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Home > Trip Planning > Reroutes
Recent CT Reroutes
Reroutes to The Colorado Trail are common. Short reroutes are constructed nearly every season and lengthier route modifications every few years.
First connected end-to-end in 1987, the CTF and volunteers established the CT across the Colorado Rocky Mountains. As is common in trail development, some sections followed the 'path of least resistance.' For example, the original alignment followed some Forest and jeep roads as well as older trails established by miners and cowboys. A goal was set to improve the Trail route each year, moving away from roads and rerouting steep, unsustainable sections.
While only a part of the volunteer trail-maintenance effort, reroutes established over the years have greatly improved The Colorado Trail. There are fewer 'road' miles now and more gentle-grade tread.
A consequence of these reroutes is that old guidebooks no longer describe the current Trail route. It is helpful for CT users to know this. Most users will be best served by acquiring the latest edition of each: Guidebook, Databook and Map Book.
Here are just some of the RECENT CT REROUTES:
Alternate Terminus to Segment 1 Waterton Canyon:
Entire 2011 Trail Season (and earlier) Alternate to Waterton Canyon, CT Segment 1
Segment 10 & 11, 2009 Reroutes:
Pertinent maps of the Segment 10 & 11 Reroutes (Mt. Massive, Mt. Elbert & Twin Lakes areas) can be found here.
Colorado Trail Cataract Ridge Reroute - Segments 23 & 24:
The Colorado Trail has been rerouted to provide better views and eliminate sections that were motorized trail and jeep road. The 17-mile Cataract Ridge Reroute is in the San Juan Mountains and takes the place of 15 miles along Pole Creek and Beartown. Trail users have begun enjoying the new route by following the large rock cairns that mark the way. They have rave reviews, saying that the vistas are unmatched and elk herds impressive.
The new Cataract Ridge Reroute generally follows the Continental Divide and is entirely above tree line. Reports from scouts and users suggest that water has been available and that the high terrain undulates affording some lower ground that can give comfort in electrical storms.
This reroute does not appear in either The Colorado Trail Guidebook, 7th Edition, or the CT Databook, 3rd Edition.
The Cataract Ridge Reroute is relatively easy to find and follow. Users can download and print this map:
Cataract Ridge Reroute Map (2 pages, 2MB)
This 2-page map can be used with Guidebook and/or Databook and may well be all that users need to find and follow the new Cataract Ridge Reroute.
Segment 23 with the new reroute is now 15.9 miles long with a southern terminus of Stony Pass road. Elevation gain is now 4,355 feet and elevation loss is 4,352 feet, traveling from North to South.
Segment 24 with the new reroute is now 20.2 miles long with northern terminus of Stony Pass road. The new elevation gain is 3,880 feet and elevation loss is 5,224 feet, traveling from North to South.
Enjoy!!
Note: the old Pole Creek/Beartown route, at the time of this writing in Summer 2007, remains open to users as described in the 7th Edition Guidebook and 3rd Edition Databook.
Colorado Trail Clear Creek Bridge and Reroute - Segments 11 & 12:
In between Leadville and Buena Vista, The Colorado Trail route through the Clear Creek Valley has been changed. Construction of the new Clear Creek Bridge is complete thanks to CTF Volunteers and our partners. The Trail reroute has signs, posts, and survey tape marking the way. It's ready for Trail users. Here's the story.
This reroute affects CT Segments 11 and 12 in the area where the two segments meet. The reroute is about 3 miles long with the new footbridge near the middle. Trail users are utilizing the new reroute and bridge, and have reported that it is easy to find and follow.
Click here to download a printable PDF map (2 MB).
The old route crossed the Clear Creek valley in a relatively steep alignment, passed through private lands and utilized a bridge on the private ranch to cross over the creek. It was a temporary situation and not ideal.
The new reroute crosses the Clear Creek valley in a gentler alignment, east of where the old route crossed the valley. The new reroute eliminates some road and badly eroded portions, offers more singletrack and is on a gentler grade that is more enjoyable for users and will be easier for volunteers to maintain.
This reroute does not appear in either The Colorado Trail Guidebook, 7th Edition, or the CT Databook, 3rd Edition.
The new reroute crosses both the Clear Creek Road and Clear Creek about 3/4 of a mile east of where the old route crossed. The newly constructed, 80-foot long Trail bridge is located near the Clear Creek Reservoir, spanning Clear Creek near the middle of the campground that lies just upstream (west) of the reservoir. Readers of the CT Guidebook can look for the campground symbol on the maps for both Segments 11 and 12 - the campground symbol is where the new bridge is located. People using the CT Databook can view the map for Segment 12 showing the footprint of the Reservoir - the new footbridge lies just west of the Reservoir.
Southbound Trail Users: In Segment 11, traveling south from Twin Lakes, trail users will come to a point where the Trail begins its descent into the Clear Creek Valley. From here, users descend on an old jeep road a little more than a quarter mile and beyond a left-hand switchback when they encounter the intersection where the new reroute diverges. Watch for a sign, survey tape and new tread. Travel east on the new singletrack, traversing and gently descending a steep, sage covered hillside to the intersection with Clear Creek Road (CR 390). Straight across the road the CT continues across the valley bottom on doubletrack. Users are routed south then east and downstream near the creek. The CT reroute passes into the campground, and near the middle of the campground, users find the new 80-foot long, steel footbridge across Clear Creek. On the far side of the bridge the new singletrack tread gently climbs the wooded slopes in a mostly southwest direction for 1 mile before intersecting with the old route that continues uphill to the south.
Northbound Trail Users: In Segment 12, traveling north from North Cottonwood Creek, Trail users are mostly within the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. Nearing the north end of Segment 12, users exit the Wilderness and find a sign at the boundary. A short distance farther, users begin the descent into Clear Creek and approximately 1/4 mile down the hill the Trail passes underneath a big power line. Just beyond the power line is the intersection where the new reroute diverges to the right (east). Look for a sign and survey tape marking the new reroute. Continue on the new reroute gently down the wooded slope for 1 mile to the new bridge. Across the bridge users will find themselves in the campground. Follow the CT signs and markings and travel upstream along the creek side of the campground and on doubletrack for a couple hundred yards before the reroute swings North toward the Clear Creek Road (CR 390). Directly across the road ascend on new singletrack tread North then West, traversing gently up the steep sage covered hillside. Two switchbacks will be encountered before the new reroute intersects with the long existing route on old jeep road that continues uphill.
This new reroute results in only minimal changes to the Trail data. The new reroute is approximately 1 mile longer than the old route. The division between Segments 11 and 12 remains Clear Creek Road (CR 390). Segment 11 is lengthened by about 1/2 mile and Segment 12 is also lengthened by about 1/2 mile. The elevation gain and loss remains unchanged.
The Colorado Trail Foundation is proud of this important reroute and bridge that preserves the connectedness of The Colorado Trail. Our volunteers worked countless hours to accomplish these upgrades. Collectively we worked with 5 bureaucracies, multiple landowners, and several engineering and construction experts. Thanks to everyone's cooperation, we completed the project in record time of less than a year. All in all, hundreds of people helped in this effort. The Colorado Trail Foundation extends a hearty "THANK YOU" to each and every one involved.
We hope you find this information helpful - please use the new reroute and bridge. We hope you enjoy using The Colorado Trail.
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