The Colorado Trail: My Journey by the Numbers

The Colorado Trail ("CT") was my first ever thru-hike. It was an incredible journey that tested me mentally and physically. But it’s something I’ll look back on fondly for the rest of my life.

Before I set foot on this adventure, I had some natural consternation about what I was about to do. I found myself pondering a lot of questions: How long would it take me? Would I actually have to hitchhike? How much time would I spend in town? Would I see any scary animals?

So this post is about how things actually played out. I’m sharing the most interesting data points from my experience — and reflecting on how they matched (or didn’t match) my pre-hike expectations.

Pace and mileage

I was pretty happy to finish the trail in under 30 days. Being my first long-distance hike, I really had no clue how long it would take. I’d read that most people take 4–6 weeks and figured I’d fall somewhere in that range. In the end, I learned your pace depends a lot on your hiking style, schedule constraints, and whether injuries take you off-trail.

I didn’t have any time pressure, but I often felt compelled to do more miles. It's a bit of that Type A energy I can’t quite shut off, even in a place as relaxing as the CT.

What really surprised me were my max mileage days. Before this, the longest day hike I’d ever done was the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire — about 21 miles. So to top that single day distance by over 7 miles, with a heavy pack, blew me away. It’s a great reminder of how the body adapts when you challenge it.

Cottonwood Pass, a lovely beginning to a long, long day

Elevation

Unsurprisingly, my biggest elevation gain came on my longest mileage day. Early in the hike, someone told me you typically gain between 2,000–4,000 feet per day — and looking at my log, I’d say that held true. But now and then you hit those 5,000+ ft days that completely wipe you out. On that one especially brutal day, I was asleep well before sunset.

What did surprise me was my highest camping elevation — not just how high it was, but how unavoidable it became. In the San Juans, there were points where there really wasn’t a lower option. I was a bit uneasy beforehand about camping above treeline, mostly because of the storms. And yes, at some point, you’ll probably have to do it — unless you plan very deliberately and are willing to hammer out some 24+ mile days.

In the end, I actually started to seek out those high camps. There’s something magical about waking up next to an alpine lake, watching the sun light up the ridges around you. Of course, that night at 12,800 ft was also the coldest and windiest of the whole trail. But hey — that’s the tradeoff.

Fourteeners

I managed to summit Mount Massive and San Luis during my hike. I had hoped to bag three, but skipped Mount Huron to catch up with a trail group I’d connected with. Based on what I saw, I’d guess around a third of thru-hikers summit at least one fourteener, with the majority going for Elbert — the tallest peak in Colorado.

If you’re into peak bagging, this trail is an efficient way to knock a few out. You’re close, you’re acclimated, and you’ve already got the gear. The hard part is logistics — each one can add a full day to your food carries. I found this article super helpful in deciding which ones to attempt.

Sunrise on Mount Massive Trail. I'd say it's worth those extra miles

Weather

Thunderstorms were my #1 concern going into the hike. As someone born in Florida, the lightning capital of the U.S., I have a real fear of getting caught out (especially above treeline) in a storm.

And, as luck would have it, August 2023 was apparently one of the worse weather months in recent years. (Normally, August is the most stable month on the CT.)

The one storm we did get caught in? Absolutely gnarly. We weren’t technically above treeline, but it was close. Lightning cracked all around us as we scrambled downhill. One strike even exploded a tree just ahead. We could feel the heat and smell the burning as we passed.

It was terrifying... but also a learning moment. I was incredibly grateful not to be solo during that storm. And thankfully, that was the worst of it.

There were three other times I faced looming clouds and had to decide whether to push over the next pass. I went for it all three times and only once did I hear thunder too close for comfort. In the end, I realized that to do this trail, you need to have a certain risk tolerance. Sometimes, you just have to send it over the ridge and find out what is waiting for you on the other side.

The recurring question regarding dark clouds. Should I stay or should I go?

Town

After realizing I spent roughly every 5th night in town, it hit me — thru-hiking is basically a series of mini 4–5 day backpacking trips. The CT layout even allows for more frequent town stops, if you want.

I found that 4–5 nights on trail was the sweet spot — just long enough to really crave a shower and a hot meal.

Getting in and out of towns was also way easier than I expected. I was prepared to wait hours for a hitch or road walk for miles. But of the three hitches I needed: one took ten minutes, and two were instant. Maybe I was lucky, but I didn’t hear of many people waiting longer than 20 minutes... at least not for the more accessible towns.

Almost all trail towns also have Trail Angel shuttle systems, which not only provide peace of mind but also help you get back out of town reliably. I used these in every town and would again. The drivers were kind, helpful, and reliable.

Ignoring my lactose intolerance to wolf down a dessert after my fifth town meal of the day.

Wildlife

This was a bit of a letdown... except for the snakes. Zero snake sightings would have been ideal, thanks.

I was really hoping to see some big animals, but the only moose I spotted looked like a cow from that distance. I did see plenty of marmots and pikas, which are fun at first but start to lose their charm after the 200th one. And cows... oh, the cows — and their frequent “gifts” on the trail.

So if you’re nervous about moose, bears, or mountain lions, odds are, you’ll be lucky to even see one.

Hello friend. Can I ask that you please don't defecate near the drinking water? Thank you!

Final Thoughts

Expectations and reality rarely line up. And the CT was no different. But that’s the beauty of a thru-hike.

You can train your body, read every blog post, and dial in your gear... but once you’re out there, you never really know how things will unfold. All you can do is let the chips fall where they may and embrace the fact that you’ve committed to something truly special.

And very likely, life-changing.