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Continental Divide Trail in Photos: Colorado

By Mac 2 Comments

Colorado, the second state of the Continental Divide Trail (for northbound hikers), presents a set of new challenges for hikers leaving New Mexico. Hikers face elevation, snow, thunderstorms, cold, moose, recreational cannabis, and increased prices once they cross the border into Colorado from New Mexico.

The Colorado Section of the CDT heads through the San Juan Mountains before heading north, at many points overlapping with the Colorado Trail, through Gunnison National Forest, past Mount Elbert (the highest peak in Colorado), over Grays Peak (the highest point on the CDT), through the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, into Rocky Mountain National Park (the first national park heading northbound), into the Never Summer Wilderness, and then through the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. I’m sure I’m missing a few forests or wilderness areas in there, but you get the picture – lots of nature.

If you are interested in a detailed account of my Continental Divide Trail hike through Colorado, check out these posts:

  • CDT Week 6: The San Juans
  • CDT Week 7: Big Decisions
  • CDT Week 8: Three Is Company
  • CDT Week 9: Moist Is Dead?
  • CDT Week 10: Shortcuts to Town
  • CDT Week 11: Farewell Moisture

  • Carson National Forest sign
    Welcome to Colorado!
  • Moist hiking near the NM/CO border
    Heading down to Cumbres Pass near the New Mexico-Colorado border.
  • Mac at Cumbres Pass
    The first pass in Colorado – Cumbres Pass
  • Mac in pickup truck
    Riding in the back of a pickup truck – probably a good way to get dead
  • A mural in Chama, New Mexico, which is sort of the first Colorado resupply stop (heading northbound).
  • Dangerous trail ahead
    I am sure everything will be fine…
  • Moist snowy valley
    Deciding whether it would be better to stay high or drop into the valley below.
  • Moist snow traverse
    Traversing in the snow – a common yet scary thing on the CDT.
  • A traverse with a view
    Looking forward to that dry trail ahead.
  • Mac at Wolf Creek Pass
    Casually hanging out at Wolf Creek Pass.
  • Mosit postholing on the CDT
    Postholing! Something you’ll get lots of practice doing on the CDT.
  • Tent pitched on dry ground
    Do yourself a favor and try to sleep on dry ground if possible; it’s a lot warmer than the snow.
  • Trail covered in snow
    In the snow you can just make up where you want the trail to be!
  • Glissading in Colorado
    Glissading is quicker than hiking
  • Ice axe in the snow
    You’ll probably want an ice axe for the San Juan Mountains
  • A yurt on the CDT
    A yurt that sports the CDT logo but that does not welcome CDT hikers.
  • Moist hitchhiking to town.
    To reach many of the towns along the CDT, hitchhiking is your only option.
  • Appa traversing in the snow
    What’s more fun than hiking? Hiking in the snow.
  • Appa hiking on ridge
    Staying high can keep you away from the snow (sometimes).
  • Appa standing in the snow next to a lake
    Melting snow? Not as good as lakes when it comes to water sources.
  • A flooded trail
    Walk through a freezing, flooded trail or through the brush? Probably the trail.
  • Sunset in Colorado
    Did you know that all sunsets are pink in Colorado?
  • Colorado trail through the mountains
    Finally, not everything is covered in snow.
  • Colorado mountains
    The clouds look nice until they all get together and decide to shoot lightning at you.
  • Sunset in Colorado
    Time to decide whether to make camp or press on.
  • Warning - falling trees
    Falling trees are a legitimate danger on the trail, do not take these warnings lightly.
  • Appa and Moist hanging out by a lake
    Taking off your shoes during a break? Highly recommended.
  • Snowy Colorado mountains
    The snow is your friend, just accept it.
  • Sunset in Colorado
    Beautiful sunsets can do well to undue the horror of the day’s thunderstorms.
  • Colorado trail hiking
    After all the walking through snow, I promise to never complain about dry trail again.
  • Snow-free traverse
    Traversing not in the snow? Safer (usually) than traversing in the snow.
  • Lake Ann Pass
    Heading down Lake Ann Pass.
  • Lake Ann Pass
    The north side of Lake Ann Pass can be sketchy.
  • Trail through the grass
    Nothing feels better than a well-defined trail.
  • Appa on top of Mount Elbert
    Mount Elbert – the highest point in Colorado
  • Trail through the trees
    There is some below tree line hiking in Colorado, too.
  • Kokomo Pass sign
    Kokomo Pass – sadly, no beaches here.
  • Appa walking through water
    I hope you like having your feet wet, because they’ll be wet a lot on the CDT.
  • Trail through the grass
    Is there a storm coming? A question that you’ll ask frequently in Colorado.
  • Janets Cabin
    A cabin nestled deep in the Colorado backcountry.
  • Abandoned structure near CDT
    An abandoned structure near the trail.
  • CDT dirt road hke
    Walking jeep roads in Colorado.
  • Trail approaching Grays Peak
    Heading up toward Grays Peak – the highest point on the CDT.
  • Grays Peak traverse
    Traversing to Grays Peak
  • Mountain goat in Colorado
    A mountain goat friend (not at all spooked by me)
  • Ducks in a lake
    Duck friends!
  • Stony Pass sign
    Stony Pass – where hikers can (try to) catch a ride to Silverton.
  • Appa making food on the trail
    Eating dinner after leaving town
  • Colorado Trail high point sign
    The high point of the Colorado Trail
  • CDT Colorado yurt
    A second yurt in Colorado (this one you can go inside).
  • CDT sign
    Left symbol? Colorado Trail. Right symbol? CDT.
  • Grand Lake, Colorado
    Grand Lake, Colorado
  • Trail through the trees
    CLEAR A PATH!
  • A herd of moose
    How many moose do you need for it to be a herd?
  • The trail leading up to a pass
    Switchbacking up to the pass
  • Pre-storm trail
    Just before a storm struck
  • Appa walking a dirt road
    Dirt roads are your friends on the CDT
  • Appa and Mac floating
    Remember to take advantage of town offerings on the trail!
  • Trail near Colorado-Wyoming border
    The snow finally appears to have subsided in Northern Colorado.
  • Colorado dirt roads
    The CDT is the road and the road is the CDT

Questions about the Continental Divide Trail through Colorado? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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Continental Divide Trail in Photos: Colorado

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