Don’t have a car? No problem. Here are a few car-free ways to start and finish a backpacking trip. Suggestions are welcome so get in touch with me with ideas.
Colorado Trail
Many options exist for the Colorado Trail.
Beginning of Segment 1 Waterton Canyon
From Union Station/Downtown Denver, there are a few options to get to the Waterton Canyon TH.
The most convenient way from Union Station is via a car-sharing service like Uber, it’ll be around $45.
From Denver International Airport, take the A-Line to Denver Union Station. This is the largest bus/train hub in Colorado. If you need last-minute supplies, the Denver REI, Wilderness Exchange, and the Denver Rab retail store are all within walking distance and all are a block from each other.
From here, grab your Uber or do the lightrail/Uber to Waterton Canyon Trailhead. Happy trails.
There is a public transportation option by taking the RTD lightrail D Line. From Union Station, walk to 18th/California a few blocks away. D Line leaves between 15-30 minutes apart. Get off at the Littleton Mineral Station stop (end of the line). From there, you still have 9 miles left to get to Waterton Canyon. You can walk this if you would like, or take a car sharing service for approx. $18.
End of Segment 5, Beginning of Segment 6 at Kenosha Pass
Hey Rides Mountain Taxi and Shuttle offers a shuttle service to Kenosha Pass from Fairplay. Contact them to call in a shuttle and for up-to-date information on their services — they currently ask you to ask for the pickup beforehand (they won’t be waiting for you).
End of Segment 6, Beginning of Segment 7 Highway 9
Highway 9 intersects the Colorado Trail between Segment 6 and 7 and the Frisco/Breckenridge Summit Stage bus (free) has a stop conveniently right there.
From Denver Union Station, take the Bustang West Line west to Frisco. Grab the Frisco to Breckenridge Summit Stage bus to the Tiger Road bus stop. If you’re worried you’ll miss the stop, just ask the Bus Driver — it’s also known as the Gold Hill Trailhead. You’re not the first person to take the bus to this part of the Colorado Trail and you won’t be the last!
End of Segment 7/Beginning of Segment 8
Follow the same directions to get to Frisco from Segment 6/7 if you need that guidance. Once there, hop onto the free Frisco/Copper bus and get off the Copper Mountain Entrance. Cross the highway to the east, get on the paved bike path and walk south for a minute and you’ll run right into the CT
Private Taxi Services
The hinterlands of Colorado often lack car sharing services. Private Taxi services are around to fill in the gap:
- Trail Rides – “a shuttling service in Denver providing rides from Denver International Airport to trailheads along the Colorado Trail and Colorado 14ers along the Front Range“
- Hey Rides – “Centrally located in Fairplay, primary service area includes Kenosha Pass, Georgia Pass, Long Gulch, Rolling Creek and Gold Hill“