Which Colorado Trail Trek Is Right for You? Compare Trips by Difficulty
Colorado Mountain Expeditions offers guided, supported treks on the Colorado Trail and also assists the Colorado Trail Foundation with its Colorado Trail Trekking Program. Colorado Mountain Expeditions and the Colorado Trail Foundation each offer some of the same Colorado Trail treks, giving hikers options for exploring the trail through either organization.
The Colorado Trail offers some of the most rewarding multi-day hiking in Colorado, with high mountain passes, expansive alpine views, forested trails, and spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery. Whether you're looking for an easier introduction to multi-day hiking, a moderate challenge, or a demanding high-country adventure, choosing the right trek is an important part of planning your trip.
Colorado Mountain Expeditions provides a supported hiking experience that lets you hike with a daypack while camping gear is transported between camps. Guides prepare hot breakfasts and dinners, and organized camps help simplify the logistics of a multi-day trip. You still get the satisfaction of hiking the trail, without having to carry all your camping equipment from one campsite to the next.
In this guide, we'll compare Colorado Trail trips by difficulty to help you find an adventure that fits your experience, fitness, and hiking goals.
What Makes a Colorado Trail Trek Difficult?
A Colorado Trail trek's difficulty depends on more than mileage alone. Daily elevation gain and loss, high mountain passes, altitude, terrain, and the number of consecutive hiking days all affect how demanding a trip feels.
Some routes include long climbs above treeline, where hikers are exposed to changing mountain weather and spend hours at elevations above 12,000 feet. Others offer more gradual terrain, lower elevations, or a more relaxed itinerary.
Supported hiking also changes the experience. On a Colorado Mountain Expeditions trek, you hike with a daypack while your camping gear is transported between camps. Guides prepare hot breakfasts and dinners, and the team handles much of the larger camp setup and meal preparation. You'll still hike the daily mileage and tackle the elevation changes, but you won't need to carry your full camping load.
Understanding these differences can help you choose a Colorado Trail trek that challenges you without exceeding your current abilities.
Easy Colorado Trail Trips
Hiking & Hot Springs
Hiking & Hot Springs is an excellent option for people who want to combine time outdoors with relaxation. Offered by the Colorado Trail Foundation, this trip pairs scenic hiking with opportunities to visit nearby hot springs, creating a more relaxed outdoor getaway than a traditional multi-day trek.
The hiking takes place near Buena Vista, with mountain scenery, wildflower meadows, and access to several hot springs in the surrounding area. Camp stays in one location rather than moving every night, and available amenities can make the experience more comfortable for people who are newer to outdoor trips. Hot springs admission is additional.
If you want to experience Colorado's mountain scenery without committing to a more demanding multi-day route, Hiking & Hot Springs is worth considering.
Trek 3: Holy Cross
Trek 3 is a good choice for hikers looking for a multi-day Colorado Trail experience that is easier than the moderate and difficult options. The route travels through varied landscapes near Leadville, including open meadows, forested terrain, and lower-elevation sagebrush country.
Some campsites are located in established Forest Service campgrounds, offering a different camping experience from more remote sections of the trail. Trek 3 provides a meaningful introduction to multi-day hiking while still requiring preparation for consecutive days on the trail and hiking at Colorado's high elevations.
Although it is considered an easier trek in this guide, it is still a substantial outdoor adventure. Hikers should be comfortable walking several miles a day and should prepare for the physical demands of hiking at altitude.
Moderate Colorado Trail Treks
Moderate treks are a good fit for hikers who are comfortable spending multiple days on the trail and want a more substantial physical challenge. These routes include longer hiking days, significant elevation changes, and rewarding mountain scenery.
Trek 1: South Platte
Trek 1 follows the Colorado Trail from Waterton Canyon to Kenosha Pass, passing through a variety of landscapes as you head into the mountains. Expect pine forests, rocky ridges, unusual rock formations, wildflower-filled meadows, and open views across South Park.
Wildlife sightings are possible along the way, and the changing terrain gives each hiking day its own character. Trek 1 offers a rewarding introduction to the Colorado Trail, with substantial daily mileage and elevation gain. It's a strong option for hikers who want to experience the trail's varied scenery and are ready for several consecutive days of hiking.
Trek 2: Kokomo Pass
Trek 2 travels from Kenosha Pass to Camp Hale, crossing historic mountain passes and showcasing expansive views of Colorado's high country. Hikers move through grassy meadows and lodgepole pine forests before reaching higher alpine terrain, including the Tenmile Range.
The route offers a mix of hiking days, with climbs and descents that reward hikers with panoramic mountain views. Trek 2 is an appealing choice for those who want to experience Colorado's high country and take on a meaningful physical challenge without choosing one of the most demanding treks.
Trek 4: Chalk Creek
Trek 4 explores the eastern slopes of the Collegiate Peaks and the rugged terrain of the Sawatch Range. The route passes through aspen groves, mountain valleys, and alpine landscapes before reaching the Continental Divide, where views open across the surrounding high country.
This trek includes substantial climbs and a demanding first hiking day, balanced by shorter hiking and opportunities to visit nearby hot springs. The combination of mountain scenery, varied terrain, and challenging hiking makes Trek 4 a good fit for hikers looking for a rewarding multi-day adventure.
Trek 5: Cochetopa Valley
Trek 5 offers a striking contrast between mountain scenery and the wide-open grasslands of the Cochetopa Valley. Starting near Marshall Pass, the route crosses forested ridges and high alpine meadows before descending into remote, rolling country.
Hikers may spot pronghorn, elk, and other wildlife along the way. The trail later enters the La Garita Wilderness before climbing toward San Luis Pass. With long hiking days, significant elevation changes, and stretches above treeline, Trek 5 suits hikers who want varied landscapes and are comfortable with a solid physical challenge.
Difficult Colorado Trail Treks
Difficult treks are best suited to hikers who have prepared for long days, sustained elevation changes, and the physical effects of hiking at high altitude. These routes offer spectacular scenery, but they require a higher level of fitness and readiness for demanding mountain conditions.
Trek 6: Cataract Ridge
Trek 6 is a demanding high-country adventure across one of the most remote and elevated portions of the Colorado Trail. Much of the route travels above treeline, with extended views across the Continental Divide, rugged ridgelines, and numerous high mountain passes.
The trek reaches the area of Coney Summit, the Colorado Trail's highest point, at approximately 13,200 feet. Hiking days are long, the weather can change quickly, and the altitude adds to the challenge. Trek 6 is best suited to experienced hikers who are prepared for strenuous days at elevations of 12,000 to 13,000 feet.
For hikers seeking a demanding Colorado Trail experience with dramatic alpine scenery, Trek 6 offers a serious high-country challenge.
Trek 7: Indian Trail Ridge
Trek 7 travels from Molas Pass to Durango through spectacular scenery in the San Juan Mountains. The route includes high-elevation hiking, mountain passes, and the famous Indian Trail Ridge, where hikers can enjoy sweeping views of the Hermosa Valley and the La Plata Mountains.
The trek also includes a long final descent toward Durango, with steep terrain and substantial mileage making it a demanding finish. For hikers looking to experience the dramatic scenery of the southern Colorado Rockies, Trek 7 delivers a memorable mountain adventure. It requires good preparation and the stamina to handle long days on the trail.
What Makes a Supported Colorado Trail Trek Different?
A guided, supported trek lets you experience multi-day hiking without having to manage every logistical detail on your own. With Colorado Mountain Expeditions, the goal is to make the hiking experience more manageable while preserving the challenge and satisfaction of spending multiple days on the Colorado Trail.
Hike with a daypack. Your camping gear is transported between camps, so you don't have to carry your full overnight load over mountain passes and along long trail sections.
Enjoy hot meals in camp. Guides prepare fresh, hot breakfasts and dinners rather than relying on freeze-dried backpacking meals.
Spend less time managing camp logistics. Organized camps and support from your guides simplify the daily routine. You'll still set up and take down your own personal sleeping tent, but much of the larger camp setup, meal preparation, and ge
