The 2021 Colorado Trail Race (CTR) runs from Durango to Denver, following the entire Colorado Trail route. There are nearly 90 participants tackling the race this year. Follow along on the Trackleaders map here…
The Colorado Trail features 500 miles and 70,000′ of elevation gain winding through the Colorado Rocky Mountains between Denver and Durango. Approximately 300+ miles of the route are on singletrack at elevations ranging from 5500′ to a hypoxic 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.
The CTR is similar to The Arizona Trail 300 and Tour Divide. There is no entry fee, no support, no registration, and no prize money. It is a self-timed 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!
Follow along live below:
For more on the Colorado Trail, click here. Also, watch this film to get a sense for the race culture and terrain. Eddie Clark followed along the 2019 Colorado Trail Race, taking photos of the action, which can be seen here.