Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy landscape

Photo: Photo by Gennady Zakharin on Unsplash

Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy

~1 days · 11.1 mi · easy · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance11.1 mi
Days out1
Elevation gain2,421 ft
Gain / mile218 ft
High point7,858 ft
Difficulty index21/100

What the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy is known for

Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy on the Colorado Trail: a 1-day point-to-point section of about 11.5 miles from South Platte River Trailhead (Gudy Gaskill Bridge) to Little Scraggy Trailhead. Crosses the Platte River on the historic iron bridge, winds through the 1996 Buffalo Creek Fire burn area with open views and recovering lodgepole pine.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 20,161 ft to 25,692 ft over 11.1 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 7.8 mi · 71%
  • Downhill 2.5 mi · 22%
  • Flat 0.7 mi · 6%

Ridgefold breaks every route into uphill, downhill, and flat — see the full per-day breakdown in the app.

How hard is the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy?

21 / 100

On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy scores 21/100, a relative rating across the 569 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 — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy take?

Most backpackers hike the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy in about 1 days (0 nights out) over its 11.1 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy?

The Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy climbs roughly 2,421 ft total — about 218 ft per mile, topping out near 7,858 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.

Plan the Colorado Trail — Segment 2: South Platte River to Little Scraggy Plan Free →