Colorado Trail vs Long Path
A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.
Units
| Colorado Trail | Long Path | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 218 mi351 km | 347 mi559 km |
| Elevation gain | 21,896 ft6,674 m | 19,760 ft6,023 m |
| Typical duration | 15 days | 23 days |
| Difficulty | — | — |
| Route type | Point-to-point | Point-to-point |
| Network | Regional | Regional |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Best time to hike | Best from June to August | Best from September to September |
| Route & GPX | Route & GPX |
Colorado Trail vs Long Path: which should you hike?
At 347 mi559 km, Long Path is the longer route — roughly 129 mi208 km more than Colorado Trail (218 mi351 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Colorado Trail is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.