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On-trail landmarks

Colorado Trail landmarks and waypoints

30 named places in 25 trail sections, ordered by approximate route mile. Use the category filters on the permit map to see these same points in Map, 3D and Explore in 3D.

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Section 1

Waterton Canyon – South Platte River

  1. Waterton Canyon

    ≈ MI 3.4

    ≈ 5,520 FT · 39.49097, -105.09423

    South Platte canyon at Denver-side start

    WaterLandscapes
    Sources

Section 2

South Platte River – Little Scraggy

  1. South Platte River

    ≈ MI 23.1

    Major river crossing

    WaterJunctions & access
    Sources

Section 3

Little Scraggy – Wellington Lake Road

  1. Little Scraggy / Buffalo Creek burn area

    ≈ MI 34.4

    Open views and recovering forest

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 5

Long Gulch – Kenosha Pass

  1. Kenosha Pass

    ≈ MI 68

    ≈ 9,995 FT · 39.41276, -105.75748

    Popular fall-color pass

    Junctions & access
    Sources

Section 6

Kenosha Pass – Goldhill

  1. South Park views

    ≈ MI 89.7

    Wide views over South Park

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 7

Goldhill – Copper Mountain

  1. Breckenridge / Tenmile Range

    ≈ MI 112.7

    Major resupply and high-country transition

    Peaks & viewsTowns & resupply
    Sources

Section 8

Copper Mountain – Tennessee Pass

  1. Copper Mountain

    ≈ MI 128.6

    ≈ 9,690 FT · 39.50666, -106.14226

    Trail crosses ski-area terrain

    Towns & resupplyJunctions & access
    Sources

  2. Searle Pass

    ≈ MI 137

    ≈ 12,044 FT · 39.45860, -106.22781

    First major alpine pass westbound

    Junctions & access
    Sources

Section 9

Tennessee Pass – Timberline Lake

  1. Tennessee Pass

    ≈ MI 148.7

    ≈ 10,432 FT · 39.36211, -106.31089

    Continental Divide and historic mining corridor

    History & cultureJunctions & access
    Sources

Section 10

Timberline Lake – Mount Massive

  1. Turquoise Lake

    ≈ MI 163.8

    Large alpine reservoir near Leadville

    Peaks & viewsWater
    Sources

Section 11

Mount Massive – Clear Creek Road

  1. Mount Massive Wilderness

    ≈ MI 181.8

    Views of Colorado's second-highest peak

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 12

Clear Creek Road – Silver Creek

  1. Twin Lakes

    ≈ MI 198

    ≈ 9,233 FT · 39.08278, -106.38198

    Iconic lakes beneath Mount Elbert

    WaterTowns & resupply
    Sources

  2. Mount Elbert views

    ≈ MI 204.8

    Colorado's highest summit

    Peaks & views
    Sources

Section 13

Silver Creek – Chalk Creek

  1. Collegiate Peaks Wilderness

    ≈ MI 221.4

    Dense concentration of high peaks

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 14

Chalk Creek – US 50

  1. Mount Princeton / Chalk Creek country

    ≈ MI 243

    Hot springs and collegiate peak views

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 15

US 50 – Marshall Pass

  1. Marshall Pass

    ≈ MI 261.1

    ≈ 10,873 FT · 38.39139, -106.24726

    Historic rail grade over Continental Divide

    History & cultureJunctions & access
    Sources

Section 16

Marshall Pass – Sargents Mesa

  1. Sargents Mesa

    ≈ MI 275.9

    ≈ 11,726 FT · 38.28212, -106.39507

    Long remote rolling highland

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 18

Hwy 114 – Saguache Park Road

  1. Cochetopa Hills

    ≈ MI 310

    Broad meadows and volcanic hills

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 20

Eddiesville – San Luis Pass

  1. San Luis Peak area

    ≈ MI 336.3

    Remote 14er near the trail

    Peaks & views
    Sources

Section 21

San Luis Pass – Spring Creek Pass

  1. Spring Creek Pass

    ≈ MI 351.4

    ≈ 10,893 FT · 37.94084, -107.15923

    Gateway into San Juan high country

    Junctions & access
    Sources

Section 22

Spring Creek Pass – Carson Saddle

  1. Snow Mesa

    ≈ MI 366.7

    ≈ 12,404 FT · 37.93883, -107.10640

    Huge open tundra mesa

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 23

Carson Saddle – Stony Pass

  1. Carson Saddle / old mining ruins

    ≈ MI 384

    High abandoned mining landscape

    History & cultureJunctions & access
    Sources

Section 24

Stony Pass – Molas Pass

  1. Stony Pass

    ≈ MI 402.9

    ≈ 12,601 FT · 37.79528, -107.54951

    High San Juan pass

    History & cultureJunctions & access
    Sources

  2. Rio Grande headwaters

    ≈ MI 408.2

    Headwaters near the Divide

    WaterLandscapes
    Sources

Section 25

Molas Pass – Bolam Pass Road

  1. Molas Pass

    ≈ MI 421.9

    ≈ 10,904 FT · 37.73778, -107.69813

    Spectacular San Juan views above Silverton

    Peaks & viewsJunctions & access
    Sources

  2. Animas River / Silverton views

    ≈ MI 427.1

    Deep valley and mining history

    Peaks & viewsWaterTowns & resupply
    Sources

Section 26

Bolam Pass Road – Hotel Draw Road

  1. Blackhawk Pass

    ≈ MI 438.9

    Classic San Juan alpine pass

    Junctions & access
    Sources

Section 27

Hotel Draw Road – Kennebec

  1. Indian Trail Ridge

    ≈ MI 455.6

    ≈ 11,438 FT · 37.51030, -108.03538

    Long tundra ridge with broad views

    Peaks & views
    Sources

Section 28

Kennebec – Junction Creek

  1. Kennebec Pass

    ≈ MI 472.4

    ≈ 11,880 FT · 37.45000, -108.00064

    Final major alpine pass before Durango

    Junctions & access
    Sources

  2. Junction Creek

    ≈ MI 482.1

    ≈ 7,097 FT · 37.33528, -107.91287

    Final descent to Durango

    WaterJunctions & access
    Sources