Colorado Midland Centennial Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Cave · Commonly Backpacked · Fishing · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This scenic hike follows the path of a historic railway from the 1800s, and reaches an old railroad tunnel high in the mountain. Along the way you'll enjoy amazing wildflowers among a jaw-dropping landscape. The difficulty is moderate overall, but a few small creek crossings can create some muddy conditions, and the going is rocky in some parts. Watch your step, take your time, and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds this historic trail.

Standing water is often in the trail and a couple of small creek crossings. If you choose to camp, be prepared to pack it in, pack it out and please only use pre-established clearings for camp. Bring bug spray!

Leave the Midland Trailhead heading west past the large wooded sign and follow the singletrack trail for a couple of hundred yards till you join the old railroad grade. Follow the railroad grade south for about a mile then take a hard right up the hill on an old cobbly dirt road. At the next railroad grade head north and then follow a singletrack trail to the highest railroad grade that you'll join at Hagerman Lake.

The lake has great views and ample room to sit and enjoy a lunch. The fishing is supposedly good, and dispersed camp spots offer an opportunity to spend the night. People often camp here to make an enjoyable one-night backpacking trip.

From Hagerman Lake, walk about half a mile to the Hagerman Tunnel. After you've checked it out, head back toward Hagerman Lake for 100 yards then take the steep trail on your right down to small pond below to start on the rest of the loop.

From the pond, stay on the old rocky dirt road through the historic Douglass City (check out the informational sign) and cross the middle railroad grade. A quarter of a mile later, you'll reach the bottom railroad grade, take a left, and follow the grade for a mile back to the trailhead.

The Midland Centennial Trail was a railway built in 1883. It ran from Colorado Springs to Leadville and over the Hagerman Pass to Glennwood. At one point this was the highest railway in the world.