If you’re planning a thru-hike or section hike of the Colorado Trail, you may be wondering, “which Colorado Trail segment is best?” or “what are the worst segments of the Colorado Trail?”. Lucky for you, I’ve ranked all 33 segments of the Colorado Trail (including the Collegiate West) from worst to best. I should start by saying that the entire Colorado Trail (CT) is pretty amazing. There were only a few short sections that I genuinely dislike. There are some segments that are perfectly pretty and pleasant that ended up near the bottom of the list, simply because other parts of the CT have SO MUCH MORE to offer!
TL;DR: Colorado trail segments 2, 17, and 18 cross through burn areas and cow pastures, making them the less enjoyable. Segments 23, CW03, and 8 are the most enjoyable thanks to their spectacular views during long stretches above tree line. After hiking both, this backpacker prefers the segments of the Collegiate West over the Collegiate East.
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First, a little background on me: I thru-hiked the Colorado Trail SOBO via the Collegiate West (CW) route in 2016, then went back and did the Collegiate East immediately afterward. I also re-hike many segments a second (or third… or fourth!) time since I live in Colorado including the Collegiate Loop!
Disclaimer: this post is totally subjective and just for fun! My opinions of each segment were definitely influenced by the weather, trail conditions, and trail magic I experienced, as well as my mindset and mood on the day. So with that in mind…
The worst segment of the Colorado Trail was…
*drumroll please*
Segment 2: South Platte River TH to Little Scraggy TH
Between limited water, lack of shade, and somewhat depressing scenery in the burn area of one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history, segment 2 is the obvious choice for the worst segment of the CT. Also, I got my one and only blister of my thru-hike in this segment. Enough said.
Segment 17: Sargents Mesa to CO Highway 114
The beginnings of CT cow land. I recall this segment as less easy than the elevation profile made it look, with water sources that were annoyingly far off the trail.
Segment 18: CO Highway 114 to Saguache Park Road
This is the heart of CT cow land. Camping and water options are limited here, and the views are subpar. However, this segment’s one redeming quality is that it is incredibly flat and easy hiking. You can finish it quickly and move on to more beautiful segments.
Segment 19: Saguache Park Road to Eddiesville TH
Segment 19 earns a higher place on the list than Segment 18 because the end of cow land is in sight! Rest assured that the scenery and camping options will improve very soon when you reach the La Garita Wilderness at the end of the segment.
Segment 9: Tennessee Pass TH to Timberline Lake TH
Don’t let the nice views lure you into camping here – you WILL be eaten alive. In this segment, in the Holy Cross Wilderness, I experienced some of the worst mosquitos of my life. I now refer to it as the Holy Mosquito Wilderness, and confidently rank it among the worst 5 segments of the Colorado Trail.
Segment 16: Marshall Pass TH to Sargents Mesa
Kind of a slog, though there’s nothing particularly bad (or memorable) about this segment. It comes not long after the Collegiate Range and consequently, it feels less scenic.
Segment 3: Little Scraggy TH to FS-560 (Wellington Lake Road) TH
I have absolutely no memories of photos of Segment 3. Apparently nothing was good or bad enough to leave a lasting impression.
Segment 11: Mount Massive TH to Clear Creek Road
Compared to other parts of the trail, Segment 11’s scenery isn’t particularly impressive. Much of this segment is spent nearly circumnavigating Twin Lakes, next to a road with no shade. However, this segment is redeemed by the opportunity to swim in the lake if you get too hot while walking around it! Halfway through this segment, you reach an intersection where the Collegiate West branches off. Choose the Collegiate West to leave Segment 11 behind and begin the long climb up to the majestic Hope Pass. Choose East and you’ll finish Segment 11 hiking across a small burn area from the 2024 Interlaken Fire followed by an unremarkable forested path crisscrossed with jeep tracks.
Segment 10: Timberline Lake TH to Mount Massive TH
I recall segment 10 as pleasant and surprisingly easy, but with limited views. However, hikers can find some views by taking the 7-mile (round-trip) side trail up to the 14,421-foot summit of Mt Massive.
Segment 13: Silver Creek TH to Chalk Creek TH
Segment 13 starts with an obnoxiously steep climb that tops out on a lovely saddle with some of the best views of the Collegiate East. From the saddle, hikers have the option to take the challenging 4-mile (roundtrip) side trail to the summit of Mount Yale (14,196 feet). This segment loses points for its 6-mile road walk, but regains some points for the opportunity to soak in the pools at Mt Princeton Hot Springs (for a fee)!
Segment 1: Waterton Canyon TH to South Platte River TH
This is the northern terminus of the CT and the start of the trail for SOBO thru-hikers – so exciting! Waterton Canyon itself is pretty neat and unique from the rest of the CT. Plus there’s a nice view off the ridge toward the end of this segment. But rest assured that bigger and better things are yet to come!
Segment 28: Kennebec TH to Junction Creek TH
This is the CT’s southern terminus – the end of your SOBO thru-hike… aww :(. This 21-mile segment is mostly downhill for SOBOs, and you’ll be in Durango enjoying a celebratory dinner in no time. Similar to the northern terminus, this segment is neither the best nor the worst the trail has to offer.
Segment 5: Long Gulch to Kenosha Pass
Segment 5 goes through the Lost Creek Wilderness. I remember Segment 5 as pretty in a pastoral sort of way, with open meadows and gently rolling hills. The hiking is easier than the segments that come before and after it.
Segment 4: FS-560 (Wellington Lake Road) TH to Long Gulch
Segment 4 goes through the Lost Creek Wilderness and has a long, gradual climb on a jeep road. The climb totally pays off when you emerge at the top into a 6-mile-long meadow filled with wildflowers and frolicking moose.
Segment 14: Chalk Creek TH to US Highway 50
I didn’t rank Segment 14 higher because there just wasn’t anything terribly unique about it. That said, I’ve hiked this segment three times, so apparently it’s good enough that I went back for more. It starts with crossing through a sagebrush steppe, which could be rough on a hot day because there isn’t much shade. The trail then climbs up through a forest with some lovely stands of aspen trees.
Segment 12: Clear Creek Road to Silver Creek TH
I think Segment 12 is both the hardest and prettiest hiking the Collegiate East has to offer. The campsite options are excellent and there are some good views of the surrounding mountains. However, there are also some pretty tough and long climbs. Since the trail is (relatively) low elevation, you don’t get the reward of hiking above tree line at the top of climbs, like you would on the Collegiate West.
Segment 6: Kenosha Pass to Gold Hill TH
Segment 6 holds a special place in many a SOBO thru-hiker’s heart, as it includes the first high pass of the trail: Georgia Pass. It’s also where the CT and Continental Divide Trail (CDT) merge. Personally, I got caught in a downpour while summiting Georgia Pass, which impacted my enjoyment of this segment. The segment ends with a nice, long downhill to a road where thru-hikers can catch the Summit Stage Free Bus into Breckenridge! (Side note: if you want to spend the night in the popular resort town of Breckenridge I DEFINITELY recommend having a reservation!)
This marks the half-way point of the list!
The following CT segments can all be considered “above average”…
Segment 15: US Highway 50 to Marshall Pass TH
For me, Segment 15 was a little bittersweet since it marked the end of the spectacular Collegiate West. For Collegiate East hikers, this segment includes a lovely gradual uphill next to Fooses Creek in a very pretty valley. This climb then tops out on a scenic ridge where the Collegiate West folks rejoin. This segment also includes the only shelter of the CT, which is a fun and nostalgia-inducing stop for former AT thru-hikers like me!
Segment 27: Hotel Draw Road to Kennebec TH
Segment 27 is as hard as it is beautiful. It is perhaps best known for being the longest water carry of the CT (22 miles without reliable water). The segment closes out with a jagged, marmot-infested ridge followed by a steep downhill to lovely Taylor Lake, where you can take in mountain views as you refill your empty bottles.
Segment 7: Gold Hill TH to Copper Mountain
I loved the 13 miles between Breckenridge and Copper Mountain ski area! Segment 7 takes hikers above tree line for a few miles to crest the Tenmile Range. This segment is also a popular place to slackpack, since thru-hikers can catch the Summit Stage Free Bus between the ends of this segment.
Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle
In Segment 22, hikers will enjoy plenty of miles above tree line as they climb to the CT’s highest point! It also includes some hiking on jeep tracks (which, depending on how you feel about that, could be good or bad).
CW04: Tincup Pass Road to Boss Lake TH
Finally, we have reached the lowest ranking of the five Collegiate West segments. That said, I love this segment so much that I’ve hiked/run it four times! This segment has not one but two spectacular high passes (Tunnel Lake and Chalk Creek Pass). However, I couldn’t rank Segment CW04 higher because it’s the only place I got lost while thru-hiking the CT. Back in 2016, this segment included a lot of miles on confusing jeep roads. Today, much of the jeep road parts have been re-routed onto shiny new single-track (thanks trail crews!)
CW05: Boss Lake TH to Ridge Above South Fooses Creek
The epic finale of the Collegiate West! Climb to Hunt Lake and fill your bottles before popping over the pass and descending towards Monarch Pass and a much-needed rest/resupply in Salida. Then, continue south from Monarch Pass for a few miles to the endpoint of the Collegiate West where the trail joins Segment 15.
And now, we’ve reached our top ten best segments…
Starting with…
Segment 24: Stony Pass TH to Molas Pass
Hikers will begin Segment 24 with some miles above tree line, before bidding farewell to the CDT and tackling one of the biggest downhills of the CT (if going SOBO). After the descent, stop at the pond to rest your aching knees while taking in views of spiny quartzite peaks.
CW01: Twin Lakes to Sheep Gulch
This first segment of the Collegiate West left a lasting impression on me during my 2016 thru-hike. It takes you up and over Hope Pass. Hope Pass is something special and worth every step of the long climb to reach the top. Just seven miles into the Collegiate West, I was already positive I’d picked the best side of the loop!
CW02: Sheep Gulch to Cottonwood Pass TH
One of my biggest regrets of the CT is not camping at Lake Ann in Segment CW02. The high pass above Lake Ann is challenging but definitely a highlight of the CT! After Lake Ann Pass, the trail descends to Texas Creek – a nice low area for camping if the weather is bad – then heads back up to 12,000 feet again to the scenic paved road on Cottonwood Pass.
Segment 25: Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road
After stopping for a final (SOBO) resupply in the trail town of Silverton, thru-hikers will begin the grand finale of the CT in Segment 25. The trail climbs up into the San Juan Mountains. During this segment, I enjoyed the relatively abundant water sources, views, and an actual waterfall.
Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass TH
I have highly mixed feelings about Segment 21, but its uniqueness and scenic beauty ultimately earned it a high place on the list. It begins way up on San Luis Pass, then descends into a beetle-kill forest. The forest was actually beautiful despite the dead trees thanks to the many colorful wildflowers in the understory. Toward the end of the segment, the trail crosses Snow Mesa: a massive, pancake-flat expanse just over 12,000 feet. Snow Mesa’s unusual geology makes it a unique and memorable part of a CT thru-hike. However, two things detracted from my Snow Mesa experience: 1.) Since it’s wide, flat, and treeless, there’s no escape route if you’re in the middle of Snow Mesa when a storm rolls in; and 2.) for the same reasons, there’s absolutely NOWHERE to go to the bathroom!
And now, the top 5…
Segment 20: Eddiesville TH to San Luis Pass
Perhaps I am unqualified to rank this segment since I technically skipped part of it to take the side trip up San Luis Peak (14,014 feet). However, I believe Segment 20 earns its place in the top 5, since it provides super easy access to arguably the most remote 14er in Colorado. Plus, after finishing the cow land segments (17-19), the scenery and elevation in La Garita Wilderness were deeply appreciated.
Segment 26: Bolam Pass Road to Hotel Draw Road
Backpackers find all the best things the San Juan Mountains have to offer in this short but sweet segment. The hike up to Blackhawk Pass (pictured below) is especially remarkable.
Finally, we have reached my top 3…
Segment 8: Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass TH
This 25-mile segment stands out in my mind enough to earn a place in my top 3 favorites. The gently rolling miles above tree line between Searle Pass and Kokomo Pass are especially delightful! The scenery seems distinct from the other northern segments and provides a taste of what is to come in the Collegiate West and San Juans. Segment 8 also boasts a large selection of water sources including a small waterfall. Furthermore, the trail passes directly through a ski area where thru-hikers can purchase snacks or have a meal at the resort.
CW03: Cottonwood Pass TH to Tincup Pass Road
Like many of my favorite parts of the CT, segment CW03 is mostly above or near tree line. It ends at Tin Cup Pass, a forested campsite I especially enjoy, perhaps due to how protected it feels after spending all day exposed to the sun and wind up high. I’ve been lucky to have decent weather all three times I hiked this segment – it is definitely not somewhere I’d want to be in a thunderstorm.
And finally, the very best segment of the Colorado trail was…
Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass TH
Pretty much the entirety of this magical 16-mile segment is above 12,000 feet. Enjoy all the perks of the high mountains, without any particularly large climbs. Stroll for hours through dreamy alpine tundra with wildflowers and 360-degree views of the towering, jagged San Juans.
Which segment is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section below!
Adventures with Val 
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