Colorado Trail — Collegiate West
~6 days · 63.8 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 30,246 ft to 40,892 ft over 63.8 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 35.7 mi · 56%
- Downhill 25.9 mi · 41%
- Flat 2.0 mi · 3%
Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.
How hard is the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West scores 50/100, a relative rating across the 1,243 trails we've mapped, blending distance, elevation gain, and steepness. It is a comparison within our set, not an official rating.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West take?
Most backpackers hike the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West in about 6 days (5 nights out) over its 63.8 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Collegiate West?
The Colorado Trail — Collegiate West climbs roughly 22,749 ft total — about 357 ft per mile, topping out near 12,680 ft.
Related trails
Sources & attribution
Route geometry from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 — 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.