Rocky Mountain National Park Backpacking Trip
July 26th - 28th
"Highly recommend Rocky Mountain Hiking Company! Carly was an awesome guide - her passion for the outdoors is incredible. She is fun to be around, loves what she does, and is very enthusiastic about her new and growing hiking company." - Cat, Chicago, IL
Let's go backpacking for two nights in Rocky Mountain National Park! This trip is for any person who wants to spend time outside while being moderately challenged and enjoys relaxing in the late afternoons and evenings. We’ll visit the beach at Lake Verna, sleep on an island campsite under the stars, hike, eat, see alpine lakes and waterfalls, and get a much-needed break from screens!
10% of proceeds from this trip will go directly to Big City Mountaineers as part of their Adventure For Someone program. BCM is based in Denver, CO, and provides free, fully outfitted, and professionally led outdoor and backcountry trips to youth ages 12 to 18. Their trips give youth the opportunity to connect with nature and strengthen their communities, skills, and resilience.
Hiking Itinerary
The week before your hiking trip, your RMHC backpacking guide will contact you to double-check you have everything you need to make your adventure as enjoyable as possible.
Day 1 (6 Miles, 1900 feet of elevation gain): We'll meet at the East Inlet Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park at 8 am and begin our 5.5-mile hike to the Gray Jay campground, which is technically an island! This hike is uphill and can be considered strenuous, so we’ll take our time. We follow the East Inlet creek for almost the entire hike, which gives us plenty of places to take snack breaks! After arriving at our campsite, we’ll set up camp and relax. This island campsite also has some nice foot-soaking spots!
For dinner, we’ll stroll up to Lone Pine Lake and eat our hot meal while perched on rocks above the water.
Day 2 (6 Miles, 900 feet of elevation gain): The morning will start off with a hot mountain breakfast and coffee and tea, and then we will begin our day hike to several alpine lakes. We'll be leaving all of our gear behind for this hiking adventure so that we can fully enjoy everything the hike has to offer, without carrying extra weight.
After hiking up to Spirit Lake (at 10,300 feet) we'll eat lunch at Lake Verna (weather permitting), which feels like you’re at a beach in Rocky Mountain National Park! After lunch, we'll make our way back to our campsite, keeping an eye out for any moose sightings (and pikas!).
Day 3 (6 Miles, minimal elevation gain): On our last morning of waking up under the sky and listening to the creek flowing around our island campsite, we'll sip on coffee and tea while eating our hot breakfast. After breakfast, we'll pack up and hike back to the trailhead (which is mostly downhill!). Just before arriving at the parking lot, we’ll take a very short side trip to see Adams Falls.
A Note On Altitude
We recommend arriving in Denver and/or Grand Lake, CO a few days before your trip, as this backpacking trip is high altitude and will range from 9,000 to 10,000+ feet.
What's Included
- All food for the trip, including meals and snacks
- Coffee and tea
- Bear canister
- Two Expert Guides, Certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR
- Detailed list of what to bring
- Rocky Mountain National Park Entry Permit and Wilderness Campsite permit
- 2-way GPS communication
- First aid kit
- Communication between you and your guide(s) from the moment the trip is booked to when you arrive in Colorado. We are available to answer any and all questions leading up to your trip.
Gear can be provided at an additional cost for this backpacking trip.
Cost
$750 per person ($225 due at time of booking to reserve your spot)
Capacity: Up to 7 people
This trip requires 4 people for it to run
Book This Trip
To book this two-night backpacking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park, please email us at the below and a member of our team will be in touch to schedule your trip reservation:
Questions?
carly@rockymountainhikingco.com
Cancellation Policy
Trip cost includes a 15% non-refundable administrative fee. Hikes can be canceled up to 6 weeks before the trip for a refund (minus the 15% fee). Refunds will not be issued if you cancel the trip within 6 weeks or less before the start date. Within 48 hours, a refund will only be offered if Rocky Mountain Hiking Company cancels the basecamp backpacking trip due to severe weather.
We hike rain, or shine, or in wildfire smoke as long as Rocky Mountain National Park is open.
If your guide does an exceptional job, please feel free to show your appreciation with a tip. Industry-standard gratuity for a guided backpacking trip is 15-20% of the trip price.
Our trip itinerary is subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Rocky Mountain National Park Backpacking Trip: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring my own gear to this backpacking trip?
We can provide camping and hiking gear to you for an additional cost during your Rocky Mountain National Park basecamp backpacking trip. Of course, if you have your own gear and prefer to use that, you definitely can!
How many miles will we hike each day?
The number of miles you'll hike each day on this guided backpacking trip will range from 5.5 miles to 6 miles.
Where do we meet?
We'll meet at the East Inlet trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park near Grand Lake, CO. This is approximately a 2-hour drive from Denver, CO.
Do I need to bring food for this Rocky Mountain National Park backpacking trip?
We provide all your meals (and snacks) for this Rocky Mountain National Park guided backpacking trip! Examples of food consist of instant oatmeal, dried fruit, nuts, dehydrated meals, and much more. We also provide pour-over coffee and tea for breakfast. Our team is more than happy to accommodate any dietary preferences during your basecamp backpacking trip.
How do I know what to pack for this Rocky Mountain National Park backpacking trip?
We'll provide you with a complete list of what to pack for your basecamp backpacking experience once you book your trip. We're also available to answer any specific questions leading up to your basecamp backpacking trip to ensure you have everything you need to have a comfortable adventure. We do our best to place an emphasis on keeping your pack weight light since in our years of experience, we've learned that carrying 10 to 20 pounds is much more enjoyable than 40 pounds.
What happens if it rains during this backpacking trip or if there is smoke from wildfires?
We hike and backpack rain or shine, or if there is wildfire smoke. If we decide the conditions are not safe, we will cancel the trip and give you the choice of a full refund or a new trip. Our trip itinerary is subject to change based on weather, permitting, and other unforeseen circumstances.
