Now that we aren’t traveling full time, we have fully embraced the weekend warrior lifestyle. Depending on the weather, we spend our weekends backpacking, day hiking, and exploring driveable areas from our new homebase in Colorado. Keep reading for the best backpacking Colorado has to offer!
The best backpacking we’ve found in Colorado are:
- The Flat Tops
- The Rawahs
- The Zirkels
The Flat Tops
This area should be your go-to if you’re looking for lush meadows of wildflowers and stunning mountain views! This wilderness area is the 2nd largest in all of Colorado, so offers a ton of different scenic views and plenty of space to explore. Because it is so huge, the wildlife that lives there is pretty spread out, so don’t count on seeing herds of elk or moose. Although, the rarity makes it even more exciting when you do see wildlife!
The Flat Tops can be accessed through Yampa or Meeker, which make up the endpoints of the The Flat Tops Scenic byway (closed during the winter), as well as several towns along I-70. We always head in through Yampa, which is the quintessential old West style town.
Our favorite trails are Hooper and Keener Lakes and Mandall Lakes Trail. The Hooper Keener trail is about 7.5 miles one way and is challenging with serious elevation gain. Be mindful of your experience level and snowpack depending on the time of year you’re visiting. In 2022, we visited in late June and this area was still completely covered in snow. Mandall Lake is a bit more accessible, with great camping just 3 or 4 miles in (although the trail goes on for about 8 miles). Either way, get ready for fields of wildflowers and views either looking up at or down from jagged vertical peaks that give this wilderness area its “Flat Top” namesake.
The Rawah Wilderness
This area is best for those who are looking for wildlife and seclusion! “Rawah” is a Native American term for “wild place,” and that is definitely true for this wilderness area. The Rawahs can be accessed by driving up towards Cameron Pass if you’re coming from I-25, and the closest towns are Walden or Northgate in Colorado and Laramie in Wyoming. Keep in mind that these areas can be difficult to access in the winter, so plan accordingly!
The Rawah Wilderness is home to 25 different lakes and tons of wildlife, including elk, moose, deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, marmot, beaver, and birds. During our trips here, we’ve seen a TON of moose (5 moose during our most recent trip alone), deer, and many nosey marmots that make securely storing your food at your campsite very important.
Our favorite trail here is West Branch Trail, which is just over 7 miles long. The last ~2 miles of this trail have crazy elevation gain, which we’ve found deters many of the backpackers and day hikers from accessing this area. Keep in mind that once you go above the tree line fires are no longer allowed. If you go past the end of the trail, 8+ miles, you will have secluded lake-front camping that is surrounded on all sides by mountains and lush green rolling hills. Hike to Island Lake or Cary Lake, then explore from there depending on what views you want and how much energy you have left for the best secluded spot!
The Zirkels
This area is prime for anyone looking for lake views and campfires. The closest town to this area is Steamboat Springs in Northern Colorado (about 3.5 hours North of Denver). This wilderness area is home to about 70 lakes to choose from, which makes the surrounding area very green and lush. This wetness also attracts plenty of mosquitos during the summer time, so plan ahead with appropriate gear and use existing fire rings to smoke out those little pests!
Our favorite trail here is Rainbow Lake, which is about 8.5 miles total, although Rainbow Lake is only about 3 miles in. If you make it to Rainbow Lake, you can also continue on the trail to access Lower Slide, Slide, and Upper Slide Lakes further up. There are a few established campsites to choose from, so we recommend going early and/or mid-week to avoid the crowds in the summer months. Be mindful of camping or having fires too near trails and bodies of water, which can damage the land!
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We love discovering the gorgeous landscapes and plentiful wildlife these trails offer! Please remember to leave no trace if you do choose to visit!
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We hope this helps you plan your perfect budget-friendly weekend adventures! Feel free to reach out if you’re planning to get out there!
Summer & Jackson
OutThere Travels
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