Top Summer Backpacking Trips Near Denver
Rocky Mountain National Park (credit: CBS)Colorado is known for its amazing hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing, fishing and more. It's a wilderness lover's paradise and every summer the mountains explode with wildlife, picturesque views and more just waiting to be explored. Get your fill of the stunning Colorado scenery with a weekend backpacking or hiking trip. You can make it a single day trip or bring some gear and plan for a weekend of exploration and adventure. Just be sure to bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen and you're sure to have a memorable time.
1000 Highway 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-1206
www.rockymountainnationalpark.com
Sure, it's one of the busiest national parks in the Country, but summer is a great time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for a few days. You can rent a campsite and explore the hundreds of acres of wildlife, forests, lakes and more. Check out Bear Lake for an easier hike or visit one of the many fourteeners that attract thousands of visitors every year. If you want to truly set out on a backpacking adventure, make sure to get a backcountry permit for camping, then you can seek a ranger's advice for the best spots to meet your specific hiking needs. Keep in mind that Rocky Mountain National Park gets more than 3,000,000 visitors every year, so weekdays will be far less busy than the weekends.
Breckenridge, CO 80424
(970) 468-5400
www.fs.usda.gov
One of the most beautiful summer backpacking and hiking spots near Breckenridge is the Crystal Lakes. Though you can reach the lower lake with a decent four-wheel-drive vehicle, you'll want to set out on foot with your backpack to really enjoy the hike. The Spruce Creek Trailhead will take you on a two-and-a-half-mile hike to the lower lake, where you can find many camping spots and beautifully scenic, panoramic views to enjoy overnight. Keep an eye out for mountain goats and bighorn sheep, as both animals call this area home, so you may even luck into some beautiful wildlife sightings.
Related: Top Hiking Trails Near Denver
Nederland, CO 80466
(970) 887-4100
www.fs.usda.gov
Visit the James Peak Wilderness to backpack around two stunning lakes – Rogers and Heart Lakes. Both are accessible by a four-mile trail that starts at the East Portal Trailhead. You then can climb up the steep trail to the Continental Divide where you can explore the summits of a few different mountain peaks. No camping permits are needed here, and the fishing in Heart Lake is worth the hike alone (though there are no campfires allowed and only gas stoves.) Just be sure to give yourself plenty of time to relax to enjoy the scenic beauty here, as it's one of the most stunning spots to hike in Colorado.
US-6
Golden, CO 80403
(303) 271-5925
www.jeffco.us
If you're looking for a backcountry experience without traveling too far from home, check out the Centennial Cone Park. This 12-mile trail is a challenging backpacking trip with amazingly stunning views of Clear Creek and plenty of elk and other wildlife to check out. The trails themselves are pretty easy, but the climb is long and there are some steep drop-offs that make this more of an intermediate or advanced hike. Since the trip isn't that far from Denver, you'll only ascend to about 7,917 feet, so the elevation gain is minimal and very spread out. The gradual ups and downs make it a perfect strolling hike for a weekend trip for two.
Conejos Peak, CO 81120
www.fs.usda.gov
Another stunning backpacking spot that is often missed in Colorado is the Conejos River Loop in the South San Juan Wilderness. This loop trail is about 14 miles, but there is a steep altitude change near the Continental Divide. You'll find sweeping panoramic views of the river, waterfalls, wildlife and more. This is the scene of the last confirmed grizzly bear sighting in 1979. Be sure to spend some time at Conejos Falls for some really spectacular views. This full trip will take you about three days round trip, so it's a great weekend backpacking escape for you and a few good friends.
