Throughline
Throughline Trail is a 13.2 miles 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 West Elk 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 | 38.7189, -107.4556 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 38.8124, -107.3129 · 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 3 segments.
The trail
| Length | 13.2 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 8860 |
| 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 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
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
- West Elk Wilderness WildernessFS · about 81% of the line is insideWilderness 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
Open May · listed none 14 day camping limit. | 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Fire nearby
- WildfireElk
45 mi from the trail midpoint · 7,257 acres · 73% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Throughline Trail?
13.2 miles, the sum of the 3 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Throughline Trail?
hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Throughline Trail start?
The line begins at 38.7189, -107.4556 and ends at 38.8124, -107.3129. The nearest recorded trailhead is Throughline/Coal Creek TH (Dispersed)-Paonia RD, 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Throughline Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters West Elk Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: West Elk Wilderness Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Throughline Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Source: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page
How developed is the Throughline 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 Throughline Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Throughline Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Throughline 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 Throughline Trail?
1 active incident within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Elk at 45 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 3 segments named THROUGHLINE 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 September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.