Backpack the East Inlet Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park past scenic waterfalls and on to a series of alpine lakes.
BPX Routes & Places
This moderate, 17 mile point-to-point shuttle hike begins at Bierstadt, stops at Helms Lake and Abyss Lake, and ends at the Burning Bear Trailhead, and features more net elevation loss than gain (3300 feet lost on final day). Enjoy views of Bierstadt, Mt Evans, and some alpine lakes on this fun one-way trip that requires setting up a car shuttle.
Abyss Lake is nestled in a high glacial cirque between Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Evans. We’ll set up camp along Abyss Lake trail, approximately 4 miles and 1,400 vertical feet from TH, and then day hike up to Abyss Lake the following day.
Easy 3-day out and back backpack trip (5.5 miles / 730 ft.) along Scott Gomer Creek in the Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) Wilderness with day hiking options on the second day.
Ansel Watrous Campground (5820') is on Hyw 14, 22 miles west of Fort Collins, on the south bank of the Cache la Poudre River. The two-loop campground is one of the best campgrounds in Colorado. "Colorado Campgrounds" gives it 5-stars for tents, 4-stars for shade, 4-stars for scenery, and above average for privacy. Recreation activities here include hiking, fishing, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing.
Arapaho Bay Campground is located on Lake Granby southeast of Grand Lake. Visitors enjoy great views, hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation. Numerous trails are nearby for day hikes with elevation gains from 500' to 2500'+
Ascend through aspen and pine forests up the Bear Creek drainage past old mines to reach Bear Lakes just at timberline in a cirque below the Continental Divide with two lakes for camping.
This 11.7 mile / 2,709 ft. elevation gain/loss loop in the Mount Evans State Wildlife Area (SWA) and Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) Wilderness Area goes through interesting burn areas, beaver ponds, and meadows. Wildlife is abundant here.
This out and back is in the Lost Creek Wilderness area near Bison and McCurdy Mountains ascending from the Lost Park Trail Head. Total distance out and back about 26 miles which includes side trips (totaling 5 miles) up Bison Peak and McCurdy Mountain. Total Elevation gain 2900 ft. with the side trips up the mountains and to Hay Creek as day hikes.
Bogan Flats is located just northwest of Marble, Colorado. Camp along the Crystal River at what the USFS calls "one of the most scenic campgrounds in the Sopris District." From here, you can explore the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, as well as historic Marble and the 9-mile hike to Crystal Mill, one of the most iconic and photographed structures in the Mountain West. [This Trip is intended for active BPX members only. https://www.cmc.org/groups-sections/special-interest-sections/backpacking-section]
This 17.5 mile loop (3,400 ft. gain/loss) in the Rawah Wilderness Area. The Rawah Wilderness is located in the southern Medicine Bow Mountain Range and was one of the five initial wilderness areas created in 1964. “Rawah” is a Native American term meaning “wild place.” The Rawahs are host to elk, moose, mule deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, marmot and beaver. This trip will visit four or five lakes with great fishing.
Only 33 miles from Colorado Springs, Mueller has both walk-in and drive-in campsites with settings of spruce, fir and aspen. Many sites have great views of Pikes Peak. Three well appointed lodges are also available year-round. Mueller is #23 in Gil Folsom's "Colorado Campgrounds The 100 Best and All the Rest".
This 6 mile loop with 2,100 vertical feet is a challenging hike but the rewards from the high-alpine lake are worth every drop of sweat equity. Camp in the same place for both nights. Options on day 2 include a day hike up tp Electric Pass, chilling at camp or fishing. Need to be fit, and able to sleep at 12,000ft to really enjoy it. Lake is popular with day hikers.
Chambers Lake Campground is described as "extraordinary" by Gil Folsom in this guidebook "Colorado Campgrounds, The 100 Best and All the Rest". At 9200' the campground has 51 sites for both tent and RV camping.
Hike to two delightful lakes in the Holy Cross Wilderness in White River National Forest. Enjoy great scenery and excellent fishing. Visit Mystic Lake located in a glacial cirque. Totals for this 3-day Out and Back are 8 miles and 1800 ft elevation gain.
This is a mellow dip your toes into a backpacking trip. Great for you all who want to ‘test out’ backpacking in Colorado. This trip will give you an opportunity to test your systems at a chill pace with a chill agenda. Add to that, a little four mile taste of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and the Colorado Trail, a slice of Segment 11, with an opportunity to fish, hike, climb or putter, and you have a great three day trip to look forward to.
Alternate ascents to passes and descents to creeks and rivers on this segment of the Colorado Trail. Great views of the Arkansas River Valley and the Mosquito Range, the Sawatch Range, and Mount Massive. Shuttle back to starting point. Easy trip with total 10.6 miles and 2,178ft elevation gain
Colorado Trail - Segments 4 & 5 trip is a beautiful 30.3 mile hike (one way) with an elevation gain of about 5,398 ft. It starts at the Rolling Creek Trailhead near Bailey, CO, travels through the northern part of the Lost Creek Wilderness, has beautiful views of South Park, and ends at Kenosha Pass East Trailhead.
Hike on the Colorado Trail along the edge of the remote La Garita Wilderness from Spring Creek Trailhead to San Luis Pass. Experience unusual terrain on Snow Mesa and grand views above the pass. This portion of the La Garita Wilderness is known for its wildlife, wildflowers, volcanic pinnacles, and extensive vistas.
Colorado Trail Segment 3 starts at the Little Scraggy TH and travels 12.2 miles through fir and pine forest and over multiple streams in Pike National Forest to the Rolling Creek TH. This route requires a shuttle and is a multi-use trail shared with mountain bikers. The terrain is more gentle than on most of the CT, but there are occasional ascents and descents.