The Colorado Trail: The Official Guidebook

by Colorado Trail Foundation

Written for both through-hikers of the entire 471-mile Colorado Trail and segment-hikers doing a section at a time, this guide has everything you detailed descriptions of every mile, resupply information at nearby towns, equipment recommendations, food and safety considerations, wilderness etiquette, natural history, and much more. Accurate mileage charts, tips from the experts, GPS waypoints, a detailed index, high-quality photographs, and must-have elevation profiles make this the most complete and accurate book available on the Colorado Trail.

Genres: Outdoors, Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Kyle Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This won't tell you everything you need to know about the CT, but it's the first stop for forging a plan. The book opens with a tribute to Gudy Gaskill, "The Mother of the Colorado Trail," followed by several informative chapters on the CT Foundation, logistics for hiking the CT, history of Colorado in the CT regions, flora, fauna, and geology of the CT. The bulk of the book provides a section-by-section overview, including important statistics, trailhead directions and parking, water and resupply locations, and points of interest. It contains helpful links and bibliography to other resources. The volume is 26.8 ounces (762 g), for those counting.

[Kate Ringer]

I wish I had known prior to buying this guide that it wouldn't have the most up to date water information. Besides that, it was really useful while I hiked the Colorado Trail! However, we were the only ones on the trail using this guide. Most people just used Guthook, an app that doesn't weigh anything.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential tool for planning a detailed hike of the Colorado Trail.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially everything I needed to plan for the trail and more! Very excited to get started in July

[Sibylle · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good, with complete maps and trailheads.

[Devin L · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day

[Todd Salzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Potentially out of date, but I plan to use a newer version when I finally get around to doing the CO Trail. Have used this to help plan shorter runs.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for CT trippin'!

[Bill Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

As of now, the eighth edition is the latest. Full of essential and ancillary notes of interest for anyone wanting to hike/bike the CT, either in segments or as a through hike. August, 2014.