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Denver Region Backpacking Trips/Trails Index
On This Page: Trips Map | Trips List
Backpacking Trips/Trails Map
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Trail marker.
Click for trail name, difficulty, miles and links to descriptive
webpages and/or quicksheets. Quicksheets are printable PDF files.
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Federal trail system marker. Click for system name, additional information and
links to descriptive webpages and/or maps.
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State trail system marker. Click for system name, additional information and
links to descriptive webpages and/or maps.
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Local trail system marker. Click for system name, additional information and
links to descriptive webpages and/or maps.
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View Denver Region Backpacking Trips in a larger map
Backpacking Trips/Trails List
TIP: To find the trails below on the map above: (1) remember the trail name below; (2) click the "list" icon in the upper left corner of the map above; (3) an alphabetized list of markers with trail names will appear; (4) click the trail you want in that list; and (5) its marker will be expanded on the map.
| Trip/Trail Name / Links to Description | 1-Way (mi) | Rise (ft) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abyss Lake Trail #602.
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listings. See chapter "2. Abyss Lake" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "1. Abyss Lake" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. See description "Abyss Lake Trail 602" under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
8.8 | 3,000 | Strenuous |
| Bard Creek Trail #83. USFS webpage. | 10.0 | +600 | |
|
Beartrack Lakes. Full route description:
ORIC trip
map/description sheet (A). Route uses the following two trails: Beaver
Meadows Trail #44 (USFS webpage);
Beartrack Lakes Trail #43 (USFS webpage). ORIC FAVORITE |
11.11 loop | +2,393 | Moderate |
| Beaver Meadows Trail #44.
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC
trail map/description sheet
(3). ORIC FAVORITE |
8.78 loop | +2,016 | Easy to Moderate |
|
Ben Tyler Trail #606. Nice, close-in, overnight backpacking
location.This trail climbs, but the lower section should be
accessible by Memorial Day weekend.
USFS webpage.
USFS map.
Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC trail map/description
sheet
(4). See chapter "7. Ben Tyler Trail to Kenosha Ridge" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "4. Ben Tyler Trail to Kenosha Ridge" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. ORIC FAVORITE |
5.89 | +3,387 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Brookside-McCurdy Trail #607. USFS webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 32.6 | +4,320 | |
| Buffalo Creek Recreation Area trail system. This is a good place to get in some spring hiking, biking and camping. Call the USFS South Platte Ranger District for trail updates. USFS brochure/map. USFS Shinglemill Trailhead (trail #725) webpage. USFS Miller Gulch Trailhead (trail #726) webpage. USFS Buck Gulch Trailhead (trail #772) webpage. USFS Gashouse Trailhead (trail #726) webpage. USFS Baldy Trailhead (trail #727) webpage. USFS Buffalo Trailhead (Colorado Trail #1776) webpage. USFS Little Scraggy Trailhead webpage. | |||
| Burning Bear Trail #601.
USFS
trailhead webpage.
ORIC
trail map/description sheet
(5). ORIC FAVORITE |
5.25 | +1,155 | Easy to Moderate |
| Butler Gulch Trail. (Not on USFS map.) USFS webpage. Clear Creek County 365 snowshoeing webpage. | 2.5 | +1,500 | |
| Captain Mountain Trail #46. USFS webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 7.0 | +1,550 | |
| Carpenter Peak.
ORIC trail
map/description sheet
(6). See chapter "9. Carpenter Peak" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "6. Carpenter Peak" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. ORIC FAVORITE |
2.36 | +973 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Chicago Lakes Trail #52.
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC
trail map/description sheet
(7). See chapter "12. Chicago Lakes" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "7. Chicago Lakes" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. See description "Chicago Lakes Trail 52" under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. ORIC FAVORITE |
4.24 | +1,198 | Moderate |
| Colorado Mines Peak.
ORIC trail map/description sheet (9). See chapter "17. Mount Flora, Colorado Mines Peak, and Mount Eva" in Colorado Mountain Club's Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "11. Mount Flora, Colorado Mines Peak, and Mount Eva" in Colorado Mountain Club's The Best Front Range Hikes. ORIC FAVORITE |
1.4 | +1,187 | Easy |
| Colorado Trail #1776 -- Segment 1. West from Waterton Canyon Trailhead
to South Platte Canyon. See chapter in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
16.8 | +2,830 | |
| Colorado Trail #1776 -- Segment 2. West from South Platte Canyon to
Little Scraggy Trailhead. See chapter in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
11.5 | +2,482 | |
| Colorado Trail #1776 -- Segment 3. West from Little Scraggy Trailhead
to FS Rd 560 (Wellington Lake Road) Trailhead.
USFS trailhead (referred to as "Buffalo Trailhead") webpage. See chapter in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
12.2 | +1,975 | |
| Colorado Trail #1776 -- Segment 4. West from FS Rd 560 (Wellington
Lake Road) Trailhead to Long Gulch.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
Side trip to Craig Meadows:
ORIC
trip map/description sheet (G). See chapter in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Colorado Trail. |
16.6 | +3271 | |
| Colorado Trail #1776 -- Segments 5 and 6. East and west from Kenosha Pass. The trailhead is right on the border between ORIC's Denver Region and its South Park Region with the trail segments being in the South Park Region. For trail listings see our "South Park Region Day Hiking Trails Index" webpage. | |||
| Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #79. North from Berthoud Pass to James Peak. USFS trailhead webpage. | |||
| Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. South from Berthoud Pass to Herman Gulch. Includes Mount Nystrom Trail #13, Trail #96, and Herman Gulch Trail #98. USFS trailhead webpage. | |||
|
Craig Meadows. Full route description:
ORIC trip map/description
sheet (K). Route uses the following two trails: Brookside-McCurdy
Trail #607 (USFS webpage);
Payne Creek Trail #637 (USFS webpage). ORIC FAVORITE |
7.18 | +2,118 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Craig Park Trail #608. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listings. | 6.0 + approach | -160 | Easy |
| Cub Creek Trail #40.
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See description "Cub Creek Trail 40" under "Lookout Mountain -- Golden Area" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
4.5 | +2,030 | |
| Devil's Head Fire Lookout Trail #611.
USFS
trailhead webpage.
USFS lookout tower webpage.
ORIC trail map/description
sheet
(12). ORIC FAVORITE |
1.4 | +948 | Moderate |
| Gill Trail #610. USFS trailhead webpage. USFS Cheesman Canyon Trailhead webpage. | |||
|
Golden Gate Canyon State Park trail system. (Colorado Parks &
Wildlife.) Four backcountry shelters and 20
backcountry tent sites. Backcountry permits are required and can be
obtained at the visitor center.
CP&W trails webpage.
CP&W trails map.
CP&W backcountry camping brochure. See chapter "18. Golden Gate Canyon State Park -- Raccoon Trail" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "38. Golden Gate State Park" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Front Range. See five trail descriptions under "Golden Gate Canyon State Park" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
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|
Goose Creek Loop. Full route description:
ORIC trip
map/description sheet (Q). Route uses the following four trails:
Hankins Pass Trail #630; Goose Creek Trail #612 (USFS
trailhead webpage);
McCurdy Park Trail #628; Lake Park Trail #639. See chapter "21 - Lost Creek Wilderness Loop" in Altitude Publishing book The Best Hikes of Colorado. ORIC FAVORITE |
19.54 | +1,526 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Goose Creek Trail #612. USFS trailhead webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 9.4 | +1,920 | |
| Grays Peak National Recreation Trail #54.
USFS webpage.
USFS quicksheet.
Virtual Dillon Ranger District map. See chapter "22. Torreys Peak via the Kelso Ridge" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "14. Torreys Peak via the Kelso Ridge" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. See chapter "53. Grays and Torreys Peaks" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Front Range. See chapter "10 Clear Creek and Summit Counties: Grays Peak" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. See description "Grays Peak National Recreation Trail to Torreys Peak" under "Idaho Springs -- Georgetown Area" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
5.0 | +3,070 | |
| Hankins Pass Trail #630. USFS webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | |||
|
Harmonica Arch. It's a few miles from the Goose Creek
trailhead above.
ORIC trail
map/description sheet (37). ORIC FAVORITE |
2.4 | +1,061 | Easy |
| Hell's Hole Trail #53.
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC
trail
map/description sheet (17). See description "Hells Hole Trail 53" under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. ORIC FAVORITE |
4.13 | +1,908 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Henderson Spur Trail. To Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Connects to Mount Nystron Trail #13 and Vasquez Pass Trail #101 both described on "Granby Region Day Hiking Trail Index". USFS trailhead webpage. Longs to Pikes: High Routes of the Colorado Front Range webpage. | 1.56 | ||
| Herman Gulch to Herman Lake Trail #98.
Continuation to Pettingell Peak. (Section of Continental Divide
National Scenic Trail.)
USFS webpage.
ORIC trail
map/description sheet (18). See chapter "19. Herman Lake" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "12. Herman Lake" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. See chapter "12 Grand County: Pettingell Peak" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. ORIC FAVORITE |
3.34 | +1,688 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Indian Creek Trail #41 / #41.1. (Also known as #40.) Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 3.4 + approach | +420 | Moderate |
| Indian Creek Trail #800. USFS trailhead webpage. EveryTrail.com webpage. | |||
| Lake Park Trail #639. USFS webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 4.6 + approach | +1,560 | Strenuous |
| Lincoln Lakes Trail #45. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 0.5 + approach | +240 | Easy |
| Lost Creek Trail #42.
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See description "Lost Creek Trail 42" under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
5.1 | +2,230 | |
| Lost Creek Wilderness Trail System. USFS trail descriptions. USFS trail map. | |||
| McCurdy Park Trail #628. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 7.3 + approach | +1,480 | Strenuous |
| Meridian Trail #604. USFS trailhead webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 3.3 | +1,650 | |
| Mount Bierstadt Trail #711.
USFS
trail webpage.
USFS trailhead webpage.
USFS Gunella Pass webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See chapter "52. Mount Bierstadt" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Front Range. |
3.5 | +2,850 | |
| Mount Evans
Wilderness Trail System.
USFS trail descriptions.
USFS trail map.
MountEvans.com trail information.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See chapter "30. The Tour d'Abyss: Mount Bierstadt and Mount Evans" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "22. The Tour d'Abyss: Mount Bierstadt and Mount Evans" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. |
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| Payne Creek Trail #637. USFS webpage. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 9.8 + approach | +1,850 | |
| Resthouse Meadows Trail #57 to Lincoln Lake. USFS
webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC trail
map/description sheet (27).
ORIC FAVORITE |
5.29 | +1,756 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reynolds Park Trail System. (Jefferson County Parks.)
JCP
trails webpage.
JCP trails map. See chapter "48. Reynolds Park Open Space" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Front Range. |
|||
| Rolling Creek Trail #663.
USFS trailhead webpage.
USFS map.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See chapter "8 Jefferson County: Buffalo Peak" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. |
6.4 | +2,290 | |
| Roosevelt Lakes Trail #56. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 2.2 + approach | +950 | Moderate |
| Rosalie Trail #603 (from east).
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC
trail
map/description sheet (28). See description "Rosalie Trail 603" under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. ORIC FAVORITE |
5.23 | +2,121 | Easy to Moderate |
| Rosalie Trail #603 (from west).
USFS webpage.
USFS Bierstadt Trailhead webpage.
USFS Gunella Pass Trailhead webpage.
USFS Gunella Pass webpage. Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See description "Rosalie Trail 603" under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
13.4 | +130 | |
| Roxborough State Park Trail System. (Colorado Parks & Wildlife.)
CP&W trails webpage.
CP&W trails map. See chapter "7 Fountain Valley and South Rim Trails" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado. |
|||
| Shelf Lake Trail #634.
USFS
trailhead webpage.
USFS map.
ORIC trail map/description
sheet
(30).
ORIC FAVORITE |
2.76 | +1,835 | Moderate to Strenuous |
| Silver Dollar Lake Trail #79. USFS webpage. | 1.5 | +1,000 | |
| South Chicago Creek Trail #90. (#88 on USFS map.)
USFS webpage.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC
trail map/description sheet
(31). ORIC FAVORITE |
1.43 | +1,167 | Moderate |
| South Park / Square Top Lakes Trail #600.
USFS Gunella Pass Trailhead webpage.
USFS Gunella Pass webpage.
ORIC
trail map/description sheet
(32). See chapter "29. Square Top Mountain" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "21. Square Top Mountain" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. ORIC FAVORITE |
1.85 to lakes | +598 | Moderate |
| Stevens Gulch Trail #619. Trails.com webpage. | |||
| Summit Lake/Flats Trail #82. Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. | 4.3 | -2,350 | Moderate |
| Tanglewood Creek Trail #636 to Rosalie Peak.
USFS webpage.
USFS trailhead webpage.
USFS map.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing.
ORIC
trail map/description sheet
(33). See chapter "26. Pegmatite Points" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "18. Pegmatite Points" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. See chapter "27. Rosalie Peak" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "19. Rosalie Peak" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. ORIC FAVORITE |
4.57 | +4,271 | Strenuous to Challenging |
| Three Mile Creek
Trail #635.
MountEvans.com hike information.
Friends
of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness trail listing. See description "Threemile Creek Trail 635 to Rosalie Trail 603 jct." under "Mount Evans Wilderness" on Latitude 40 Degrees' Front Range Colorado Trails Recreation Topo Map. |
6.5 | +2,780 | |
| Trail #605. No information available. | |||
| Tramway Trail #723. Part of Buffalo Creek Recreation Area Trail System. (Not on USFS forest map.) USFS webpage. | |||
| Watrous Gulch Trail #95.
USFS webpage. See chapter "25. Mount Parnassus and Woods Mountain" in Colorado Mountain Club's book Pack Guide: The Best Denver Hikes. See chapter "17. Mount Parnassus and Woods Mountain" in Colorado Mountain Club's book The Best Front Range Hikes. |
2.0 | +1,500 | |
|
White Ranch Park trail system. (Jefferson County Parks.) 4,391 acres
and 20 miles of trails.
Sawmill
Hikers Campground: backcountry campsites, picnic tables and
restrooms. Call 303-271-5925 to
obtain a free use camping permit.
JCP
trails webpage.
JCP trails map. See chapter "39. White Ranch Open Space" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Front Range. |
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|
Wigwam Trail #609 to Wigwam Park. Good hiking and backpacking
trail usually accessible by Memorial Day weekend and quite
possibly sooner. The trail parallels Wigwam Creek on its way to
Wigwam Park and a series of beaver ponds.
USFS trailhead webpage.
Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness
trail listing.
ORIC trail map/description sheet (35). See chapter "8 Jefferson County: Buffalo Peak" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Summits. ORIC FAVORITE |
3.2 | +1,489 | Moderate |
