How much it cost me to thru-hike the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango

Here's how much money I spent while thru-hiking the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango, what I spent that money on, where I spent it, and when I spent it.
Other videos you may be interested in:
-How to plan a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail: • How to plan a thru-hik...
-The 4 pieces of gear that did me dirty on the Colorado Trail: • The 4 pieces of gear t...
-Colorado Trail 2022 documentary: • Colorado Trail 2022: T...
-How to plan a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail: • How to plan a thru-hik...
-Colorado Trail playlist: • Colorado Trail .
Info on Colorado Trail towns/ resupply points:
-From The Trek: thetrek.co/the...
-From the Colorado Trail Foundation: coloradotrail....
Buy my Appalachian Trail memoir, "Where the Rhododendrons Bloom" on Amazon and Kindle: amzn.to/4977DMA.
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My backpacking gear list:
Backpack: Gossamer Gear Mariposa (bit.ly/3uwYyLg)
Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20 F Down (bit.ly/2XtIjkk)
Sleeping bag liner: Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner (amzn.to/2OsJ1WX)
Tent: Zpacks plexamid (zpacks.com/pro...)
Sleeping pad: Nemo Tensor (bit.ly/3mllIPz)
Emergency GPS device: Garmin inReach mini (bit.ly/3sIH1gp)
Rain jacket: Marmot PreCip (bit.ly/3BYy9qM)
Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket (amzn.to/32jbIxz)
Cookware. Titanium pot (amzn.to/3j8r0v2), cup (amzn.to/3jaKK0S), and long-handled spork (amzn.to/38YR2wd)
Water filter: Sawyer Squeeze (amzn.to/32l1EUC) and Evernew water carry system (amzn.to/3fxNlA5)
Bear bag: Ursack Major XL bear sack (bit.ly/3bi6aa0)
Dry bags: Sea to Summit (amzn.to/3j9K643)
Hiking boots: Oboz Sawtooth Lows (amzn.to/38ZkKRC)
Trowel: Tentlab Deuce of Spades (amzn.to/2Wo74dH)
Ibex's sun umbrella: bit.ly/3qmTiqi.
Kula cloth (pee cloth) (bit.ly/2ZqrbMQ)
Portable phone battery charger: Anker (amzn.to/3jeZqwn)
Trekking poles: Black Diamonds (amzn.to/3ezC0OD)
Headlamp: Black Diamond Astro (amzn.to/32odEVl
Socks: Darn Toughs (amzn.to/390oZMD)
Underwear: Ex Officios (amzn.to/3etg8UR)
Puffy coat: Patagonia Nano Puff (bit.ly/3vTKXwd) and Patagonia Micro Puff (bit.ly/3Gsnkjm)
Camp shoes: Teva Women’s Original Universal Sandals (amzn.to/3CKqvkL)
Other: Clothes (quick drying/ layers!), pillow (amzn.to/2ZxW5AE), sunglasses, hand sanitizer, bug spray, sun hat, sunscreen, personal hygiene items, small sponge, knife, trail map, gloves, hat, etc.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something using these links, I may receive a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

[@TeriCrook-i1c]

Thanks for the great advice for the CT. Heading to the US from Australia Aug 2024 to do the CT. You have been very informative for my logistical planning- thank you!!

[@AudreyAdventures]

You're welcome and happy trails!

[@Glazehikes]

Thanks for this video. I’m planning for 2024, so this is super helpful. I actually feel relieved by your “higher” budget only being $2000. Now I’m feeling very on track. Thx. Peace and happy trails

[@AudreyAdventures]

Glad you found it helpful! People get so up in arms when you talk about money haha.

[@kerrykells7052]

Enjoyed this video, too! You pronounce "trail" like "trial" which I think is actually quite endearing. Thank you for this video.

[@AudreyAdventures]

Thank you! 😄 And lol that is the western NY accent you are hearing

[@david_W5QDF]

Glad you enjoyed your time on the Colorado Trail. 🥾🥾🥾

[@AudreyAdventures]

Thank you, David!

[@WildMoosebear]

Great vid. Thank you

[@AudreyAdventures]

You’re welcome!

[@kennethschaidle5995]

Per your great suggestions, the next time I get to hike in Colorado I think I'll base out of Lake City. Thanks for Your wonderful videos.

[@AudreyAdventures]

Excellent!! I don't think you will regret it! :)

[@A-K_Rambler]

Beer Stipend!

[@AudreyAdventures]

You are the best - thank you so much!! ❤️

[@JoshuaRoevear]

A month long vacation for 2 grand is pretty good. I dog sit for some folks that just spent over 10 grand on a 2 week vacation!

[@AudreyAdventures]

WOW!! Where did they go?!

[@JoshuaRoevear]

@@AudreyAdventures They rode first class on Amtrak to Colorado, $2,000 for 2 nights, then they flew to Florida, where they stayed at the Stars Wars resort, $6,000 for 2 nights! Then they took a cruise in the Florida Keys, god only knows how much that cost.

[@bscirex]

I think you did great with spending. Treat yourself! Thanks for your transparency !

[@AudreyAdventures]

Thank you so much! I did spend a little more than I thought I would but no regrets, I had a fabulous time. :) I hope you do too - happy trails on the CT this summer!

[@bubbalovesoatmealadventure108]

Oatmeal and eye thank ewe for this. Your motion pitchers are getting us all excited about next summer. We want to go slow...how long did it take you to do?

[@AudreyAdventures]

You could definitely do it much slower than me! I did it in a month.

[@Rymbeld]

When you said at the beginning that you splurged, I was expecting a much higher dollar value! that doesn't sound bad at all.

[@AudreyAdventures]

Oh thank you - that number seemed high to me!! Haha. I was only spending about $1,000 a month on the AT so this was double. Something that definitely kept it down though was hiking with my two friends, and sharing hotels with them in towns. Plus since we were on a schedule, we couldn’t slack off and stay in towns longer - we had a limited time to be there then had to get a move on.

[@phoxtrot1]

Hey Glowstick, That wasn't too bad for a month of hiking and enjoying life. Safety

[@AudreyAdventures]

Thanks, Safety! I felt like it was a lot because I treated myself a lot. 😂 I only spent about $1,000 a month on the AT so this was about double, but since it was only for a month I figured I would splurge haha.

[@lisaweppler1669]

Love watching your videos. Will you do the wonderland trail?? Peach

[@AudreyAdventures]

I actually have it on my list for next year but you have to enter a lottery to get permits so we shall see! Cross your fingers for me!! 🤞🤞🤞

[@lisaweppler1669]

@@AudreyAdventures Was thinking of trying it as well. gonna try for the lottery but we will see. I'm a little worried about the elevation and acclimating. I live on the East coast and the gain and loss can play havoc with breathing Peach

[@AudreyAdventures]

@@lisaweppler1669 In that case good luck to you on the lottery as well!! And yeah I’ve heard it’s a tough trail so I would for sure try to train ahead of time. I’m sure you would get used to the elevation quickly.

[@rico16135]

You're so cute. Thanks for the videos. Very informative

[@AudreyAdventures]

Haha well thanks. Glad you found it helpful!

[@sherileepoetcmt]

Enjoying your videos. Hiked this trail (most of it, long story) almost 30 years ago. Thinking about doing it again. Was no KZbin back then, no cell phones. Carried guide book, maps, and a huge camera. Yes, a very heavy pack. Did you carry any maps or guidebooks (or just use the Far out app)? So I noticed in all 3 videos I've watched I don't think you mentioned mosquitos. To my memory, they were awful. How did you take video? How did you keep your electronics charged? Your videos are so personal, I almost started to ask you a question like you were sitting in my living room, lol. I'm hoping to hike the trail again in the next 5 years before I get too old. So thanks for keeping this old girl updated on how to do it in the modern age, lol. 😂 Also curious what you ate since I am now mostly vegetarian (I do eat fish occasionally so might pack tuna).

[@sherileepoetcmt]

P.S. I sent myself way more restock packages. Walked to Jefferson from Kenosha Pass (so dumb). Gave away tons of food.

[@AudreyAdventures]

That's amazing you're planning to do it again! Can you give me the short version of why you hiked most of the trail? You piqued my curiosity! I did not have any issues with mosquitos, but we hiked from early August to early September. Most of my run-ins with Colorado mosquitos have been early in the backpacking season when the snow is still melting. Think late May, June, maybe early July. I filmed with just my iPhone, and I used an Anker external battery to keep my electronics charged. I only used FarOut - I did bring a compass but no paper maps. The CT is generally really easy to follow. As far as food, I have a video on that! Let me go find the link and I will drop it below.

[@AudreyAdventures]

Here is the video about the food I started the trail with: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJu9m6iMgZWUebs. And here is one about packing my resupply boxes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH7LdWZnqqpjg7c. I'm always looking for new ideas so let me know your favorite trail foods as well!

[@nadyn2721]

Wow this is so helpful, thank you! I'm preparing for a 2023 CT thru hike. My partner will work from CO and support my hike. Any ideas of how to find a 1 month rental for a reasonable amount? Airbnb is crazy expensive for the area.

[@AudreyAdventures]

Yeah unfortunately prices are just high here and summer is high tourist season in the mountains. Where in Colorado is your partner trying to stay? It might make sense to make home base in different spots for a week at a time. For example, maybe one week in Denver, one week in Leadville, one week in Salida or Buena Vista, and one week in Silverton. Or something along those lines. In Boulder, we have a “Boulder Creative Housing” page on Facebook where people will list sublet opportunities. You can of course find those on Craigslist too. So that might be an idea as it gets closer. I bet other towns have similar FB pages. It’s gonna be tough to find something affordable in some of the more touristy mountain towns though, for example Breckenridge. Are you on the Colorado Trail 2023 Facebook page? People on there might have some good ideas. Many of the folks who join live in Colorado and I believe it’s run by the Colorado Trail Foundation.

[@nadyn2721]

@@AudreyAdventures that's so helpful, thank you for taking the time to provide such a great response. I'll try searching for local facebook groups. Unfortunately changing locations every week isn't in our budget, so hoping to find a month long (or longer) sublet. Thank you!

[@Adeodatus388]

I'm hoping to walk the CT this year, too - which will leave four empty rooms in my house here in Littleton, CO. Not exactly central for quick access to the whole trail, but Waterton Canyon (the traditional start) is ten miles from my door. Let me know if this abode could be of use.

[@JohnSmith-xi2oq]

Completely agree with your breakdown. Forget going cheap, think of it as a vacation/adventure. Disagree with your gear cost. Im sure you already had most everything, but at somepoint you sunk cost into gear. Looks like your tent was a dcf tent so at least 500.00 for a tent.

[@AudreyAdventures]

I already owned my gear - I did not have to purchase it for the Colorado Trail. If you were breaking down costs for a road trip, you wouldn’t mention the cost of the car if you already owned it. Same same.

[@SeeYouOnTheSummit]

What dates did you hike th trail? Thank You

[@AudreyAdventures]

August 4 to September 4