Colorado Midland

Pretty landscape around the old railroad bed

This hike follows the railroad bed of the first standard gauge line to cross the Continental Divide and ends at the Hagerman Tunnel (11,528-ft.), the highest railroad tunnel in the world at the time it was built in 1887.
See Trail Detail/Full Description

• Distance: 7.0 miles (round trip) to Hagerman Tunnel
  
• Elevation: 10,940-ft. at Trailhead
  11,528-ft. at Hagerman Tunnel
  
• Elevation Gain: 550-ft. to Hagerman Tunnel
  
• Difficulty: easy-moderate
• More Hikes in:
  Leadville / Central Colorado

Why Hike Colorado Midland

This easy, interesting hike walks along sections of the Colorado Midland railroad bed to Hagerman Tunnel (11,528-ft.), the highest railroad tunnel in the world at the time it was built in 1887. Construction of the line, the first standard gauge line to cross the Continental Divide, is considered by some to be one of the greatest feats in railroad history. Along the way the trail traverses pretty meadows, visits two small lakes and passes the remains of trestles, snow sheds, cuts through solid rock and the ruins of Douglass City, which housed immigrants that built the line.

Elevation Profile

Trail Resources

Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map

Basecamp(s) Information:
Leadville

Region Information:
Central Colorado

Other Hiking Regions in:
Colorado