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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

    ≈ 6,965 FT · 39.46572, -105.30836

    Major river crossing

    WaterJunctions & access
    Sources

Section 3

Little Scraggy – Wellington Lake Road

  1. Little Scraggy / Buffalo Creek burn area

    ≈ MI 34.4

    ≈ 7,671 FT · 39.45337, -105.41310

    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

    ≈ 9,545 FT · 39.48382, -105.91475

    Wide views over South Park

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 7

Goldhill – Copper Mountain

  1. Breckenridge / Tenmile Range

    ≈ MI 112.7

    ≈ 9,439 FT · 39.50437, -106.09746

    Major resupply and high-country transition

    Peaks & viewsTowns & resupply
    Sources

Section 8

Copper Mountain – Tennessee Pass

  1. Copper Mountain

    ≈ MI 128.6

    ≈ 9,932 FT · 39.43368, -106.20351

    Trail crosses ski-area terrain

    Towns & resupplyJunctions & access
    Sources

  2. Searle Pass

    ≈ MI 137

    ≈ 10,193 FT · 39.39634, -106.25953

    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

    ≈ 10,063 FT · 39.21605, -106.34813

    Large alpine reservoir near Leadville

    Peaks & viewsWater
    Sources

Section 11

Mount Massive – Clear Creek Road

  1. Mount Massive Wilderness

    ≈ MI 181.8

    ≈ 9,803 FT · 39.07766, -106.37743

    Views of Colorado's second-highest peak

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 12

Clear Creek Road – Silver Creek

  1. Twin Lakes

    ≈ MI 198

    ≈ 9,758 FT · 39.09500, -106.37900

    Iconic lakes beneath Mount Elbert

    WaterTowns & resupply
    Sources

  2. Mount Elbert views

    ≈ MI 204.8

    ≈ 10,281 FT · 38.89389, -106.36084

    Colorado's highest summit

    Peaks & views
    Sources

Section 13

Silver Creek – Chalk Creek

  1. Collegiate Peaks Wilderness

    ≈ MI 221.4

    ≈ 10,625 FT · 38.76126, -106.34886

    Dense concentration of high peaks

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 14

Chalk Creek – US 50

  1. Mount Princeton / Chalk Creek country

    ≈ MI 243

    ≈ 11,074 FT · 38.58868, -106.33328

    Hot springs and collegiate peak views

    Peaks & viewsLandscapes
    Sources

Section 15

US 50 – Marshall Pass

  1. Marshall Pass

    ≈ MI 261.1

    ≈ 11,283 FT · 38.45808, -106.38230

    Historic rail grade over Continental Divide

    History & cultureJunctions & access
    Sources

Section 16

Marshall Pass – Sargents Mesa

  1. Sargents Mesa

    ≈ MI 275.9

    ≈ 11,219 FT · 38.37112, -106.51031

    Long remote rolling highland

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 18

Hwy 114 – Saguache Park Road

  1. Cochetopa Hills

    ≈ MI 310

    ≈ 11,071 FT · 38.17078, -106.80525

    Broad meadows and volcanic hills

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 20

Eddiesville – San Luis Pass

  1. San Luis Peak area

    ≈ MI 336.3

    ≈ 10,956 FT · 38.01626, -107.03273

    Remote 14er near the trail

    Peaks & views
    Sources

Section 21

San Luis Pass – Spring Creek Pass

  1. Spring Creek Pass

    ≈ MI 351.4

    ≈ 10,900 FT · 37.94000, -107.14500

    Gateway into San Juan high country

    Junctions & access
    Sources

Section 22

Spring Creek Pass – Carson Saddle

  1. Snow Mesa

    ≈ MI 366.7

    ≈ 11,642 FT · 37.87684, -107.32153

    Huge open tundra mesa

    Landscapes
    Sources

Section 23

Carson Saddle – Stony Pass

  1. Carson Saddle / old mining ruins

    ≈ MI 384

    ≈ 12,380 FT · 37.81412, -107.49684

    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

    ≈ 10,991 FT · 37.74646, -107.69184

    Headwaters near the Divide

    WaterLandscapes
    Sources

Section 25

Molas Pass – Bolam Pass Road

  1. Molas Pass

    ≈ MI 421.9

    ≈ 10,910 FT · 37.74400, -107.69900

    Spectacular San Juan views above Silverton

    Peaks & viewsJunctions & access
    Sources

  2. Animas River / Silverton views

    ≈ MI 427.1

    ≈ 9,961 FT · 37.63304, -107.74892

    Deep valley and mining history

    Peaks & viewsWaterTowns & resupply
    Sources

Section 26

Bolam Pass Road – Hotel Draw Road

  1. Blackhawk Pass

    ≈ MI 438.9

    ≈ 9,337 FT · 37.56007, -107.78175

    Classic San Juan alpine pass

    Junctions & access
    Sources

Section 27

Hotel Draw Road – Kennebec

  1. Indian Trail Ridge

    ≈ MI 455.6

    ≈ 8,454 FT · 37.45680, -107.82821

    Long tundra ridge with broad views

    Peaks & views
    Sources

Section 28

Kennebec – Junction Creek

  1. Kennebec Pass

    ≈ MI 472.4

    ≈ 7,566 FT · 37.35292, -107.87495

    Final major alpine pass before Durango

    Junctions & access
    Sources

  2. Junction Creek

    ≈ MI 482.1

    ≈ 7,053 FT · 37.29293, -107.90193

    Final descent to Durango

    WaterJunctions & access
    Sources