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A smoother, rolling section of the famous Colorado Trail.


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Map Key

13.3

Miles

21.4

KM

Point to Point

8,298' 2,529 m

High

7,368' 2,246 m

Low

2,015' 614 m

Up

1,418' 432 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

Section Of

Description

This section of the Colorado Trail is pretty level and rolling, with the exception of a dip/climb into and out of a valley approximately 9 miles into the route. It winds its way through pleasant ponderosa pine forests, making for an enjoyable outing on easier terrain. The largely shaded trail is smooth and gravelly and stays mostly singletrack in this section. The trail is shared by bikers and foot traffic but remains pretty quiet and secluded in general.

The trail is not overly steep, rocky or technical. Visitors will have plenty of access to scenic areas and views along the way, and can easily connect this trail to many other trails within Buffalo Creek, and surrounding wilderness areas. The trail does provide a nice, remote getaway. In the area you'll find interesting rock and boulder outcroppings, meadows and trails winding through areas where previous fires have exposed unique terrain to create an interesting landscape of downed trees, rocks and open grassy meadows mixed with pine forest.

This particular section does stay mostly wooded and is level at about 7,800 feet, until the end, where you'll climb to more like 8,000 feet. This trail is best in the spring and fall when temperatures are cooler as the area can be warm in the summer months.

Once you leave the confines of Buffalo Creek, passing the Meadows Group Campground, the trail stays nestled in the pine-filled woods, but begins a grueling climb to its terminus at CT - Segment 4 (Wellington Road).

Flora & Fauna

Deer, wildflowers, pines, birds, and butterflies, all call this area home.

Contacts

Shared By:

Jeffrey Williams

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 19 votes

#1

in South Platte

#465

Overall
  4.4 from 19 votes
5 Star
53%
4 Star
32%
3 Star
16%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in South Platte

#93

in Colorado

#465

Overall
23 Views Last Month
6,451 Since Dec 11, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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5%
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Photos

Segment 3. TREES! After scalding, barren Segment 2, this is a RELIEF!
Mar 31, 2019 near Pine, CO
Segment 3 of the CT. Stroll through the forest!
Mar 31, 2019 near Pine, CO
Segment 3. Good place for a tent!
Mar 31, 2019 near Pine, CO
CT Segment 3
Sep 16, 2017 near Pine, CO

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 7 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Oct 7, 2023
Tarita Fisher Boersma
with Al & Mesa pumped into ziplocs over packed snacks again (turkey sandwich was clutch though) 2L H2O was plenty for Mesa and I. 13mi — 5h 30m
Aug 10, 2023
Rachel Solorio
Jul 9, 2022
Keith Wilson
Jul 9, 2022
Kelli Baxstrom
Sep 13, 2020
Todd Chocol
14mi — 4h 52m
Aug 30, 2020
Beth Barron
Reverse direction 14.3mi — 3h 55m
Aug 30, 2020
David Barron
Ran from trailhead 3 to 4. Tough route, esp.the last third. 14.4mi — 2h 36m
Jul 26, 2020
David Barron
Started from Buffalo Creek campground #5 20.2mi — 1h 45m
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