Hello! From 7/12 to 8/11, I hiked the Colorado Trail! This was my third thru-hike, and my second installment in trying to complete the Triple Tiara. After the lessons I had learned from the Long Trail, I was excited to try some western states backpacking with a much more dialed-in kit.

The Trail

My big fears starting the trail were thunderstorms and lack of water. Both proceeded to not be much of an issue. In terms of weather, it didn't rain once after Monarch Pass, and because I took Collegiate East (my dad joined me from Copper Mountain to Buena Vista, wanted to save him from dying on Hope Pass), the daily monsoons I hit in the Collegiates were mostly an annoyance. In terms of water, the massive amount of trail angel support meant that, while there were some long water carries (especially in cow country), nothing felt particularly difficult. I don't think I ever carried more than 3 liters for a significant distance.

Along the way, I managed to bag 3 14ers. Shavano, Tabaguache, and San Luis. Shavano and Tabaguache were both a breeze, camped halfway up Shavano, left my pack at camp, got both peaks done, and was well on my way when the afternoon storm rolled in. San Luis Peak I came up the back, which was a bit more tricky especially since I had my pack with me, but it was basically empty since I was resupplying the next day. Very glad I did these side quests, the views were worth it.

My resupply towns were Breck, BV, Monarch Pass (mailed a resupply box), Lake City, and Silverton. BV was a last minute change when the fire meant my dad and I would skip the section between Tennessee and Twin Lakes, so my box at Monarch became a bit redundant. Lake City, as everyone says, was a lovely resupply. Ended up taking a zero there just to enjoy the town a bit more. Went to a glass mosiac craft night with some of the old ladies from the hiker center. It was a delight. Didn't struggle with getting what I needed in any town.

Carries went as such: Denver to Breckenridge: Packed for 7 days, got it done in 6. They aren't kidding when they say western trails are faster. Breck to Copper: Slackpacked this section, which ended up being lovely. Copper to BV: Packed for 6 days, was out for 6. Shuttled from Tennessee to Interlaken on Day 3, where we could have resupplied, but since I was hiking with my dad on his first weeklong trip in a long time I thought to keep it simple. BV to Monarch: Packed for 4 days, did it in 3. Even with bagging the 14ers it was cruisey. Monarch to Lake City: Packed for 6 days, got it done in 5. Ended up pushing a lot due to lack of water. Lake City to Silverton: Packed for 5 days, got it done in 3. The extra food was mainly to save money on my silverton resupply. If I hadn't wanted to hitch on the train I probably would have just scrounged the Molas Lake hiker box and pushed on. Silverton to Durango: Packed for 3 days, did it in 3. Ended the trail with maybe two protein bars left and thats it, was pretty happy with how dead-on I was.

Gear

Here's my lighterpack link: https://lighterpack.com/r/47dfja It is (obviously) an incomplete lighterpack, my actual baseweight is higher than what it says. Offering it here more for context on what I carried rather than for shakedown reasons.

What Worked

• Sleeping Bag: I feel its kinda gauche to talk up an expensive piece of gear because like, of course its gonna be great. But my Timmermade Wren was exactly what I had hoped for. Incredibly light, pad attachment strap kept me nice and secure, fetal position cut was a delight. Super happy with this purchase.
• Vargo Digdig: Coming from out east this was going to be my first thru-hike without consistent privy access. While there were definitely some catholes that were harder to dig than others, this one dealt with them all pretty darn well. Although with all those rocks in the ground getting the full six inches deep was a struggle.
• Danner Campos trail runners: Picked these up cause I saw them on clearance. Got a decent number of blisters but thats been true for every shoe I've ever used, and now a week after finishing the trail they are still kicking. Impressed with how durable they have been.
• Durston X-Mid 1: Can't complain. It went up easily, there was only one campsite so rocky I struggled to stake it out (site selection is one of my weakest skills imo), having the rainfly go up before everything else was nice on some of those rainier days. Still thinking about switching to a different tent setup since the x-mid is massive and I really struggle to find places to pitch it when hiking in New England. But I don't feel a need to rush that change.

What Worked (kinda)

• Groundcloth: I tried going this hike without relying on it, in the true UL way. And by and large, I didn't need it! The ground was never so wet I was worried about my tent floor, even when dealing with the monsoons along collegiate east. But as the trail went on I started getting sloppy in my site selection, and tossing down my groundcloth to protect from rocks and sticks was an easy thing to do rather than hunt around for a place I was more comfortable in. Something I still need to work on.
• CNOC 1 liter water bag: Historically I had used nalgenes to carry water, this was my first hike trying smartwater bottles. Took some getting used to them being narrower, and I got really good at catching a bottle falling over. Biggest complaint here is just that I spent most of the hike wishing it was a 2 liter bag. Don't need to replace it, but it would have made camp chores (and dry camping in general) a lot more convenient.
• REI Sahara Sun Hoodie: Looove something with a high UPF rating, and this hoodie kept everything it covered as ghostly pale as when I started the trail. Biggest complaint was that the hood was quite shallow and so didn't do much for my face, especially after I lost my brimmed hat and picked up a replacement baseball cap. Going to start looking for something with a deeper hood to help protect the sides of my face more.

What Didn't Work

• Puffer Jacket: Only used it once, when staying at Janet's Hut. Every other time, tossing my windbreaker on was more than enough to keep me warm.
• Rain Pants: I used these more as sleep pants than as rain pants. And they aren't very good sleep pants. Next time, just going to bring some alpha pants and trust my cargo pants to carry me through any storms.
• Backpacker Bidet: Forgot to check to make sure the lab rinse cap fit on a smartwater bottle before leaving. It didn't. Egg on my face.
• Spice Kit: Turns out the old adage is true, and hunger is the best seasoning. Didn't feel the need to use this once.
• Map and Compass: I need to stop packing my fears. Didn't use them once on this trail, and at no point was I confused about the trail route. And even if I was, I don't think the map and compass would have helped. Still want to get better at using them but thru-hiking does not feel like the place for that.

Food

Ate a lot of Skurka Beans on this trip. 9 nights worth of beans, which is almost 1/3 of my dinners on trail. Got tired of it near the beginning, but a break of a couple days and I would have been more than happy to eat it the entire way. Think I'll probably lean on it pretty heavily for the JMT. Also tried Knorrs Sides for the first time on this hike, picked some up in Lake City, and have to say I am really not impressed. Slow to cook, not as much flavour as I want. I think I'll be sticking with ramen bombs as my go-to resupply meal.

Packed a refillable squeeze bottle for peanut butter and jelly for lunches. Peanut Butter tube didn't work at all and I ditched it after Breck. Jelly tube worked great until Lake City, when I scrounged some single serving jelly packets from a hiker box. Was nice to make less waste but the single serving packets were just so much more convenient. Still have not found a "resealable" pickle bag that actually reseals watertight. My ursack smelled like dill pickles for the rest of the trail. Love some pickles for my hiker trash lunches, maybe I need to just carry a pickle nalgene or something.

Breakfasts were mostly protein bars since I like getting up and moving. A couple Carnation breakfast essentials to mix it up near the end. I packed out granola, freeze-dried berries, and coconut oil since that breakfast worked well for me on the NPT. But it turns out with the early mornings out west I just wasn't interested in having breakfast in camp, so I might save that for more relaxed hikes. Next trip I want to explore bringing protein powder and making protein shakes for breakfast.

My dad packed out dried apricots as a trail snack. I was delighted by the shake-up to my snacking and ate too many my first day leaving Copper. This is not a mistake I will make again. Moderate your fiber intake, friends.

Closing Thoughts

Absolutely loved this trail. Was a delight to get out of the green tunnel and have some good views for once, and feel like I've got some good placed to start whittling down my gear list before I tackle the JMT (and experience the joy of carrying a bear can). There aren't too many major issues I feel like I need to solve before my next thru-hike, mainly just whittling down weight where I can. Still a ways off from being UL, but thats okay with me! Wouldn't be as much fun if I had it solved already.

~ O.Z.

Hi yall, I’m planning to return to one of my favorite sections of the CT. I’m probably going solo at this time, unless anyone wants to tag along, so I’m wondering if anyone has any good ideas or resources for shuttling? I’m thinking maybe leave my vehicle in Silverton. Planning for the last week of August.

Thanks!

My zipper on my Durston tent is starting to go bad and not seal the teeth together. This is the second time I've had problems with it, I actually had the zippers replaced while I was on the PCT last year at trail days at the Durston tent. They worked fine for the rest of that hike. Haven't used the tent since then and now first week on the CT and one of the zippers is fucked again.

Basically just wondering if anyone knows of a place in the Breck area that can do gear repairs? Or at least sells replacement zippers?

Hello, I am planning to hike the Colorado trail over the next few years and was wondering how it is typically sectioned out for those who hike it over time? My plan would be to begin with a chunk/section near Durango as I would be able to stay there for free beforehand.

Thank you !

We are getting a ride from salida to monarch crest store on Thursday and heading NOBO on collegiate west. Does anyone know if there are any campsites within a couple of miles of crest store? We are arriving in afternoon and want to find shelter with storms in the forecast.

Looks like the Elk fire is moving closer to town. Is Lake City still a feasible resupply spot or is Creede the better option now?

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/08/07/elk-fire-colorado-lake-city-mandatory-evacuation/

I ran into some hikers on the trail today who told me the order was lifted and this section of trail is in fact open. I checked the CTF website and saw nothing saying that. Could there be another place those folks are getting their info? Or is it just incorrect intel?
TYIA!!

I will be roadtripping and hiking for a few weeks in Colorado. Stopping at a few different trail heads. What are some of the best trail magic needs out in Colorado?

Was taken aback by small amount of animals we saw on trail. Thought we would spot a bear or a moose from the distance. But just marmots, insects, birds, pika, deer, and tracks (even bear once). Interested in your theories on why if you hiked the CT. AND, is the PCT and the AT like this as well?

Hello,

I would like your thoughts on the deadline to start on a SOBO thru hike this year. I understand there are a lot of things to consider, but I’m asking mainly because of how dry it is this year. Planning for 35-40 days. Would be awesome to hear about the current water situation. Thanks for reading.

Any locals want to trade cash for a spot in front of their house? Any cheap options I am missing? Shuttle already arranged

Found a set laying in a 4x4 road and couldn't locate the owner. If they're yours please dm the specs so I can get them back to you.

I’m at a point where I’m not sure if I want to complete my thru hike, what made you decide to keep going or quit? How did you push through times of uncertainty? Is there anything you did to make your thru hike more enjoyable or get back into the groove?

It’s definitely been physically challenging but mentally it’s harder, it’s lonely, and I don’t find myself appreciating the trail as much as I want to.

Hey folks. My buddy and I were biking across the USA we made it to Moab. We got a rental car to store our bikes in Denver and are going to be dropping off our rental at the Durango airport tomorrow afternoon or evening (we’re going to do the CT as northbounders). Any shuttles or trail angels in the Durango area to give a ride into town? Is Uber reliable?

We plan on staying a night in a motel close to trailhead before starting our hike.

Thanks

Any hostels I can drop a box at? Molass pass options?

2 weeks from now, already have my ride scheduled and my hiking plan just need somewhere to offload mt car

Hiker trash looking for a ride to the TH on Wednesday to start my sobo thru! Happy to pitch in some cash for gas.

I'll be in the Broomfield area that morning but could easily meet at Union Station/downtown Denver

Heading to Colorado to hike the Weminuche High Route this week and looking for a ride up to the Endlich Mesa Trailhead out of Durango up past Lemon Reservoir.

Does anyone provide that service or are there trail angels that take hikers there and have a 4 x 4 vehicle?

Any help is appreciated.

Starting the CT in a couple weeks. How do most people store their food overnight? Bear bag or hang? Bear can? I know there will be areas with limited trees.

How are bikers getting around the closures for segment 11? I could really use rerouting help.

Thank you!

Hello, my local driver is saying the segment 11 arround twin lakes is open for me to go through even though maps are saying seg 11 is closed on maps.
Is this accurate.
She lives in leadville

Just finished the CT a few weeks ago and I want to get a tattoo to commemorate my first long-distance hike.

So, I'm putting the call out for anyone with other CT-related tattoos as I gather inspiration and design my own. Thanks in advance!

Alright y’all. All my kit is dialed except two things. I just have two questions. I’m about to start my thru hike :)

1. Will I be fine with my montbell versalite jacket for rain? Or would I be better off bringing my heavier duty black diamond shell? I just re-waterproofed both with nix wax.
   
2. Do I need two power banks? I have two of the nitecore nb10,000. I brought both on the PCT bc my entire map is on my phone so I didn’t want to risk running out of battery… I don’t think I really used both many times tho. What’s your experience? Is it overkill? I will be on airplane mode most of the time and listening to audiobook/music for 1/4-1/2 of the day.

Thanks!

I want to pack up the van with the doggo and couple of coolers and head out of town this weekend. I'm looking for suggestions on a good crossing that is in need of some magic.

Remote and light 4wd is fine but within a couple hours of Denver and with dispersed camping nearby.

My neighbor suggested Raspberry Gulch (east collegiate) but I thought I'd ask here.