Colorado Trail

Each year, thousands of hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers flock to southern Colorado to enjoy the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail winds approximately 500 miles from Durango to Denver through the high-alpine wild lands of the southern Rockies. The trail travels through six national forests, eight mountain ranges, and six wilderness areas, with mountain passes above 13,000 feet in elevation.

From Durango, the Junction Creek trailhead, located a few miles from town, provides local access to the Colorado Trail for hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers.

Portions of the trail cross through federally designated wilderness, including the Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest, and are therefore off-limits to bicycles.

For more information:

• Check out Colorado Trail Foundation for general trail info, conditions, and much more
• Call SJMA’s visitor information team at (970) 247-4874
• Browse our online store for Colorado Trail guidebooks and maps

SJMA has adopted Colorado Trail Segment 25.1

In 2024, SJMA adopted the section of the Colorado Trail from Molas Pass to Rolling pass—also known as Segment 25.1. This 12 mile stretch of trail is arguably one of the most beautiful sections of the 486-mile trail. It also receives a lot of use in the summertime! It is open to foot, stock, and bicycle traffic. Each summer, SJMA recruits crews of volunteers to help on one or two multi-day trail work hitches so that we can keep this trail in great shape for all trail users.

For more information, visit out volunteer page.