Colorado Trail 16-17 Marshal Pass to Salida

Colorado Trail Segments 16-17
Total Miles: 35.3
Group Size: 10
Meet Time: 11 AM
Meet at:
Colorado Trail segment 18, Gunnison, CO 81230
Start at:
Marshall Pass Rd, Salida, CO 81201
Maps:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/colorado-trail-segment-16
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/colorado-trail-segment-17

Description:
Join us for an an early season opportunity to knock out 2 segments of the Colorado Trail! Segments 16 and 17 are typically free of snow mid-June. We'll be taking advantage of the Mid-week holiday for an awesome trip! This trip will have challenges though as water sources are spread out. We can either A: Hike and Camp water - to Water which will result in some weird mileage (each day will increase in mileage), or B: If participants are will to increase their carrying capacity to maybe 3-4 liters of water, we can do an even mileage split. When RSVP'ing for the trip, leave a comment if you prefer Plan A or Plan B.

Plan: A (Water to Water)
Day 1 : 3 hour 20 min drive from Colo Springs to end point.
Then 2 hour drive from Gunnison to Marshall Pass
3.6 Miles to Silver Creek Trail
Day 2: 7.5 miles to Seven Creek
Day 3: 12 miles to Baldy Lake. See Soldierstone as a side trip on the way.
Day 4: 13.7 miles to Trailhead

Plan: B (Possible Dry Camps)
Day 1 (Unchanged): 3 hour 20 min drive from Colo Springs to end point.
Then 2 hour drive from Gunnison to Marshall Pass
3.6 Miles to Silver Creek Trail
Day 2: 10.8 miles to Soldierstone for camp. Possible water in a storage tank.
Day 3: Refill water at Baldy Lake along the way. 11 miles to Razor creek which has a seasonal water source.
Day 4: 9.9 miles to trailhead. Seasonal water sources 7.9 miles

Requirements:

1. Fill out waiver: https://forms.gle/VkERmkk7ChV3f4c27.
2. Complete a qualifying hike - we do this to ensure everyone's safety and to make sure everyone is able to respect others. See calendar for upcoming hikes.

Resources:
The 10 Essentials: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html
What to Bring Backpacking: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html

Background:
In 2025, members of the Colorado Springs Backpackers will continue hiking our very own Colorado Trail—a goal we began in 2024. The CT is a 28-segment, 500-mile trail running from Denver to Durango. Trips will be less frequent but longer, with each segment tackled over weekends and holidays. Most segments are point-to-point, requiring carpool coordination. Planning is based on AllTrails, The Colorado Trail Databook, and the Colorado Trail Section Hikers Facebook page.