@colorado-trail.appspot.com
The Colorado Trail generally follows the Continental Divide for almost 500 miles between Denver and Durango. The trail splits in the middle, with the more difficult and scenic Collegiate West route to the west, and merges again after about 80 miles.
Nearly a hundred years ago, the first half of Segment 1, that starts at Waterton, Colorado, was a railroad.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment1 #coloradotrail #history #photography #thenandnow #hiking #mountainbiking
Some parts of Segment 11 seem like nothing more than a casual stroll through the woods.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment11 #coloradotrail #mountainbiking #hiking #photography
Raleigh Peak becomes visible at the top of the first climb on Segment 2, and because it is in the middle of the segment, it will be a reliable landmark throughout.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment2 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
Entering the Holy Cross Wilderness near the middle of Segment 9.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment9 #coloradotrail #hiking #backpacking #scenery #photography
Looking down Bear Creek, past rows of thirteen thousand foot peaks, in the first half of Segment 25.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment25 #coloradotrail #hiking #photography #mountainbiking
During the long descent to Durango on Segment 28 the trail passes through multiple wet and dry zones with wildly varying vegetation.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment28 #coloradotrail #photography #hiking ๏ปฟ#mountainbiking
This is one of three Ptarmigans I met while hiking near the top of 12,956 foot Bald Mountain, on Section 5 of the Collegiate West route.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/CollegiateWe... #coloradotrail #collegiatewest #photography #hiking #wildlife
While it certainly looked like fall on the western end of Segment 1, with temperatures close to eighty, it felt more like summer.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment1 #coloradotrail #mountainbiking #hiking #photography
Segment 26 is the shortest segment on the Colorado Trail, at just under eleven miles, and it stays near the ridges of the Continental Divide for most of its length.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment26 #coloradotrail #photography #hiking #mountainbiking
This marmot had no problem with me stopping to look at the amazing scenery while mountain biking on Segment 26, but once I noticed it, one photo was all it would tolerate.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment26 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #scenery #photography
If it had been only a few degrees cooler, there might have been snow instead of rain on Segment 5, but either way the fall colors would have been just as amazing.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment5 #coloradotrail #mountainbiking #hiking #photography
Looking north from the top of Cuba Gulch in the western half of Segment 23.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment23 #coloradotrail #photography #hiking #mountainbiking
Descending below 12,000 feet after crossing the Tenmile Range on the west half of Segment 7.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment7 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
Looking north from Blackhawk Pass in Segment 26.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment26 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #scenery #photography
The first half of Segment 27 follows a series of old logging roads and trails, through lush forests and meadows, at close to eleven thousand feet.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment27 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
The Chalk Cliffs at the beginning of Segment 14 can be an almost painfully bright white, especially when the sky is clear and the sun is at a perfect angle.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment14 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
Passing through the large burned area in the middle of Segment 2.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment2 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking
On the first half of Segment 20 in the La Garita Wilderness.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment20 #coloradotrail #hiking #backpacking #scenery #photography
Because of where they grow, cactus are usually pretty obvious, but the small ones are easy to overlook until they are suddenly bursting with flowers, like this one near Segment 2.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment2 #coloradotrail #photography #hiking #mountainbiking #flowers
Near the middle of Segment 3, where the trail slowly becomes less heavily used and more secluded.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment3 #coloradotrail #hiking #photography #mountainbiking
After passing the base of Mount Elbert, Segment 11 starts a gradual descent through aspen groves towards Twin Lakes.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment11 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
Nearing the end of Segment 5, with Mount Guyot at the midpoint of Segment 6 clearly visible in the distance.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment5 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
On the last section of the Collegiate West route, near where it merges with Segment 15.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/CollegiateWe... #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
Near the middle of Segment 1, just before the trail enters the forest and stays there until the final descent.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment1 #coloradotrail #mountainbiking #hiking #photography
Heading north between Camp Hale and Copper Mountain on Segment 8 in late June, with many snow drifts yet to come.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment8 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
At barely eleven miles, Segment 26 is the shortest segment on the Colorado Trail.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment26 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
On an eleven thousand foot ridge in the western half of Segment 6, just before a long descent into the outskirts of Breckenridge.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment6 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #photography
After a long climb through a heavily forested valley, Segment 15 briefly follows a grassy slope just above treeline before descending back into the trees.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment15 #coloradotrail #photography #hiking ๏ปฟ#mountainbiking
There are countless interesting valleys and canyons in the five thousand foot decent from Kennebec Pass to Durango on Segment 28.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment28 #coloradotrail #photography #hiking ๏ปฟ#mountainbiking
Near the beginning of Segment 23 in early October.
colorado-trail.appspot.com/Segment23 #coloradotrail #hiking #mountainbiking #backpacking #photography
