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Colorado Trail Backpacking: Sections 24 - 28
Segments 24 through 28 make up approximately the final 94 miles of the Colorado Trail. Beginning high in the Weminuche Wilderness these Segments deliver some of the most breath-taking scenery anywhere, much less the Colorado Trail. This 9-day trip includes a guide and porters, but can be done without porters at your request.
These Segments are a highlight reel of SW Colorado: the Weminuche Wilderness, dense wildflower displays contouring around Lime Creek between Molas and Rolling Passes, the lush, remote Cascade Creek drainage, the jaw-dropping amphitheatre below Blackhawk Pass, the gentle traverse of the West Hermosa Creek drainage, the rugged La Plata Mountains and the final, long descent to Durango along rushing Junction Creek.
Day 1: Beginning at Stony Pass, the Colorado Trail runs high along the Continental Divide and begins dropping into the Elk Creek drainage. The trail descends down a near vertical environment with hanging waterfalls and rugged peaks all around. The trail is now in the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado’s largest such area.
Day 2: Our continued passage through the Weminuche is highlighted by distant views of Vestal and Arrow Peak’s – two prominent mountains in the Grenadier sub-range. After a switch-backing climb away from the Animas River the trail reaches Molas Pass and the beginning of Segment 25. Resupply.
Day 3: Hike away Molas Pass at nearly 11,000 feet and the start of Segment 25. After a gentle climb, we’ll make a long, visually stunning traverse around the headwaters of Lime Creek. The wildflowers in this section are famous for their brilliance. Tonight’s camp is near an alpine lake.
Day 4: Today we start out with a short climb to our highpoint of our 3 days as we crest Rolling Pass. From Rolling Pass we have a 360-degree view of the South Mineral Creek drainage, the Cascade Creek drainage and even views to distant Engineer Mountain. After a descent and ascent in and out of the Cascade Creek drainage we’ll reach our second night’s camp near Celebration Lake. Resupply.
Day 5: Today is punctuated by a rolling climb to Blackhawk Pass, our second highest point of the trip. Early on our ascent to Blackhawk Pass we’ll break out into the Silver Creek drainage…a natural amphitheatre, which makes any visitor feel small. We’ll end the day walking almost exclusively downhill into a lush pine forest. Resupply.
Day 6: Day six begins our transition from the Engineer and Twilight Mountain areas to the La Plata Mountains that tower above Durango. The hiking in this Segment (we’re beginning Segment 27 now) has relatively little elevation gain and loss for the first part and awards us with great views of the Hermosa Creek drainage and distant views of the Weminuche Wilderness. Our camp tonight is special as we must haul water to it beforehand due to the lack of natural water sources.
Day 7: Today’s hike is one of the hidden gem sections of the entire Colorado Trail – Indian Trail Ridge. Indian Trail Ridge marks our real entry into the La Plata Mountain sub-range. This section has lots of ups and downs…rolling over alpine tundra and through partial scree fields. To our left (east) is the Animas River Valley and the distant Weminuche Wilderness…to our right (west) are the jagged peaks of the La Plata’s. Resupply.
Day 8: Day eight is the start of Segment 28, the final Segment of the nearly 500-mile long Colorado Trail. Starting at Kennebec Pass, we descend 5000 feet into the town of Durango over two days. Today we spend the majority of our time next to rushing Junction Creek, walled in by a steep canyon.
Day 9: From our camp we continue toward Durango and begin to really feel the change in eco-zones. After a westerly-facing contour through aspen groves we almost instantly enter the beginnings of high desert Ponderosa pines and soon after, scrub oak. Nearing the end of our day, we’ll stop for a breather at Gudy’s Rest – an overlook and bench dedicated to Gudy Gaskill, a key figure in the connection of the Colorado Trail.
Trip Cost Includes: Backpacking and climbing guides for the duration of the trip. All group technical equipment required for the climbs. Tents, food (breakfasts & dinners), cooking gear, and transportation to and from the trail.
Not Included: Hotel costs before, during, or after the courses. 3% land use surcharge, $3 Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue card (required), trip cancellation insurance, personal climbing/camping equipment and gear, or guide gratuities.
Prerequisites: Participants should have previous backpacking or camping experience. Rock climbing experience is not required, but if you have never rock climbed we do recommend a half day of climbing with us in Durango prior to your trip to the Grenadiers.
Registration and Cancellation: You will need to fill out our Domestic Registration Form, cancellation policy agreement, and liability waiver, and send it to us with a 50% deposit. Balance is due on the first day of the course. Please click on our Registration link to access the required forms.
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