The Colorado Trail Foundation

Trail Crew volunteers help maintain the Trail.

We care for The Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail Foundation (CTF) is the organization that keeps the Trail in good condition. We organize the Volunteers who built The Colorado Trail and who continue to improve and maintain it. CTF Trail Crews are weekend to week-long summer Trail work efforts with a team of around twenty volunteers accomplishing Trail improvements. Adopt-A-Trail is our program where Volunteer Adopters and Helpers do annual maintenance on a particular segment. The Colorado Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded almost entirely by private contributions. Our “Friends” are the giving people who volunteer and/or contribute.

Welcome to The Colorado Trail

The Colorado Trail is Colorado’s premier long distance trail. Stretching almost 500 miles from Denver to Durango, it travels through the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains amongst peaks with lakes, creeks and diverse ecosystems. Trail users experience six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges topping out at 13,334 feet.

Trail enthusiasts include hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, many of whom report that they love the Trail.

Be a Volunteer

Volunteers built The Colorado Trail and continue to improve and maintain it. They have fun. Volunteers enjoy the teamwork, the outdoors, the sense of accomplishment, and the social atmosphere around camp. They like meeting the other interesting and good people who choose to care for the Trail. Volunteers are the life-blood of The Colorado Trail Foundation and we could not sustain the Trail without Volunteers. Why not join us for a volunteer vacation and help us to care for The Colorado Trail?

Contribute and Help Sustain The Colorado Trail

Organizing the Trail care takes money and CTF funding comes almost entirely through private donations. The Colorado Trail Foundation could sure use your help as a contributor. The CTF needs funding for the trail work and supporting tasks including volunteer food and equipment, publications to spread the word, signs and bridges, insurance, office expenses, and even for thank you's for our many Volunteers. Please consider making a contribution; we need and appreciate your support. Contributions are essential to sustaining The Colorado Trail - and they are tax deductible.

Trail News

2008 Crews

The 2008 Crews Schedule is now available. Check it out here.

2008 Education Adventure Class Schedule is Available

The 2008 Education Adventure Class Schedule is now available on this website. Click here to read class descriptions and class dates.

2008 Guided Trekking Schedule Now Available

Click here to view the 2008 Guided Trekking Schedule and get information about signing up.

CTF Comment on the Continental Divide Trail "Proposed Directive"

The Forest Service is planning the future of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The CDNST Proposed Directive greatly affects The Colorado Trail. The CTF is asking that the CT remain open to currently allowed hike, bike, and horse users. We are also asking that the CT be reaffirmed as non-motorized, as has been our goal since inception. Click here to view the CTF comment.

Clear Creek Bridge & Reroute

Changes affect CT Segments 11 & 12. Construction is complete on the new Clear Creek Bridge thanks to CTF Volunteers and our partners. Trail users are finding and using the new, 3 mile reroute. More info is available here.

Cataract Ridge Reroute

hikers looking over the Cataract Ridge vista from the new reroute
Spectacular Cataract Ridge

trail crew volunteer hard at work Affecting CT Segments 23 & 24, Trail enthusiasts are excited about this new 17 mile reroute with spectacular views - well worth a visit. Information is available on this website here.