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Usage: Heavy Trail Number: 1,776 Length: 18 Miles USGS Maps: Quads: Granite, Harvard Lake, Mt. Harvard, Buena Vista West Ending Elevation: 9,400 Feet Elevation Gain: 2,840 Feet Difficulty: Moderate to More Difficult Beginning Elevation: 8,960 Feet Recommended Season: Summer Reservation: No Season: June - October
This segment of the trail is known as #12, it is approximately 18 miles long and most of it passes through the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. Therefore, this segment is open to foot and horse travel only. The Clear Creek Trailhead is located at 8,960' and immediately crosses private property heading south. Be sure to close both gates behind you. Not far from this gate you will begin to ascend out of the Clear Creek Valley. You'll cross Columbia Gulch and several small streams during your ascent. About 1 mile after crossing Columbia Creek Headwaters you'll reach the high point of this ascent (11,640'), which is the eastern ridge of Waverly Mountain. The trail descends into the Pine Creek drainage from here and provides a view of Mt. Harvard to the south. The Colorado Trail crosses joins the Pine Creek Trail and crosses the stream at 10,400'. After crossing the stream the Pine Creek Trail forks left toward its trailhead on Highway 24. The Colorado Trail continues moving south ascending out of the Pine Creek Drainage. The tread ascends the flanks of an unnamed peak of 13,241', reaching a high point of 11,840'. The trail passes the eastern side of Rainbow Lake approximately .5 miles before reaching this high point. A light trail (.3 miles) leads to the Lake, which provides a good camping site. The next stream the trail crosses is Morrison Creek; and then it begins to slowly drop into the Frenchman Creek Drainage. This is where hikers can take a side hike to Mts. Harvard and Columbia by heading west in the French Creek drainage. Hikers can gain access to the Mt. Harvard/Mt. Columbia Trail on the eastern ridge between the 2 14'ers. The Colorado Trail leads southeast after its intersection with the French Creek Trail and continues to descend into the 3 Elk Creek drainage. It intersects the 3 Elk Creek Trail at 10,280' then passes Harvard Lakes. The trail descends about 3 more miles to the North Cottonwood Creek Road. Turn right on the road and walk a short way until the trail resumes on the southern side of the road. Camping is allowed at undeveloped sites along the trail. The Pine Creek, Rainbow Lake and Harvard Lakes areas receive very heavy use. Camping is not recommended in these areas during the summer season.
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