I have a few friends doing the entire CDT this summer, and I’d like join them for about five days through CO (or somewhere else if more convenient). Does anyone know a good place where I can get on and off the trail that are about 5 days apart? I would be flying in to Co, and would need public trans, rental car, or some other way to get to and from the trail.
Thanks in advance!
KA
KA
Maybe look at Frisco to Grand Lake or Steamboat. Frisco should have shuttles to DIA, and I know Steamboat does.
There are a couple of different CDT routes crossing I-70. The Wolf route goes near Frisco, but the official route does not.
Other possibilities south of I-70 might be Breckenridge or Leadville. Leadville has the advantage of having the Leadville Hostel, a good place to meet up. Shuttling there might be a problem though.
Garlic
Black Hills Stage has daily bus service from Salida, Buena Vista, and Jefferson to Denver. Grayhound has a daily bus from Frisco to Denver. Maybe this will help you put something together.
Dioko
We will be angelling at Lujan Pass during July and August. The closest town is Gunnison, Colorado. Since we are on both the CT and CDT you may want to consider us. We offer free shuttles to Gunnison daily from Lujan Pass. If you can get to Gunnison (Colorado) we can pick you up. Might be fun for us all to go hit the town (your friends included). ANGEL APPLE
APPLE
Hi, if I were you I would fly into Durango, rent a car and drive to Pagosa Springs. Hike with them from Wolf Creek Pass through the Weminuche, and then cut off down into Silverton. Then catch a bus ride back to Pagosa Springs. Hiking the Weminuche is one of the most breathtaking sections of the entire trail
Innermountain
KA - If you go with Innermountain’s very good suggestion (beautiful stretch of trail), rent your car from Enterprise at the DRO airport. There is another Enterprise location at Pagosa’s tiny airport and they usually don’t charge you a drop-off fee. Another option is to just hitch. Almost everyone leaving Durango is going to Pagosa, and with a pack, you shouldn’t have any troubles getting a lift. People kind of understand the drill around here. The same holds true for a Silverton to Durango hitch back to the airport. Enjoy your trip!
Matt
The Weminuche section is my favorite piece of the CDT in Colorado. It’s 84 miles, though, (Wolf Creek to Stony Pass) and not particularly fast or easy. You would have to hit it pretty hard to do it in 5 days. You should add on another day or two and go for it. Your friends will probably re-supply in Pagosa Springs so you could meet them there.
Cumbres Pass to Wolf Creek is also really nice and it’s shorter and easier. (69 Miles) Getting to Cumbres is not easy, though.
Frontier and United both fly from Denver to Durango, and prices are good. A lot of times it costs no more to go to Durango via Denver than to go just to Denver.
I was up above Silverton today. Last week’s dust storm off of the desert painted the snow pink and now it’s melting much faster than usual. Still a lot of deep snow above 10,500’.
bearcreek
If you start at Cumbress Pass (another excellent suggestion), call Wilderness Journeys in Pagosa Springs. I believe they make daily shuttles to the Pass from PS for the silver-haired tourists. (Hitching, though, is once again a cheaper and still reliable alternative.)
Matt