DENVER, COLORADO — A new feature on the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) app aims to keep winter recreationists safer in Colorado’s backcountry. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has partnered with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) to integrate real-time avalanche forecasts, warnings, and safety alerts directly into the app.
The update comes as Colorado remains a top destination for world-class winter recreation, drawing skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers to its challenging and often avalanche-prone terrain. During the 2023-24 season, the CAIC recorded over 5,600 avalanches statewide, resulting in 148 people caught, 59 buried, and 13 injured. Tragically, two lives were lost.
What the COTREX Update Offers
The free COTREX app now delivers key avalanche safety information:
- Daily avalanche forecasts from CAIC experts.
- Active avalanche warnings, watches, and alerts.
- A new map layer that displays danger ratings and geographic-specific alerts.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
“For CAIC, providing timely information is key to helping people avoid avalanches and stay safe in the backcountry,” said Ethan Greene, Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. “By adding this data to the COTREX app, we’re making it easier for people to access essential safety information right from their phones.”
Beyond avalanche forecasts, COTREX connects users to over 50,000 miles of trails across Colorado, sourced from more than 235 land managers. The app allows adventurers to plan routes, view real-time trail advisories, and download offline maps — all features that promote safe and informed exploration.
Empowering Safe Exploration
With avalanche conditions often changing rapidly, CPW Deputy Director Heather Disney Dugan emphasized the importance of quick and accessible information. “We know avalanche conditions can change rapidly, so we want to do our part to share valuable safety information from reliable outdoor experts with our outdoor community,” she said.
However, the COTREX app is not a standalone safety solution. Backcountry travelers are still urged to check the CAIC Avalanche Forecast Map and carry essential avalanche safety gear, including a transceiver, shovel, and probe. Proper training in using this equipment is crucial.
For those looking to deepen their understanding, CAIC provides additional resources at colorado.gov/avalanche.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
Supporting Colorado’s Outdoor Legacy
This initiative aligns with CPW’s broader mission to promote responsible recreation and preserve Colorado’s outdoor spaces. Trail users are encouraged to support efforts like this by purchasing the $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass during vehicle registration.
For more information on winter recreation, trail updates, and upcoming events, visit CPW’s website at cpw.state.co.us.
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