NOTE: Waterton Canyon Closure affects first 6 miles of CT:

Press Release:
Denver Water’s Strontia Springs Reservoir contains more than one million cubic yards of sediment — a result of forest fires and subsequent intense rains over the years. Increased sediment creates reservoir operational challenges and causes water quality issues that impact the functions of the Foothills and Marston water treatment plants. As a result, a Denver Water contractor will dredge the reservoir to remove at least 625,000 cubic yards of sediment — enough to fill the football field at Invesco to a height of more than 200 feet.

This large-scale project will require heavy machinery and equipment. To ensure the safety of those who recreate in the area, Waterton Canyon will be closed to the public for a number of months in 2010 and 2011 while the majority of the work takes place.

Waterton Canyon will be closed as follows:

- Monday, Aug. 2, 2010 until Sunday, Dec. 3, 2010
- Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 until Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011

Neither the parking lot at the canyon's entrance nor the canyon will be accessible during the closure. Some contractor activity will precede this date but there will be flaggers to caution the public during July.

Access to The Colorado Trail (CT) from Waterton Canyon also will be closed during these times. The next closest access to CT Segment 1 is via the Indian Creek Trailhead on CO Hwy 67, 10.5 miles west of Sedalia (see www.ColoradoTrail.org).

“We understand that Waterton Canyon is a very popular recreation site for people of all ages, and we know some will be inconvenienced by this closure,” said Neil Sperandeo, manager of recreation for Denver Water. “When the full scope of the project was completed, it was determined it would be unsafe to leave the canyon open during construction. We hope to make the canyon even better for recreation when it reopens in 2012."

Stacy Chesney
Denver Water
Media Relations

NOTE: The Colorado Trail Foundation has provided a re-route map:

Introduction
Segment 1 of the Colorado Trail begins at Waterton Canyon, Southwest of Denver, CO. This segment is 15.2 miles long and ends at the South Platte River, south of Conifer, CO.
Segment 1 begins at Waterton Canyon near the Denver Water Board facilities. The first 6 miles of the Colorado Trail are actually the Denver Water Board service road that ends at the Strontia Springs Dam. This 6 mile stretch of dirt road is quite easy with little elevation gain. There is no camping and no dogs allowed along the 6 miles of road.

Trailhead Access
Beginning - Waterton Canyon

Drive south from HWY C470 at the Wadsworth exit. This is also the exit for Chatfield State Park. Drive past Chatfield for 4.3 miles. Here you will take a left, following the signs to Waterton Canyon. If you do not turn you will immediately come to the secure gates of Lockheed Martin and will be turned around. After turning left, you will turn almost immediately into the parking area (on the left). This is a large day use area, especially on the weekends and in the warmer months.
End - South Platte River TH

From Denver - Take HWY 285 in the town of Conifer. Just past the center of town take the exit for Foxton Rd (right). Immediately come to a stop sign and turn left to pass back under the HWY. Go right and then come to another stop sign and turn left onto Foxton Rd. Follow this paved road for about 8 miles where you come to the intersection with Jefferson County Rd 96. Turn left on the now dirt road. Follow this road - along the South Platte river for 5 miles where you will reach the old South Platte Hotel (see the photos section for photos of the old hotel). Take a curve to the right past the old Hotel and pass over a bridge. 1/10 of a mile past this bridge is the South Platte River TH and the Gudy Gaskill bridge. This is the end of segment 1 and the start of segment 2.
Trail Details
Starting at the Waterton Canyon TH (5,520 ft), hike 6 miles along the Denver Water Board road. This entire road parallels the South Platte River. Vehicles other than authorized vehicles are not allowed on this road so the majority of the traffic you will find is on foot or bicycle. There are many picnic areas and bathrooms along the road and water is easily accessible. Reach the Strontia Springs Dam at just over 6 miles. Continue up the road just a little ways past some houses on the left and you will come to a sign and map for the Colorado Trail. Continuing along the road to the right you will begin to see your first real elevation gain. Just up the road there is a sign clearly marking the Colorado Trail. Leave the road here (left) and continue on the trail. Camping is still not allowed until reaching the sign at .2 miles from the turnoff. The trail will now be clearly marked that camping is allowed. However there really isn't any good camping until getting to the creek past "Lennys Rest" near mile 8.5. Just beyond these signs at mile 7 you will be at 6,150ft and will be experiencing steep switchbacks. There are still no good camping spots and no water here. Reach mile 8 still on the switchbacks. Just past mile 8 you will top out at "Lennys Rest" (6,545ft), a bench placed in honor of Leonard Southwell, a young eagle scout who perished in a hiking accident. There is a great camping spot just behind the bench but chances are it may be taken being that it is the first good spot along segment 1. There is also a turnoff here that takes you to Roxborough State Park. At "Lennys Rest" you will have gained about 1,000 of elevation since leaving the TH. Continue now downhill until you reach a small creek at a left turn in the trail. This is Bear Creek and can often be dry. Continue along the creek and find a good campsite at around 8.5 miles. There is a small stream just beyond this campsite that may have some water. Find another good campsite a very short way up the trail at 6,240ft. Just after this campsite is another very small stream. Hike about .4 miles and reach a sign warning of motorcycle traffic in the area. Though I've never seen any motorcycles in this area. Cross a stream at near mile 9.5. Shortly after the stream you will reach a sign and trail junction marking the junction with motorcycle trail #692. Come to another well marked trail junction at 7,150ft but continue on the Colorado Trail. You will eventually climb up a ridge where there are great views to the south and you get your fist look off in the distance at segment 2. You can also view the Haymen burn area here. The best campsite on segment 1 is on top of this ridge (near Mile 13). The spot is quite flat and has a great view. Only use it if the weather is favorable though. After walking along this ridge you will head back to the north a little to tackle some switchbacks. Find another nice campsite along the switchbacks at 6,900ft. Continue hiking now to the south and Gudy's bridge and end of the segment come into view. The rest of the segment is pretty uneventful, ending at a large parking area near Gudy's bridge. There is no camping allowed at the parking lot but there is plenty of water which you will need for segment 2 which has virtually no water.