Highway 550 North from Durango for 42 miles. Turn right at Molas Lake and park in the Molas Lake Parking Lot.
To access the Colorado Trail (Lower), park at the Junction Creek Parking Lot.
Trailwork
help build our trails!
Thursday, September 12 Trailwork
Join us for a weekday trailwork party at [location TBD]. Thank you for volunteering with Trails 2000 at our trailwork party on Thursday, September 12 from 4:30 to 7:30pm!
Love the Trails Like a Local
Say Hi
Greet all trail users by saying hi when passing on the trail.
Announce Yourself
Say "on your left" as approaching other trail users from behind.
Pick Up After Yourself
Pick up after yourself and your pet. Please don’t litter.
Keep Dogs on a Leash
Keep your dogs on a leash or leave them at home. Off-leash dogs are not allowed on City Open Space and are the number one source of trail conflict.
Stay on the Trail
Help protect natural areas and habitats by staying on established trails. Creating "social trails", cutting switchbacks, or ignoring trail closures leads to greater erosion and impacts on ecosystems.
Give Uphill Traffic the
Right of Way
Uphill traffic always has the right of way. Downhill traffic must be in control, especially around blind corners, to avoid coming in contact with uphill traffic.
Check Conditions
Stay up to date by checking the Trail Conditions report and following us on Facebook or Instagram.
Give Back
Donate to Durango Trails or volunteer for trailwork to help give back to the trails you love.
Similar Trails
other trails you may enjoy
Trip Reports and Recent Photos
Colorado Trail at Molas Pass
Date Visited:
6/20/20
Submitted by: Dan Brown