Colorado Trail — Collegiate West
6 days · 207.8 mi · strenuous · Multi-day trek
Quick facts
What the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West is known for
The Collegiate West alternate of the Colorado Trail (shared with the CDT), about 80 miles point-to-point over the crest of the Sawatch Range between the Twin Lakes split and its rejoin with Collegiate East near Monarch Pass. Sustained high-elevation travel — Hope Pass, Lake Ann Pass and long stretches above treeline — takes most hikers 5-7 days. With Collegiate East it forms the ~160-mile Collegiate Loop.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 27,448 ft to 40,741 ft over 207.8 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 106.5 mi · 51%
- Downhill 68.8 mi · 33%
- Flat 32.3 mi · 16%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
Frequently asked questions
How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West?
The Colorado Trail — Collegiate West climbs roughly 42,697 ft total — about 205 ft per mile, topping out near 12,772 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry and stats derived from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) — source relation. Stats are approximate and may differ from official surveys; permit rules and conditions change — verify with the managing authority before your trip. Last reviewed July 2026.