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Home > Trip Planning > Weather Conditions

Weather Conditions on The Colorado Trail

Weather conditions in Colorado change quickly. You can encounter any kind of weather any time of the year, so please plan ahead and pack appropriate clothing for all weather conditions. Because much of The Colorado Trail is at high elevations, the sun is intense (so wear sunscreen) but it is possible to also encounter snow or fierce thunderstorms. Be prepared, check on loved ones, or just see what mother nature has in store by checking the up to the minute weather forecasts from NOAA. 

You can also use the following weather links to provide forecast information for towns located near The Colorado Trail. 

Section # Trail Section Descriptions Weather Info.
1 Waterton Canyon Trailhead to South Platte River Littleton
2 - 5 South Platte River to Kenosha Pass Bailey
6 - 8 Kenosha Pass to Tennessee Pass Breckenridge
9 - 11 Tennessee Pass to Clear Creek Road Leadville
12 - 14 Clear Creek Road to U.S. Highway 50 Buena Vista
15 - 19 U. S. Highway 50 to Eddiesville Trialhead Saguache
20 - 22 Eddiesville Trailhead to Carson Saddle Lake City
23 - 27 Carson Saddle to Cumberland Basin Silverton
28 Cumberland Basin to Junction Creek Trailhead (Durango) Durango

Real-Time Weather Information is provided by the Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS). 

These instruments and reporting system are designed for airports and are being installed in 12 of the state's critical mountain passes. Currently 5 are running at high elevation mountain passes. The 6th system is on Monument Hill south of Denver. These systems provide continuous real-time weather reports including wind direction, wind speed, temperature, visibility, precipitation, storm proximity and density altitude. The Colorado Aeronautical Board and the Colorado Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics are implementing the new systems. In the future another 6 systems will be installed at Glenwood Springs (Sunlight Ridge), Kremmling, Cameron Pass, Wilkerson Pass, Cottonwood Pass, and Saguache.

The closest locations to The Colorado Trail are the Monarch Pass (Segments 15-16) and Copper Mtn (Segments 7-8).

Location Phone Number
Monarch Pass 719-539-4436
Corona Pass 303-258-3052
LaVeta Pass 719-587-3130
Copper Mtn./Vail Pass 970-968-1715
Wolf Creek Pass 970-264-2180

 

Fire Information will be posted here on an as needed basis.