CDNST
CDNST Trail is a 31-mile trail in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 38.9126° N, 106.4688° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 38.3503° N, 106.2492° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 9 segments.
The trail
| Length | 31 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | CDNST |
| Forest | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (unit 0204) |
| States | Colorado |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Collegiate Peaks WildernessFS · the line touches the boundaryWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedNorth Endor Piles Rx
16 mi from the trail midpoint · 5 acres
- PrescribedCo Fire Camp Rx
18 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedRx -Salida Fire Camp
18 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedNorth Trout Creek Rx
20 mi from the trail midpoint
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the CDNST Trail?
The Forest Service records 31 miles under this name in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, the sum of 9 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the CDNST Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the CDNST Trail start?
The line begins at 38.9126° N, 106.4688° W and ends at 38.3503° N, 106.2492° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the CDNST Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
Where can I camp near the CDNST Trail?
Mirror Lake Campground (1 mi), Middle Quartz Campground - Gunnison RD (2 mi) and Quartz (2.8 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 5 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the CDNST Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the CDNST Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the CDNST Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the CDNST Trail?
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Forest Service unit 0204. The trail is in Colorado.
Source: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page
Is there a fire near the CDNST Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest North Endor Piles Rx at 16 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 9 segments named CDNST in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0204. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.