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You Are Here: Home > What Do You Want to Do? > Hiking > Durango Backpacking Trips
Durango Region Backpacking Trips/Trails Index
On This Page: Trips Map | Trips List
Backpacking Trips/Trails Map
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Trail marker.
Click for trail name, difficulty, miles and links to descriptive
webpages and/or quicksheets. Quicksheets are printable PDF files.
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Federal trail system marker. Click for system name, additional information and
links to descriptive webpages and/or maps.
WARNING: A marker close to another may hide it. Zoom in to separate overlapped markers.
View Durango Region Backpacking Trips in a larger map
Backpacking Trips/Trails List
TIP: To find the trails below on the map above: (1) remember the trail name below; (2) click the "list" icon in the upper left corner of the map above; (3) an alphabetized list of markers with trail names will appear; (4) click the trail you want in that list; and (5) its marker will be expanded on the map.
| Trip Name / Link to Description | 1-Way (mi) | Rise (ft) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animas River Trail #675.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "5 Purgatory Creek / Animas River Trails" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
6.7 + approach | +1,600 | Strenuous |
| Bear Creek, Little, Trail #609. USFS webpage. | 2.6 | ||
| Bear Creek Trail #607. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. USFS map. | 14.0 | +3,240 | Easy to Moderate |
| Big Bend Trail #519. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 6.0 + approach | -2,200 | Strenuous |
| Blackhawk Trail #501. Part of the Colorado Trail. USFS webpage. | 10.9 | ||
| Box Canyon Trail #617 / Box Canyon Spur Trail #171.
USFS webpage.
USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. See chapter "2. Big Al Trail and West Mancos River Loop" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
6.5 | ||
| Burnt Timber Trail #667.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "7 Endlich Mesa / Burnt Timber Shuttle Hike" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
7.0 | +3,100 | Strenuous |
| Calico National Recreation Trail, Lower, #211. (Also known as #208.) USFS webpage. | 13.2 | +2,400 | Strenuous |
| Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Trail System.
(Bureau of Land Management.
BLM webpage.
BLM map (downloads very slowly). See chapter "17. Sand Canyon Loop" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See section "X Sand Canyon" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
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| Cascade Creek Trail #510. (Also known as #815.)
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "3. Cascade Creek Trail" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
6.0 | +2,000 | Strenuous |
| Cave Basin Trail #530.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "10 Cave Basin Trail" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
4.5 | +1,560 | Moderate |
| Chicken Creek Trail #615. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. USFS map. USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. | 7.8 | +1,000 | Moderate |
| City Reservoir Trail #542. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 7.7 + approach | -583 | Strenuous |
| Clear Creek Trail #550. USFS webpage. | 6.0 | -2,800 | |
| Coal Creek Trail #677.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "48 Pass and Coal Creek Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
3.0 | +1,400 | Strenuous |
| Colorado Trail -- Segment 24. South and west from Stony Pass
to Molas Pass. Follows Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #813, Elk
Creek Trail #503, and Molas Pass Trail #665. These three trails are listed
separately on this page. See chapter for Segment 24 in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
20.2 | +3,475 -5,119 |
|
| Colorado Trail -- Segment 25. West from Molas Pass to Bolam
Pass Road. Follows Twin Sisters Trail #555 and Rico-Silverton Trail #507.
These two trails are listed separately on this page. See chapter for Segment 25 in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
20.9 | +3,799 -3,578 |
|
| Colorado Trail -- Segment 26. South from Bolam Pass Road to
Hotel Draw Road. Follows Blackhawk Trail #501. This trail is listed
separately on this page. See chapter for Segment 26 in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
10.9 | +1,827 -2,551 |
|
| Colorado Trail -- Segment 27. South from Hotel Draw Road to
Kennebec Trailhead. Follows Highline Trail #520. This trail is listed
separately on this page. See chapter for Segment 27 in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
20.6 | +4,186 -2,922 |
|
| Colorado Trail -- Segment 28. South from Kennebec Trailhead to
Junction Creek Trailhead. Follows Sliderock Trail #622 and Junction Creek
Trail #553. These two trails are listed separately on this page. See chapter for Segment 28 in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. See chapter "6. Colorado Trail -- Gudy's Rest" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See chapter "18. Slide Rock and Kennebec Trails" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
21.5 | +1,897 -6,557 |
|
| Columbine Lake Trail #509.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "7. Columbine Lake Trail" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
5.0 | +2,600 | Strenuous |
|
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #813. From Weminuche Pass
North to Stony Pass.
Part of the Colorado Trail.
USFS webpage. See chapter "37 Weminuche Pass to Stony Pass" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
27.7 + approach | Strenuous | |
| Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #813. From Stony Pass North via Maggie Gulch to Pole Creek West Fork. | |||
| Corral Draw Trail #521. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 5.0 | -2,345 | Strenuous |
| Crater Lake Trail #623.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "3 Crater Lake" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. See chapter "8. Crater Lake Trail" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See chapter "37 - Crater Lake" in Altitude Publishing's book The Best Hikes of Colorado. |
5.5 | +800 | Strenuous |
| Cunningham Gulch Trail #502.
(Line but no
number on USFS forest map.)
Mountain Travel Guide webpage. See chapter "1 Highland Mary Lakes Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
2.5 | +1,400 | Strenuous |
| Deer Creek Trail #678. USFS webpage. | 4.5 | ||
| Divide Lakes Trail #539.
USFS webpage. See chapter "12 Divide Lakes" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
2.1 + approach | ||
| Dry Fork Trail #616. USFS webpage. | 4.1 | ||
| Durango Hills Trail #071. No information available. | |||
| Dutch Creek Trail #516. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 9.7 | -2,200 | Strenuous |
| East Creek Trail #535. USFS webpage. | 10.4 | ||
| Elbert Creek Trail #512.
USFS webpage. See chapter "4. Castle Rock" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
9.9 | ||
| Elk Creek, Little, Trail #515. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 13.0 | -2,600 | Strenuous |
| Elk Creek Trail #503.
Part of the Colorado Trail.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "4 Elk Park / Chicago Basin Shuttle Hike" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
8.9 | +4,500 | Strenuous |
| Emerald Lake Trail #528.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "11 Pine River / Flint Creek Semiloop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
11.8 + approach | Strenuous | |
| Endlich Mesa Trail #534.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "7 Endlich Mesa / Burnt Timber Shuttle Hike" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
21.1 | +1,200 | Strenuous |
| Endlich Mesa Trail (Lower) #534. (Southern end also known as Freeman Park Trail.) (#548 on USFS forest map.) USFS webpage. | 6.0 | ||
| Engine Creek Trail #657. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 7.0 + approach | -2,600 | Strenuous |
| Engineer Mountain Trail #508.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "48 Pass and Coal Creek Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
11.0 | +2,000 | Strenuous |
| First Fork Trail #727.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "49 First Fork and Red Creek Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
3.4 | +1,700 | Strenuous |
| Flint Creek Trail #527.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "11 Pine River / Flint Creek Semiloop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
10.0 + approach | Strenuous | |
| Gold Run Trail #618. USFS webpage. USFS map. USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. | 2.2 | ||
| Goulding Creek Trail #517. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 2.7 | +2,100 | Strenuous |
| Granite Lake Trail #540 via Pine River Trail #523.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "13 Granite Lake" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
1.0 + approach | Strenuous | |
| Graysill Trail #506. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 4.5 + approach | +2,120 | Strenuous |
| Grindstone Trail #608 / Loop Trail #658 / Trail 614. USFS Grindstone Trail webpage. USFS Loop Trail webpage. | 4.2 + approach / 5.0 + approach |
||
| Haflin Creek Trail #557. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 5.0 | +3,000 | Strenuous |
| Hermosa Creek East Fork Trail. Labeled "BRNRT" on Latitude 40 Degrees Durango Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. No information available. | |||
| Hermosa Creek South Fork Trail #549. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 10.0 + approach | -2,400 | Strenuous |
| Hermosa Creek Trail #514. USFS webpage. | 20.0 | ||
| Highland Mary Lakes Trail #606.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "1 Highland Mary Lakes Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. See chapter "12. Highland Mary and Verde Lakes" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
4.0 | +1,690 | Strenuous |
| Highline Loop National Recreation Trail #520 / #607 / #608. USFS quicksheet. | 17.0 loop + approach | Strenuous | |
| Highline Trail #520. (Also known as Indian Ridge Trail.) Part of the Colorado Trail. USFS webpage. Mountain Travel Guide webpage. | 17.0 | ||
| Hoffheins Connection Trail #611. USFS webpage. | 1.2 + approach | ||
| Hope Lake Trail #410. (Line but no number on USFS forest map.) USFS webpage. | 3.2 | ||
| Ice Lake Trail #505.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet.
ORIC Trip
Map/Description Sheet (EE). See chapter "13. Ice Lake Basin Loop" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See chapter "68 Ice Lake Trail Waterfalls" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Waterfalls in Colorado. See section "W Ice Lake Trail" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. See chapter "41 San Juan County: Vermilion Peak" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. ORIC FAVORITE |
4.5 | +2,420 | Strenuous |
| Jones Creek Trail #518. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 3.25 | +1,700 | Strenuous |
| Junction Creek Trail #553. Part of the Colorado Trail. (Line but no number on USFS forest map.) USFS webpage. | 19.2 | +4,790 | Strenuous |
| Kitti Mack Mine Trail. TRAILDAMAGE.com webpage. | |||
| Lime Mesa Trail #676.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "6 Lime Mesa" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. See chapter "14. Lime Mesa Trail to Mountain View Crest" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
7.7 | +1,100 | Strenuous |
| Maggie Gulch Trail. Part of Continental
Divide National Scenic Trail #813.
TRAILDAMAGE.com webpage. See description "Maggie Gulch Rd 588" on Latitude 40 Degrees Telluride / Silverton / Ouray Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
4.0 | ||
| Minnie Gulch Trail.
TRAILDAMAGE.com webpage. See description "Minnie Gulch Rd 587" on Latitude 40 Degrees Telluride / Silverton / Ouray Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
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| Missionary Ridge Trail #543.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "49 First Fork and Red Creek Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
8.2 | +2,704 | Strenuous |
| Molas Pass Trail #665.
Part of the Colorado Trail.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "2 Molas Trail to Elk Park" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
4.0 | -1,100 | Strenuous |
| Morrison Trail #610 / Morrison Spur Trail. USFS webpage. USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. | 11.3 | +940 | Moderate |
| Needle/Johnson Creeks and Chicago Basin Trail #504.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. ORIC
Trip Map/Description Sheet (E) See chapter "4 Elk Park / Chicago Basin Shuttle Hike" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. See chapter "38 - Chicago Basin" in Altitude Publishing's book The Best Hikes of Colorado. See chapter "35 La Plata County: Mount Eolus" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. ORIC FAVORITE |
17.0 | +4,680 | Strenuous |
| Neglected Trail #547. USFS webpage. | 6.2 + approach | ||
| Pass Creek Trail #500.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "9. Engineer Mountain" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See chapter "48 Pass and Coal Creek Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
2.2 | +1,400 | Strenuous |
| Piedra River First Fork Trail #538. USFS webpage. | 10.0 | ||
| Pine River Trail #523.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet.
USFS trailhead webpage. See chapter "11 Pine River / Flint Creek Semiloop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
24.5 | +2,500 | Strenuous |
| Pine-Piedra Trail #524. (Also known as the Pine-Piedra Stock Driveway.) USFS webpage. | 16.7 | ||
| Pinkerton-Flagstaff Trail #522. USFS webpage. | 8.3 | ||
| Priest Gulch Trail #645 / Priest Gulch Cutoff Trail #201. USFS webpage. | 7.8 | +4,100 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Purgatory Trail #511.
USFS webpage. See chapter "5 Purgatory Creek / Animas River Trails" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
4.5 | -1,000 | Moderate |
| Red Creek Trail #726.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "49 First Fork and Red Creek Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
3.5 | +1,800 | Strenuous |
| Rico-Silverton Trail #507. Part of the Colorado Trail. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 8.0 | +400 | Strenuous |
| Rim Trail #613.
USFS webpage.
USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. See chapter "2. Big Al Trail and West Mancos River Loop" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
3.0 | -700 | Moderate |
| Rincon La Osa Trail #525. USFS webpage. | 6.2 + approach | ||
| Rincon La Vaca Trail #714.
(Also known as Skyline
Trail #564 and Opal Lake Trail.)
USFS webpage.
14ers.com webpage. See chapter "31 The Window" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas |
5.3 + approach | ||
| Rock Creek Trail #655. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 5.0 + approach | +1,800 | Strenuous |
| Rocky Gulch / Canby Mountain Trail. No information available. | |||
| Rough Canyon Trail #435. USFS webpage. | 5.0 | ||
| Ryman Creek Trail, Lower, #734. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheeet. USFS map. | 3.1 + approach | ||
| Ryman Creek Trail, Upper, #735. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheeet. USFS map. | 5.2 | ||
| Salt Creek Trail #559. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 6.0 + approach | -2,600 | Strenuous |
| School House Trail #660. USFS webpage. | 2.0 | ||
| Section House Trail #200. USFS webpage. | 2.7 | ||
| Sharkstooth Trail #620.
(Also known at Williams Trail #612.)
USFS webpage.
USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. See chapter "5. Centennial Peak" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
6.8 | ||
| Shearer Creek Trail #558. USFS webpage. | 7.8 | ||
| Sierra Vandera Trail #524. (Also known as #541.) USFS webpage. | 4.3 | ||
| Sliderock Trail #622. Part of the Colorado Trail. (Line but no number on USFS forest map.) USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 2.2 | +1,400 | Strenuous |
| Snowslide Trail #653. USFS webpage. | 4.8 + approach | ||
| Stevens Creek Trail #728. USFS webpage. | 7.3 | ||
| Tenderfoot Trail #644. USFS webpage. | 4.0 | ||
| Transfer Trail #192.
USFS Transfer Campgound webpage.
Mountain Travel Guide webpage. See chapter "2. Big Al Trail and West Mancos River Loop" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. |
1.5 | -650 | Moderate |
| Twin Sisters Trail #555. Part of the Colorado Trail. USFS webpage. | 10.9 | ||
| Vallecito Trail #529.
USFS webpage. See chapter "9 Vallecito Creek Trail" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. See chapter "4 Elk Park / Chicago Basin Shuttle Hike" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
19.5 | ||
|
Weminuche Trail #592.
USFS webpage.
Mountain Travel Guide webpage. See chapter "12 Divide Lakes" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. See chapter "13 Granite Lake" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
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| West Lime Creek Trail #679. USFS webpage. USFS quicksheet. | 3.0 | +1,100 | Strenuous |
| West Mancos Trail #621.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet.
USFS map.
USFS Transfer Campgound webpage. See chapter "2. Big Al Trail and West Mancos River Loop" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See chapter "11. Hesperus Mountain" in Colorado Mountain Club book Pack Guide: The Best Durango Hikes. See chapter "37 Montezuma County: Hesperus Mountain" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. |
11.0 | +2,000 | Moderate |
| Whitehead Trail #674.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet. See chapter "1 Highland Mary Lakes Loop" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. |
4.0 | +1,200 | Strenuous |
| Wildcat Trail #207. USFS webpage. | 6.3 |