Colorado Trail --Vail Valley

COLORADO TRAIL #2108 -

TO KOKOMO PASS

Length: 5.76 miles (one way) Trail Use: Moderate

Difficulty: More to Most Difficult Open To: Hiking, Horseback

Beginning Elevation: 9,350 ft. Ending Elevation: 12,020 ft.

Elevation Gain: +2,670 ft. USGS Map(s): Pando, Copper Mtn

Access from Vail : From I-70, take Exit 171 for Minturn and Hwy. 24. Turn right and continue south on Hwy. 24 for 17 miles to Road #702 (at north end of Camp Hale immediately after crossing a bridge over the railroad tracks), turn left. Follow Road #702 for 1 mile to Road #714 (past bridge crossing East Fork Eagle River). Turn right onto Road #714 and proceed 2.5 miles to trailhead on left. Look for the 4 x 4 wood post marking the Colorado Trail.

Trail Highlights : The trail begins on the left side of Road #714 in a sage meadow. The trail parallels the road for 0.6 miles then joins Road #714 again. Continue east on #714 for 800 feet to another sage meadow where the trail turns to the north, climbing through the meadow for 0.8 miles before crossing

Cataract Creek over an attractive arched bridge; there is a waterfall upstream form the bridge. The trail climbs again to an old logging road and follows the road for 2.5 miles, winding up through a steep canyon to an abandoned sawmill site. From there, the trail gains elevation along three switchbacks to an alpine meadow before ascending up a steep ravine to Kokomo Pass.

Camp H ale History : Camp Hale was an Army base during World War II providing training in mountain survival and winter warfare. The men who trained here were sent to the Apennine Mountains in Italy and were instrumental in bringing about the surrender of the Germans in Italy. The "B" slope was where the soldiers learned skiing techniques before training was transferred to skiing to Cooper Ski Hill. Camp Hale has remains of old Army constructed buildings, the rifle range and field house. Note: Please stay on the trail in this area as there may still be unexploded ordinance in the Camp Hale area even though clean-up projects have taken place: Please leave all ammunitions and ordinances in place and report findings to the Ranger Station.

Trail Map

Questions? Just Ask!