Chaffee County, Colorado. The mountains. The wide open spaces. The Arkansas River. And the people. Nothing beats living here.

For seven consecutive days, on April 1-7, 2010, I walked through Chaffee County from north to south.

The idea started when I was a teenager. For years, I daydreamed about what it would be like to walk a long distance on railroad tracks. Then, in early 2010, I quit my job and had the free time and money to do this adventure. As I studied maps, the multi-day hike evolved into a full north-to-south walk of the county.

On the first day, I began one mile north of Granite at the county line of Lake and Chaffee counties. The dormant railroad tracks along the Arkansas River guided me south through Granite, Buena Vista, Johnson Village and Nathrop. Eventually I hiked through scenic Browns Canyon and made it to Salida, the county seat.

From Salida, I left the railroad tracks and walked to Poncha Springs via U.S. Highway 50, and on the last day, I ascended to Poncha Pass on the county's southern end.

In all, the estimated mileage was 61 miles. On this page are my photos and story.

Adjacent Photo: Click to view the map at a larger size. The red line shows my route from north to south. The far ends of the county are cut off, but you get the point. This Chaffee County map was provided by Collegiate Peaks Realty.

Common Questions

How did I document this trip? I snapped photos and posted them on daily pages on this website. (The left column on this page has all seven days for you to read.)

Did you camp? Naaaah. I'm not much of a camper. I live in Buena Vista and coordinated with friends who shuttled me to starting and ending points.

Did you go alone? One friend hiked with me from Stonebridge portage area (south of Browns Canyon) to the southeast side of Salida on Monday (4/5), but that was it. I live in Chaffee County and this region is home. It's not like I was in a foreign country where I didn't speak the native language.

How long was the trip? Seven consecutive days.

Do trains travel on these railroad tracks? No, they do not. These tracks are the old Denver & Rio Grande Western line. Trains stopped running in 1997.

Thank you for visiting! -Steve :)