The CT Series is a special series of hiking articles about the Colorado Trail that runs from May through October. The CT is a unique and well-maintained continuous trail, spanning 485 miles from Denver to Durango. The Colorado Mountain Club Guidebook to the Colorado Trail is an indispensable tool for planning and executing trail excursions. The book divides the CT into 28 segments of varying length. The Colorado Trail Foundation website (coloradotrail.org) also has a ton of useful information.

—

Twin Lakes are lovely mountain reservoirs surrounded by an extensive sagebrush shrubland with scattered 13ers and 14ers lining the horizon. This CT section travels from near Twin Lakes to the Mount Massive Trailhead at Halfmoon Creek and from Woodland Park the Twin Lakes launching pad is a shorter drive of about an hour and 45 minutes.

The best way to access this route is via the parking area at the South Mount Elbert Trailhead. From Highway 82 at the Twin Lakes reservoirs, drive northwest on County Road 24 for about 1.25 miles to the large parking area at the South Mount Elbert Trailhead. Hike southwest on the trail for about a few hundred yards to connect to the CT at MM 6.7 and bear right to continue westward.

The trail climbs to reveal a ring of alpine peaks with the Mount Elbert complex straight ahead. Off to the left the lie a series of 13ers, with Twin Peaks in the foreground and Rinker Peak rising beyond in addition to Mount Hope and Quail Mountain perched above the reservoirs. The route bisects a small grove of aspen and after about .75 mile cross a creek bridge. About 150 yards past the bridge hit an intersection with a trail that leads to Twin Lakes Village and bear right to continue on the CT.

Along the way at some trail intersections, the CT signage helps hikers stay on track and after about another mile cross a bridge. After about another quarter mile the South Route up to Mount Elbert diverges on the left and bear right to continue on the CT through mixed pine and aspen forest.

Pass beaver-gnawed aspens along the trail and a huge beaver lodge in the middle of a pond. After about another quarter mile at an opening on the left, note an entire hillside blanketed with an extensive aspen grove that would surely look spectacular in fall color season.

After about another half mile cross Herrington Creek and after about another mile bear left on an old logging road. Over the next mile cross a couple more creeks then reach the signed North Route to Mount Elbert on the left. Bear right and continue on the CT for about another 1.25 miles to a bridge over Halfmoon Creek and the turnaround point at Forest Service Road 110. Note that this route can also be executed as a shuttle hike but would require about an extra hour of drive time shuttling the vehicles.

Joe LaFleur has lived in Woodland Park since 2016 and has logged about 200 miles of the Colorado Trail from Denver to the Salida area. Contact Joe with questions or feedback at joe@betterbirdwatching.com. Hiking is great exercise but can be hazardous. Always be sure to plan well, check the weather, bring a printed map, tell someone where and when you are going and contact them when you return safely.