The Most Beautiful Days on the Colorado Trail

Day 16 – Lake Ann to Cottonwood Pass, 13.4 miles

When I’m in the higher mountains I like to arrange my day so that I’m up and over a pass first thing. Get it done while my legs are strong and recovered, and also before any weather roles over.

We’d camped at tree line, about a mile below Lake Ann Pass. As with most mornings we awoke to clear blue skies – perfect!

The ascent to Lake Ann Pass gave us great views of Lake Ann itself in a small alpine bowl. The view on the south side of the pass was quite epic – we could see for hundreds of miles across valleys and to distant peaks.

Instead of dropping down into the trees we got to follow a newly built trail that kept us at and above tree line, looping through a couple beautiful alpine bowls before heading down into the river valley.

We took a nice lunch break at the river, letting our feet cool off in the water.

After lunch it was a steady 1300 foot ascent to a campsite near tree line where we called it for the day, a bit earlier than usual. We were still a couple miles from Cottonwood Pass but the trail ahead was going to be waterless and a lot more exposed, with fewer camping options. I wanted to play it safe. The weather confirmed my decision with some rain and an afternoon thunderstorm!

Another hiker shared our campsite and once the rain passed we had a small campfire to take the edge off the damp. Another lovely evening after a beautiful day.

Day 17 – Cottonwood Pass to North Fork Chalk Creek, 18.1 miles

Today was the type of day I’d been waiting to experience along the Colorado Trail – 16 miles all above tree line, hugging the Continental Divide the whole time.

It was the first and only day so far that we had perfect weather all day – clear or lightly clouded skies and just the touch of a breeze. Words can’t do this section justice, so I’m going to let the photos do most of the work.

We started out from our campsite and ascended a few hundred feet to Cottonwood Pass, a twisty turny seasonal road through the Wasatch Range.

We went up and over Cottonwood Peak and then hugged the west side of the Divide for a bunch of miles.

We crossed through a saddle to the east side and were treated to views of a beautiful lake and meadows. It was amazing to be so high above the trees!

The trail followed just below the ridge line and took us past a couple rock glaciers and through a big boulder field before sending us up and over a pass.

We circuited through another beautiful alpine bowl, then hit our highest point yet on the Colorado Trail – over 12,800 feet!

We crossed through one more beautiful alpine bowl and then it was time for a 1500 foot descent to the North Folk Chalk Creek.

There were already a handful of other hikers at the camp, but we were able to squeeze our tents in. My spot was a bit lumpy but I figured I’d be sleeping just fine after such an incredible day.