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DISTANCE
527 Miles (848km)
For more information on the Colorado Trail visit our CT Resource page. »
Are you curious about bikepacking the Colorado Trail or racing the Colorado Trail Race?
I raced it as part of my Bikepacking Triple Crown (Arizona Trail Race, Tour Divide, and Colorado Trail Race) in 2017. Amazing doesn’t start to describe the experience. It did take a lot of planning though. So if you have a desire to race or tour the Colorado Trail (CT), read on to learn more with this Colorado Trail Guide.
I pulled the following information together for people like us, the explores and adventurers. After my Colorado Trail Race I realized there was a need for a Colorado Trail Guide for bikepackers. This page is divided up into simple sections so you can quickly get a feel for the route. As part of a larger all inclusive guide, this page and corresponding pages will allow you to focus on riding your bike instead of searching the internet for hours on end.
Where does one start the planning process? This page is a great starting point, but if you want more information, checkout the “Colorado Trail Race Resources” button below. Watch out though, you just might find yourself on the starting line in July!
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Stats
DIFFICULTY (1-10)
9
Elevation Gain
70,000+ Feet (21,336m)
HIGHEST POINT
13,271 Feet (4,045m)
% SINGLETRACK
55%
TIME REQUIRED
7 – 14+ Days
% UNPAVED
80%
Time of Year
July to September
Race Date
August 14, 2022
4 am Water Canyon (SW Denver)
Closest Towns to Start/Finish
Littleton & Durango
Race Records
Male: Neil Beltchenko (2016) 3:19:50
Female: Eszter Horanyi (2011) 5:05:27
Overview
The Colorado Trail is a monster of a trail, but this shouldn’t sway you from bikepacking it. The Colorado Trail is a multi use trail that runs 500 miles (529 by bicycle) from Waterton Canyon in Littleton, Colorado to Durango, Colorado. It holds immense beauty around almost every turn. With an average elevation of over 10,000 feet your lungs and legs will be tested. Bring your rain jacket, you will get caught in afternoon thunder storms.
Your race/tour of the CT will involve you crossing six National Forests, six wilderness areas, eight mountain ranges, and five major river systems. The Colorado Trail Race (CTR) is known as one of the hardest, if not the hardest and most scenic bikepacking routes in the entire United States.
During the 2017 Colorado Trail Race the average amount of H.A.B (Hike-A-Bike) was about 70 miles. That equals 13% of the total distance. If you were to complete the race in seven days, one day of the seven would be HAB! With this in mind be sure you’ve dialed in your set up. More weight on the bike means a heavier push. Even more important, make sure your shoes are comfortable and don’t give you blisters.
Resupply on the Colorado Trail Race is fairly easy except for one section. From Princeton Hot Springs to Silverton its 183 miles. That’s around three days at 60 miles a day. This is probably the hardest section of the entire race. You’ll want to be sure you have extra food. Princeton Hot Springs and Stagestop Store & Saloon have the smallest options for resupply, while the rest are either full service or have adequate supply options.
If singletrack is what you’re looking for, then this is the trail for you. The riding is simply amazing, but know that at race pace you may not be able to enjoy much of it. Touring the route might be a better option.
Route
This map shows the hiking route, NOT the bike route. But you get the picture.
DENVER TO DURANGO
DURANGO TO DENVER
Elevation profiles provided by John Schilling. Support John’s effort by purchasing prints, sticks and mugs of these profiles.
COLORADO TRAIL RACE
COLORADO TRAIL RACE
The Colorado Trail Race is not organized or sanctioned in any fashion. It’s seen as big group ride that follows a predetermine route, start time, a short list of rules and that’s it. Those who partake should understand the rules and obey the gentleman’s agreement to “race” fairly. There are no organizers, checkpoints, and or aid of any kind. You’re solely responsible for yourself.
The Colorado Trail Race starts in either Waterton Canyon or Durango depending on the year. On odd numbered years the race travels South to North (or West to East) and on even numbered years it travels North to South (or East to West).
Suggested Start Date:
August 14, 2022 4am Waterton Canyon (SW Denver)
RULES
Bikepack racing is usually not organized, is without entry fees or prizes, but there are a set of rules all bikepacking races follow. The rules are put into place to create a level playing field for all those who participate.
*Note these rules are the general rules for bikepack racing and each event may have their own specific rules and they also change from time to time. With that said it’s important you read and understand the official rules which can be found at the link below.
1. Self Supported. One must complete the entire route under their own power.
2. Stay on Course.
3. Be Nice and don’t break the law.
4. Leave No Trace.
Official expanded rules found at jwookieone. (GO READ THEM AND MEMORIZE THEM).
No entry fee, no prizes, absolutely no support
SPOT TRACKING
You are encouraged to use a Spot tracker, (they are not mandatory). Due to the nature, difficulty and lack of support, I personal believe you’d be nuts not to. If you want to be included in the tracking of the race, you can sign up at Trackleaders.com one month before.
SPOT HIRE
Spot Gen3 are available from Trackleaders.com around one month before the start of the race, if you’re looking to rent one. Check Bikepacking.net forums, Facebook or Trackleaders for more information.
SUPPORT THE COLORADO TRAIL FOUNDATION
The Colorado Trail Foundation has no affiliation to the race but they are the acting stewards of the trail and help manage/maintain it. Because of them and their members you have this amazing trail to ride. Please consider donating or joining the Colorado Trail Foundation, so they may continue their amazing work.
As an affiliate partner, One of Seven Project earns a commission for purchases made through any product, brand logo links, or banner ads on this page. Thanks for your support!
COLORADO TRAIL RACE PLANNING AIDS
Being that I’m also a Triple Crown thru-hiker I’m used to quality planning tools. After finishing the Bikepacking Triple Crown I realized bikepacking didn’t have quality planning tools available. The Project’s Planning Aids and Resources are our answer to this.
After 100’s of hours of research, 1000’s of keystrokes, more emails and phone calls than I can recall the One of Seven Project’s Colorado Trail Race Planning Aids are done. They’re the ultimate planning resources for the Colorado Trail Race. They contain everything you need to plan and execute your race/ride of the CTR. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in these then it’s probably in our Colorado Trail Resources.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- The race runs southbound/westbound on years ending in an even number and those planning aids have a light blue band.
- The race runs northbound/eastbound on years ending in an odd number and those planning aids have an orange band.
- All planning aids are based off the 10k GPX file.
2023 BUNDLES
One package including our two most popular planning aids.
- Data Sheet
- Town List
One package including all of our planning aids.
- Data Sheet
- Town List
- Mileage Chart
- Elevation Gain Chart
2023 Data Sheets and Town Lists
NEW for 2023
- Added Leadville Bypass and all wilderness bypasses.
- Updated colors of text and highlighting for easier reading.
- Included additional water sources.
- Improved visibility of important notes to stay out better.
Data Sheet includes:
- Key POI’s
- Elevation / Pop of POI
- Mileage numbers
- Distance to next
- Elevation +/-
- Avg. & Max Grade between POI
- Pavement sections
- Key water sources
- Services available
- Important notes
- Elevation profile
- Finish Target Times
NEW for 2023
- Added Leadville Bypass and all wilderness bypasses.
- Updated colors of text and highlighting for easier reading.
- Included additional water sources.
- Improved visibility of important notes to stay out better.
Town List includes:
- Better format
- More key notes
- Phone numbers added for key locations
- Key water sources
- Elevation profile added
- Finish Target Times added
DATA SHEET and TOWN LIST DIFFERENCES
The Data Sheet has the most info. It gives the distance, elevation +/-, average grade, max grade, pavement sections, references CTF segments, bike shops, resupply options, key water sources, and has key notes between two POI. Example: A and B, then B to C, and so on.
The Town List gives cumulative distances between POI. Example: A to B, A to C, A to D. The next section would be B to C, B to D, B to E, and so on. The Town List has distance, elevation +/-, resupply options, bike shops, key water sources, and key notes.
The Town List helps with not having to do the math to figure out how far away things are if they’re not the next POI.
2023 Mileage Charts and Elevation Gain Charts
The Mileage Chart is now only available for purchase as part of the Big Bundle.
Mileage Charts:
- Shows Bike Shops
- Quickly find the distance between any two points along the route.
The Elevation Gain Chart is now only available for purchase as part of the Big Bundle.
Elevation Gain Charts:
- Shows Bike Shops
- Quickly find the distance between any two points along the route.
MUST KNOW
DANGERS & PITFALLS
- Exposure
- Lightening
- Hypothermia
- Snow
- Wild animals
- Strenuous terrain
- Remoteness
- If you’re using the Atlas Guides/Guthook app, their track isn’t the same as the official race track (but only at Stony Pass).
PHOTOS OF THE COLORADO TRAIL
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
MAPS & APPS
Resources
Everything you need to plan a bikepacking trip on the CTR.
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Craig Fowler2018-04-11 10:35:442020-10-28 10:06:30COLORADO TRAIL HARDEST HABSCheckout our bikepacking resource page for more planning help.
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