Winding through the magnificent heart of the Rockies for 468 miles from Denver to Durango, The Colorado Trail is one of the nation's most beautiful and varied long-distance trails. Experience for yourself the effect the CT has on body and soul!

The trail passes through seven national forests and six wilderness areas, traverses five major river systems and penetrates eight of the state's mountain ranges. What makes the trail even more impressive is that it was created through a massive volunteer effort involving literally thousands of dedicated people. The CT is administered through an unusual joint venture involving the private nonprofit sector, represented by the Colorado Trail Foundation, and the public sector, by the US Forest Service. Because of this special relationship, the trail has been built and maintained largely through donated funds for just a small fraction of the cost that would otherwise have come out of taxpayers' pockets.

This unique wilderness path, designed to traverse some of the most scenic areas of the Rockies and the Continental Divide, is a unique experience for both body and soul. This revised guidebook to the trail describes all the wonders and beauty that you will see along the Colorado Trail. It chronicles the trees, flora, and fauna that you will encounter along the way. It will stir your imagination with the geological observations, creating a desire to know more of the area's ancient history and the powers of nature that formed this landscape. The Colorado Trail has also become a living history lesson, as it relates the tales of its earliest inhabitants, from Indians to turn-of-the-century miners and railroad barons. This guidebook makes the trail an educational reality.

The 28 segments that make up the Colorado Trail each represent a chapter in this guide. The average length of a segment is 17 miles, although actual distances vary from 11 to 29 miles. Most individual segments could conceivably be completed by day hikers with light loads, although some might make for a very long day. Backpackers with heavy packs could conceivably take many days to cover some of the longer segments. Those going from end to end might take two months to complete the entire distance, assuming they will hike about 9 miles per day, with one day off per week for side trips or relaxation.

Here's your official guide to hiking, backpacking, horsebacking and bicycling the CT, written by the Colorado Trail Foundation, the all-volunteer group which built and maintains the CT. Everything is here for you to enjoy the trail, whether out for a day, weekend backpack, or traveling the trail straight through!

- Completely updated with all the latest reroutes
- Expert advice on planning your CT experience
- Fascinating information on CT natural and human history
- Detailed descriptions for every mile
- Information for resupply at nearby towns
- Trail profiles showing all the ups and downs
- Full-color maps for every segment
- Complete GPS mapping information
- Over 90 gorgeous full-color photos
- Trip logs to record your adventures
- Now with "Gudy's Tips" from Gudy Gaskill, the "mother" of the CT

The Colorado Trail Foundation, located in Golden, Colorado, is the all-volunteer organization that built and maintains the Colorado Trail.

288 pages, 6" x 9", 29 color maps, 93 full-color photos, paperbound, $22.95, ISBN 0-9671466-6-6

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