The Buffalo Creek burn area - near the east side of segment 2

Introduction
Segment 2 of the Colorado Trail is 11.3 miles in length and runs from the South Platte River trailhead to forest service road 550. Much of segment 2 runs through the Buffalo Creek Burn area. Because of the devastation in this area water is almost nonexistent.
 
Trailhead Access
Beginning - 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
Segment 2 starts at  the Gudy Gaskill Bridge (Waypoint 101) at the South Platte River parking area. Cross the bridge and take a quick left and the trail will pass along the west side of the river. Continue a short ways when the trail starts gaining elevation rapidly. You are going to gradually gain elevation for the first 4.8 miles of segment 2. Climb steeply until topping out at the edge of the Buffalo Creek burn area. There are some nice overlooks along this part of the trail. Enter the Buffalo Creek burn area where things will feel much more exposed. Off to your west is Raleigh Peak which is a Colorado ranked peak. It is rank #3546 and measures an elevation of 8,183ft. Continue heading west, eventually reaching a nice wooded area to the north of Raleigh Peak. Route finding here is easy. Reach waypoint 107 at 4.25 miles where there is a nice campsite. Continue generally uphill and reach waypoint 109 at 7,801 ft. There is a nice overlook here and this feels like it might be the highpoint. The highpoint for this segment is actually 40 ft higher at the very end of the segment. Waypoint 109 however is the second highest point along segment 2. Descend and reach a nice campsite at 5.14 mi (waypoint 110). Waypoint 111 is very near the 1/2 way mark of segment 2 and is a large dirt road crossing. Continue generally SW on a very well marked trail for .1 miles to a very small stream (waypoint 112). Note: I have never actually seen running water here but it is has potential. Immediately come to a trail junction that is not marked (waypoint 113). Continue past the trail junction through a nice wooded area to mile 6.05 where there is a great view of Raleigh Peak off to the east (waypoint 114). Continue on and find a nice campsite at 6.72 miles in a nice wooded area. You will then re-enter the burn area. Follow the well marked trail past the now burned and closed Top of the World campground (waypoint 117). As you approach HWY 126 you will be skirting along the north side of a private wooded ranch. Reach Hwy 126 and the trail will continue along the east side of the road. You have now left the Buffalo Creek burn area. Continue along a very short distance before crossing Spring Creek Trail (paved road). Hike a short ways along the east side of HWY 126 before crossing it at waypoint 119. You are now in the homestretch of segment 2 as the terminus is only 1.2 miles away. End at the Little Scraggy TH where there is a large parking area and a bathroom.