Colorado Trail Snow Report

The Colorado Trail snow report is designed to aid hikers in determining the best time to head into the mountains based on snow conditions. Each hikers skill-set and comfort level with these conditions will differ.

The Colorado Trail snow report uses SNODAS modeled snow data and MODIS reflectivity data. SNODAS gives us a good idea about the quantity of frozen water sitting on the ground, denoted by SWE (Snow Water Equivalence) in inches. Coverage is often poorly represented by SNODAS where snow cover is thin. The 8 day MODIS data, without regard for quantity, shows us what areas were snow covered at some point over the last 8 days. Cloud cover and darkness adversely affects MODIS detection significantly, hence we use the 8 day as opposed to the single day coverage. This is the only combined MODIS/SNODAS CT snow map on the internet.

Snow page updates November 1st - July 28th

Trail snow is not snow pack. The Postholer snow page focuses on snow on or near the trail, at trail elevation, not on snow condtions thousands of feet lower/higher and miles away from the trail. Ski resort snow reports and snow pack charts are a very poor representation of trail snow conditions.

Free & Simple Trail App

Snow Season Probabilities
Below Normal	Normal	Above Normal
20%	80%	0%
This is not a prediction. This is not an absolute statement of future conditions. It is deterministic based on current and past conditions. This gives insight to April 1st conditions, the closer to April the greater the accuracy.

SNODAS SWE, Entire Trail

Colorado Trail Snow Conditions, current SWE by mile

Colorado Trail
topographic maps

SNODAS/MODIS, Denver to Salida, CO

Colorado Trail Snow SNODAS/MODIS, Crabtree Mdw to Tuolumne Mdw

View SNODAS and/or MODIS overlays on Postholer Google Map. Last SNODAS update was Jun 4, 2023. Last MODIS 8 day was May 25, 2023 to Jun 2, 2023. MODIS: No Data, Snow cover.

SNODAS SWE, Rockies

Colorado Trail Snow Conditions, current by mile

Colorado Trail Snow Conditions, current/extreme years

Colorado Trail Snow Conditions 2004 to current