Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass landscape

Photo: Photo by Thomas Morse on Unsplash

Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass

~1 days · 14.6 mi · moderate · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance14.6 mi
Days out1
Elevation gain3,048 ft
Gain / mile209 ft
High point12,874 ft

What the Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass is known for

Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass on the Colorado Trail: a 1-day point-to-point section of about 14.7 miles from San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass Trailhead. High alpine ridge walk through La Garita Wilderness with significant mileage above 12,000 feet along the Continental Divide before descending to paved Spring Creek Pass.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 35,876 ft to 42,215 ft over 14.6 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 5.6 mi · 39%
  • Downhill 8.4 mi · 58%
  • Flat 0.5 mi · 3%

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

Frequently asked questions

How many days does the Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass take?

Most backpackers hike the Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass in about 1 days (0 nights out) over its 14.6 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass?

The Colorado Trail — Segment 21: San Luis Pass to Spring Creek Pass climbs roughly 3,048 ft total — about 209 ft per mile, topping out near 12,874 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.

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