Trip
Backpack – 3-Day: Sandbeach Lake from Sandbeach Lake TH
This trip is a 3 day, 2 night backpack trip to Sandbeach Lake in Wild Basin area of RMNP. Possibly hike to Mt Orton. Hopefully we will some nice color!
Contacts
- Mon, Sep 30, 2024 — Wed, Oct 2, 2024
- Northern Colorado
- Backpacking
- Adults
- Moderate to Difficult
- Moderate
- Mileage: 8.5 mi
- Elevation Gain: 2,060 ft
- High Point Elevation: 10,800 ft
- FULL, 5 on waitlist (5 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
We will determine meeting place and time once we get closer to the actual date of the trip.
I have secured a backpacking permit for Sandbeach Lake in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Wilderness Permit allows for a total of 6 people and 2 vehicles. My plan is to hike to Sandbeach Lake on Monday, September 30. It's about 4.2 miles to the lake with an elevation gain of about 2,000 feet. So it will be a long, kinda hard hike going in. The pace will be casual to moderate. Once at the lake, we will find our campsite, make camp and probably hang out around the lake. I understanding fishing can be pretty good.
The second day, I would like to hike to Mt. Orton. Per Alltrails, it's only about a mile hike, but there is no established trail. So there will be some bushwhacking making for a possibly more difficult hike. Those not wishing to do the hike to Mt. Orton are free to hang around the lake. After our day hike to Mt. Orton, we will spend a second night at Sandbeach Lake.
The third day, we will have a casual morning, pack up our gear, break camp and hike the 4.2 miles back to the trailhead.
Required Equipment
Since we will be in Rocky Mountain National Park, bear canisters are required and campfires are NOT allowed. Also, per RMNP description of the campsite, there is no privy, so we will have to establish a latrine.
Late September-early October can bring chilly temperatures. So be sure to have some warm clothes and adequate sleeping bag and gear. On the positive side of being chilly, bugs and mosquitoes should not be a problem. Be sure to bring your own cookware, stove, etc. and I would recommend a water filter or tablets.
The Wilderness Permit cost me $36. Though not required, I would hope participants will chip in and share that cost. Also the Wilderness Permit is a camping permit only. Each vehicle will still require a Parks Pass.
And last but certainly not least, don't forget your 10 essentials.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to me for more information. Although I have hiked and snowshoed into Sandbeach Lake, I have never backpacked to the lake. It's been on my radar for awhile, so hopefully this is the year.