|
![]() |
The CTR: 470 miles and 65,000' of elevation gain winding through
the Colorado Rocky Mountains from Denver to Durango. Approximately
300+ miles of singletrack at elevations ranging from 5500' to a
gasping-for-breath 13,200'. The CTR is a monster! If the monster is in a good mood, you may experience
Colorado's beautiful sunny blue skies and wildflowers blooming as far
as you can see! But, be warned — the CTR's mood can change on a
whim, and you may just as likely find yourself getting besieged by
massive hailstones and lightning bolts. In short, don't come to this
race unprepared — no one will be there to rescue you.
The CTR is similar to The Arizona Trail 300 and The Great Divide Race. There is no entry fee, no support, no registration, and no prize money. It is an ITT (Individual Time Trial): all that is provided is a route description, a suggested start time, and a list of results. However, all individuals participating are strongly encouraged to donate time or money to the Colorado Trail Foundation. Without them, we wouldn't have this trail! |
Race Rules:
|
|
Colorado Trail Info: For the most part, the Colorado Trail is very well marked. However, you will want to purchase The Official Guidebook for a complete description of the actual trail segments and mountain bike detours. Any shortcutting or deviating from the course, intentional or not, will result in a DNF, so please study the route and know it well! You may, however, ride off course to resupply/sleep/eat as long as you return to the exact same spot you left. For the first runnings of the CTR ('07 & '08), detours around parts of the trail were taken to make the route as rideable as possible. This year ('09), that has changed and the route sticks to the trail as much as possible. There are segments with prodigious amounts of hike-a-bike, and also segments with miles on end of high alpine riding. In particular, the Cataract Ridge segment is not a good place to be during an electrical storm. So come prepared to do some hiking and to exercise good judgment regarding the weather. Also highly recommended for carrying en route is the Trailside Databook. The newest version (4th edition) has updated elevation profiles in addition to information on mileage, where to find water, good campsites, and also the Cataract Ridge Reroute. Here is a CTR GPX track and a 500 point pre-split CTR GPX track. DISCLAIMER: The resolution of these tracks is very coarse and may result in your getting lost on the trail. They are mainly for planning purposes and should be used alongside maps and written descriptions to assist with following the CTR route. |
![]() |
|
Course Description: Waterton Canyon to Wellington Lake Road - Ride Segments 1, 2, and 3. |
| Lost Creek Wilderness Detour (CHANGE FROM '07 & '08) - From Wellington Lake Road, head right for 8 miles into the town of Bailey. Ride US-285 for 20 more miles to the summit of Kenosha Pass and regain the Colorado Trail there. |
| Kenosha Pass to Wurtz Ditch Road (CHANGE FROM '07 & '08) - Ride Segments 6, 7, and 8. Ride the first part of Segment 9 to Wurtz Ditch Road. |
| Holy Cross / Mount Massive Wilderness Detour - Detour around the remainder of Segment 9 and Segment 10 as described in the guidebook. |
| Halfmoon Creek to Clear Creek Road - Ride Segment 11. Note: Do not ride the alternate old Hope Pass route. |
| Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Detour - Detour around Segment 12 and part of Segment 13 as described in the guidebook. Note: This includes following CR-371, NOT Hwy-24. |
| Avalanche Trailhead to Saguache Park Road - Ride the remainder of Segment 13, then ride Segments 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Leave segment 18 at Saguache Park Road to start the La Garita Detour. Note: The guidebook starts the next detour at Cochetopa Pass Rd., but you will ride an extra 6.5 miles along the CT to Saguache Park Road |
| La Garita Wilderness Detour (CHANGE FROM '07 & '08) - Go right on Saguache Park Road, and join the La Garita Wilderness Detour on Rd NN14. Follow the mandatory Detour to Spring Creek Pass as described in the guidebook. |
| Spring Creek Pass to Stony Pass Road. (CHANGE FROM '07 & '08) - Ride Segments 22, and rerouted (Cataract Ridge) segment 23. Note: This reroute is included in the latest Guidebook, 7th Edition "Revised", and will also be included in the CT Databook, 4th Edition. The Guidebook is in stores now, and the Databook will be available mid-June.. |
| Weminuche Wilderness Detour (CHANGE FROM '07 & '08) - Go right on Stony Pass Road and descend to Silverton. Climb the pavement up to Molas Pass and regain the CT there. |
| Molas Pass to Junction Creek Trailhead - Ride Segments 25, 26, 27 and 28. |
| To whet your appetite... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
2008 CTR Results: |
|
5d02h26m - Ethan Passant 5d03h49m - Jason Shelman 5d06h27m - Chris Plesko 5d23h47m - Jeff Oatley 6d04h06m - Brad Kee 7d01h46m - Trish Stevenson 7d06h45m - Dan Montgomery 7d07h00m - Dennis Helton 8d03h14m - Matt Fusco Did not finish: Marshal Bird - 40 miles from Durango Eddie Turkaly - Just before Durango Chris Neumann - Salida Doug Johnson - Hwy 114 Pete Basinger - Hwy 114 Curtis Burge - Cottonwood Hot Springs Tim Graczyk - Buena Vista Chuck Ray - South of Leadville Jim Ishman - Leadville Dave Nice - Copper Mountain Keith Eckstein - Frisco Alison Gannet - Frisco Kyle Stone - Kenosha Pass Travis Butler - Tarryall |
|
2008 CTR ITT Results: |
| 4d08h45m - Owen Murphy |
|
2007 CTR Results: |
|
5d05h30m - Jefe Branham 5d05h50m - Stefan Griebel 6d00h17m - Ethan Passant 6d04h51m - Jason Trimm 6d21h55m - Fred Wilkinson 7d05h15m - Matthew Lee Did not finish: ~475 miles - Mark Caminiti ~275 miles - Dan Montgomery ~100 miles - Dave Nice ~30 miles - Jim Ishman |