What are the 8 Mountain Ranges?

[R Jay]

Everyone says there are 8 mountain ranges that the CT passes through, but I can't seem to find a definite list of them anywhere. This seems a bit bizarro to me. Front Range, Sawatch Range, and San Juan Mountains are three of them Anyone know what the rest are?

While we're at it, anyone know which five river systems the CT crosses?

[brian039]

Kenosha and 10-Mile Range are 2 more that I can think of. Probably the rest are sub-ranges in the San Juans or a pass somewhere that connects to another range that I can't think of.

[colorado_rob]

Kenosha and 10-Mile Range are 2 more that I can think of. Probably the rest are sub-ranges in the San Juans or a pass somewhere that connects to another range that I can't think of.

One more, the Mosquito range, the small range NW of Fairplay, though the CO trail doesn't really pass through it, unless Georgia pass and it's neighboring range is in the 'skeeters (as we call that range).

[colorado_rob]

The other CO ranges are the Gore range, the Sangre De Cristo range and the Elk Mountains, none of which the CO trail passes through (though near the Gores and Elks). As has been said, there are lots of sub-ranges down in the San Juans, like the Grenediers, the La Garitas and the Needle "ranges".

[Mags]

Good question. Esp about the rivers. If Bear Creek (who mapped the whole trail! ) does not know, try pinging the CTF. I guess it all depends on who classifies something as "range" and/or river system as the answer.

Googling brought up the statement but did not see a definitive list anywhere.

One example:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc...12992&actid=51

[bearcreek]

Depending upon just how literal you want to get as some ranges are subsets of others. These are the ones I come up with:

Front Range (Seg 1-4)
Kenosha Range and Tarryall Range, (Lost Creek WA, Long Gulch) (Seg 4-6)
Tenmile Range (Seg 7)
Sawatch Range (Seg 8- 15) Includes Holy Cross Range, Central Sawatch Range (Collegiates), Southern Sawatch Range (Mt Ouray)
Cochetopa Hills (Seg 16 – 19)
La Garita Mountains (Seg 20-21)
San Juan Mountains - Includes Grenadier Range - LaPlata Range (Seg 22 – 28)

[Mags]

Just out of curiosity, do you know the river systems by any chance? I am guessing it is like "ranges" in that IAD who is doing the classifying.

That 8 ranges/5 river systems factoid is all over the web; not sure where it originated.