Colorado Trail guidebooks

imported
#1

Are the guidebook and data book sufficient for navigation on this trail? Should I try to get a shuttle from the Denver airport to the trailhead or will public transportation do the trick? And water treatment-any accounts of hikers used to drinking unfiltered/untreated water on other trails having any significant problems on this trail?

I realize that some of these answers can be found on some of the planning sites but I’m throwing this hike together at the last minute and am searching for the quick easy answers. Thank you in advance for understanding and forgiving these somewhat lazy questions.

Smack

#2

Smack, the guidebook and data book will be fine for getting you down the trail. If you are carrying a GPS, the data book alone might be enough. I filtered a total of about 8 gallons of water in the beginning of my 04’ PCT hike and haven’t used one since. On my 05’ CT hike I didn’t filter or treat at all. June 23rd to July 24th. Water from the South Platte 15 miles into the hike was really silty but I got it to settle in my pot after a while. I’ve been told this is usually the case. There were some water sources that were smelly due to cattle in the area but nothing I couldn’t drink. I’m guessing there will be less water to choose from this late in the season. I’d never recommend the filterless method to other hikers but I’ve had no problems with it.

Little John

#3

The local bus/light rail system will take you from the Airport to the Littleton/Mineral Ave. terminal, the closest one to the beginning of the CT which is both bad news and good news. The bad news is it is still almost 10 miles to the beginning of the CT. The good news is that there is a hiking/biking trail starting at the terminal that leads to the CT. The “AT” bus leaves the Airport for the Littleton terminal every hour from early morning to late evening. The ride takes about an hour and a half.

If you wish to go via downtown Denver the Skyride bus leaves the airport every few minutes for central Denver. From central Denver you would catch the light rail route 101 also known as the Southwest/Central line to the Littleton terminal. It runs every 10 to 15 minutes from central Denver.

http://www.rtd-denver.com

It is approximately 9 miles to get from the Littleton/Mineral Ave. terminal to the CT parking lot. Waterton Canyon is visible in the distance when looking in a southwest direction. You will take the bike path and then a two-track dirt road around the west side of Chatfield State Park to reach the trailhead.

From the rail station, proceed west on Mineral Ave. for 1/4 mile where the sidewalk turns into the hiking/biking trail in the South Platte Park. Cross over the South Platte on the bridge and head upstream (south). You will cross under Mineral Ave. and then in approximately a mile you will cross under the highway.

From this point, proceed west and follow the bike path and signs to Chatfield State Park. After cresting the dam, proceed southwest on the bike path until you reach the main park entrance road and fee station. Immediately past the fee station, exit the bike path and walk to the south along the main park loop road (parallel to the Lake). Beware - Do not proceed on the bike path on the east side of the road or you will have a lengthy detour. Instead, proceed south/southwest on the main loop road for approximately 1/2 mile until you reach an intersection signed “B&B Livery - Horse Rental.” Take this road southwest and uphill for another half mile until you reach the public corral. At the corral, look to the west for a two track dirt road marked with brown carsonite posts with blue and white arrows. Proceed on this road following the signs until you reach the trailhead.

Chatfield State Park only allows camping in designated areas. Unfortunately these areas are all on the other side of the lake. There are however several nice areas where a tired hiker could settle down and “nap” for a while. The best areas are near the Mineral Ave. Station along the river and areas very close to the trailhead itself. Camping is not permitted along first 6.2 miles of the CT since that is the service road for the Strontia Springs dam. Bear Creek, 8 miles from the beginning of the CT, is the first camping spot with water.

Quaking Aspen

#4

Thanks for the prompt and thorough replies! Yall are a big help. I leave tomorrow afternoon…so many loose ends to tie up!!!

Smack

#5

I just checked the bus schedule and the 63X runs from Littleton/Mineral Ave to the trailhead (Hwy 121-Deer Creek) on it’s way to Lockheed-Martin 6 times daily. 3 runs early in the morning and 3 runs in the mid-late afternoon. Same applies to the returns. It’s .3 miles from the stop to the trailhead.

Quoddy