I left on August 1st for a bikepacking trip on the Colorado Trail and celebrated my 40th birthday while on the trail on August 3rd. I decided to combine backpacking with bike touring and ride the trail going from Denver to Durango. I knew what I was getting myself into, this was not going to be a casual ride through the park. The trail is over 500 miles, it passes through 8 mountain ranges, six National Forests, and six wilderness areas and most of the trail is above 10,000 ft. Bicycles are not allowed in designated Wilderness areas so there are necessary detours around these sections. It did not disappoint, this trip would prove to be one of the most difficult and rewarding trips of my life. I had to deal with some rainy weather which was expected but overall the adventure went very smooth. No major mechanical problems and physically stayed healthy other than some knee pain. Each day on the trail was an epic adventure and the views from the high country were mind blowing. It took me 11-days to complete the trail.
Day 1-Denver (Waterton Canyon) to 10 miles past Bailey
Day 2-Bailey(Kenosha Pass) to Frisco
Day 3-Frisco to Leadville
Day 4-Leadville to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs
Day 5-Mt.Princeton Hot Springs to Salida
Day 6-Salida to Sargents Mesa
Day 7-Sargents Mesa to Los Pinos Pass
Day 8-Los Pinos Pass to Lake City
Day 9-Lake City to Silverton
Day 10-Silverton to Hotel Draw
Day 11-Hotel Draw to Durango
(click on pictures to open slide show)
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| Monarch Crest |
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| Monarch Crest |
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| Segment 22 |
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| Marshall Pass |
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| sheepherding dog |
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| segment 23 |
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| campsite near Sargents mesa |
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| Bolam Pass |
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| Rest day in Salida |
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| the long 50 mile detour around La Garita Wilderness |
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| Georgia Pass |
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| waiting out a rainstorm |
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| coming down Kennebec Pass for long decent into Durango |
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| Junction Creek Trailhead, Durango |
