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Colorado Trail Segment 23: Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead (Cataract Ridge Cataract Lake Segment 23 Colorado Trail COT)
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
15.5 mi
3,424 ft
One of the most remote, highest-elevation, and drop-dead-gorgeous sections of the Colorado Trail.
The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long distance mountain bike trails in the world. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado. The COT forms one third of the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, along with the Arizona Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
According to , Segment 23 runs 15.9 miles and gains 3,515 feet of elevation from Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead. A continuation of the high altitude section begun in Segment 22, according to this zone of the Colorado Trail doesn’t drop "below 12,000 feet for over 30 continuous miles, not even once."
The continued high elevation trail lends itself to epic views, singletrack alternating between flow and rock, and extended hike-a-bike sections. "The trail reaches a high point and rounds a bend with a new view. Again I’m struck by the area’s raw beauty,” writes Jamie Compos. "Around each corner there’s just more of the same – these tundra basins flanked by gently curving ridges, morphing into scree slopes crowned with rocky outcrops.”
This area of the Colorado Trail is exceedingly remote, with Lake City and Silverton being the only spots to refuel or get help. And both of those towns are separated by miles and miles of some of the most rugged terrain you may ever mountain bike. If attempting to thru bikepack this section, make sure you’re prepared.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
The Colorado Trail (COT) is widely regarded as one of the very best long distance mountain bike trails in the world. Running for 535 miles between Denver and Durango, the trail crosses high alpine mountain passes and drops into beautiful valleys as it traverses the most beautiful portions of the state of Colorado. The COT forms one third of the Triple Crown of Bikepacking, along with the Arizona Trail and the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.
According to , Segment 23 runs 15.9 miles and gains 3,515 feet of elevation from Carson Saddle to Stony Pass Trailhead. A continuation of the high altitude section begun in Segment 22, according to this zone of the Colorado Trail doesn’t drop "below 12,000 feet for over 30 continuous miles, not even once."
The continued high elevation trail lends itself to epic views, singletrack alternating between flow and rock, and extended hike-a-bike sections. "The trail reaches a high point and rounds a bend with a new view. Again I’m struck by the area’s raw beauty,” writes Jamie Compos. "Around each corner there’s just more of the same – these tundra basins flanked by gently curving ridges, morphing into scree slopes crowned with rocky outcrops.”
This area of the Colorado Trail is exceedingly remote, with Lake City and Silverton being the only spots to refuel or get help. And both of those towns are separated by miles and miles of some of the most rugged terrain you may ever mountain bike. If attempting to thru bikepack this section, make sure you’re prepared.
Sources:
Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| No o2 | 3.26 mi | 978 ft | 4.3% |
| CT Segment 23 West Bound | 14.74 mi | 1,007 ft | 0.2% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 2.04 mi | 961 ft | 8.8% |
| Carson Pass down to pond by Cataract Lake (W. Bound) | 1.81 mi | -623 ft | -6.5% |
| County Road 35 Climb | 1.35 mi | 659 ft | 9.3% |
| That really good downhill | 0.61 mi | -423 ft | -12.9% |
| County Road 24 Climb | 0.72 mi | 351 ft | 9.2% |
| County Road 24 Climb | 0.97 mi | 436 ft | 8.4% |
| County Road 3 Climb | 0.34 mi | 282 ft | 15.4% |
| Colorado Trail to Stony Pass | 1.40 mi | -371 ft | -3.4% |