Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain landscape

Photo: Photo by Yohan Marion on Unsplash

Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain

~1 days · 13.3 mi · moderate · Point-to-point

Quick facts

Distance13.3 mi
Days out1
Elevation gain3,740 ft
Gain / mile281 ft
High point12,497 ft
Difficulty index27/100

What the Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain is known for

Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain on the Colorado Trail: a 1-day point-to-point section of about 13.2 miles from Gold Hill Trailhead to Copper Mountain Far East Trailhead (Corn Lot). Alpine traverse across the Ten Mile Range through wildflower meadows with nearly 3.5 miles above treeline near the 12,495-foot summit between Peaks 5 and 6.

Route map & campsites

Route map of the Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain on OpenStreetMap terrain Open in Planner →

Route shape from OpenStreetMap geometry. Start · End · Camp

Elevation profile

Elevation ranges from 30,180 ft to 40,902 ft over 13.3 mi. Measured from OSM geometry (approximate).

  • Uphill 7.8 mi · 59%
  • Downhill 5.4 mi · 41%
  • Flat 0.0 mi · 0%

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 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain?

27 / 100

On the Ridgefold Difficulty Index, the Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain scores 27/100, 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 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain take?

Most backpackers hike the Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain in about 1 days (0 nights out) over its 13.3 miles, though pace varies with fitness and conditions.

How much elevation gain is on the Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain?

The Colorado Trail — Segment 7: Gold Hill to Copper Mountain climbs roughly 3,740 ft total — about 281 ft per mile, topping out near 12,497 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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