Colorado Trail — Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle
~2 days · 17.1 mi · moderate · Point-to-point
Quick facts
What the Colorado Trail — Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle is known for
Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle on the Colorado Trail: a 2-day point-to-point section of about 17.2 miles from Spring Creek Pass Trailhead to Carson Saddle (Wager Gulch Road). Reaches the highest point on the entire Colorado Trail (13,271 ft) along the Continental Divide, with sweeping exposed alpine travel between Creede and Lake City.
Elevation profile
Elevation ranges from 35,866 ft to 43,474 ft over 17.1 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).
- Uphill 9.7 mi · 57%
- Downhill 6.4 mi · 38%
- Flat 0.9 mi · 5%
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 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle?
On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Colorado Trail — Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle scores 23/100, 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 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle take?
Most backpackers hike the Colorado Trail — Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle in about 2 days (1 nights out) over its 17.1 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.
How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle?
The Colorado Trail — Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle climbs roughly 3,711 ft total — about 217 ft per mile, topping out near 13,264 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.