Top Backpacking Trails in Colorado
20 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Backpacking in Colorado is mostly high country. The trips on this site cover Rocky Mountain National Park, the Indian Peaks and Lost Creek wildernesses on the Front Range, the Elk Mountains near Aspen, the San Juan Mountains around Silverton and Ouray, the Gore and Holy Cross ranges in central Colorado, the Zirkel, Rawah, and Flat Tops wildernesses in the north, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, including the Great Sand Dunes. Many camps sit near or above 10,000 feet, and routes like the Four Pass Loop cross passes above 12,000 feet.
The main season runs from about July through September. The Forest Service says snow typically covers Maroon Bells-Snowmass campsites and passes from early October to late June. Afternoon thunderstorms are a real hazard above treeline and on open dunes, so plan early starts.
Rules vary by managing agency and sometimes by drainage. Rocky Mountain National Park assigns designated sites through a year-round permit and requires bear canisters from April through October. The Forest Service requires advance permits for zones like Conundrum Hot Springs and the Four Pass Loop, while wildernesses such as Lost Creek and Holy Cross use free trailhead registration. Many areas ban camping or fires near lakes, like Gilpin Lake on the Zirkel Circle, and the Blue Lakes rules are changing, so check current regulations before every trip.
Most trips on this site get water from lakes and creeks, with exceptions like Lost Creek, which often runs underground, and the dunes, which have none. Treat all water.
Quick picks
- Longest loop: Four Pass Loop (Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness)
- Short hike to camp: Fern Lake and Cub Lake Loop (Old Forest Inn and Fern Falls)
- Hot springs trip: Conundrum Hot Springs (Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness)
- Camping on sand dunes: Great Sand Dunes Backcountry (Camping on the Dunes)
- Train to the trailhead: Chicago Basin via Needle Creek (by Train from Durango)
Central Colorado
- Gore Lake (Eagles Nest Wilderness) Eagles Nest Wilderness, White River National Forest (Gore Creek Trailhead, East Vail) 12 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping; free self-issued registration required
- Missouri Lakes and Fancy Pass Loop (Holy Cross Wilderness) Holy Cross Wilderness, White River National Forest, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District (near Minturn) 8.8 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping with a free self-registration permit
Elk Mountains
- Conundrum Hot Springs (Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness) Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest, Aspen Ranger District (Conundrum Creek Trailhead, near Aspen) 17 miles Hard 20 designated campsites; advance overnight permit required
- Four Pass Loop (Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness) Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest (Maroon Lake, near Aspen) 26 miles Hard Zone-based camping with an advance overnight permit; designated sites at Crater Lake and Geneva Lake
Front Range
- Colorado Trail Segment 1 (Waterton Canyon to the South Platte River) Waterton Canyon and Pike National Forest (Littleton, near Denver) 16.8 miles Moderate Dispersed camping after Strontia Springs Dam; no camping in Waterton Canyon
- Crater Lake and Lone Eagle Peak via Cascade Creek (Indian Peaks Wilderness) Indian Peaks Wilderness, Arapaho National Forest, Sulphur Ranger District (Monarch Lake, near Granby) 14.4 miles Hard 12 designated campsites at Crater and Mirror Lakes; permit required June 1 to September 15
- Goose Creek Trail and the Shafts (Lost Creek Wilderness) Lost Creek Wilderness, Pike National Forest (Goose Creek Trailhead, south of Bailey) 12.7 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping; free self-issued permit at the trailhead
Northern Colorado
- Rawah Lakes and Camp Lakes Loop (Rawah Wilderness) Rawah Wilderness, Roosevelt National Forest, Canyon Lakes Ranger District (West Branch Trailhead, Laramie River Road) 23.9 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping; 200-foot setback from lakes, streams, and trails
- Trappers Lake and Wall Lake Loop (Flat Tops Wilderness) Flat Tops Wilderness, White River National Forest (Trappers Lake, near Meeker) 15 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping; no camping within 1/4 mile of Trappers Lake
- Zirkel Circle: Gilpin Lake and Gold Creek Lake Loop (Mount Zirkel Wilderness) Mount Zirkel Wilderness, Routt National Forest, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District (Slavonia Trailhead, north of Steamboat Springs) 10.5 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping; no camping or campfires within 1/4 mile of Gilpin, Gold Creek, and Three Island Lakes
Rocky Mountain National Park
- Fern Lake and Cub Lake Loop (Old Forest Inn and Fern Falls) Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service (Moraine Park, west of Estes Park) 10 miles Moderate Designated wilderness campsite; wilderness permit required
- Lawn Lake (Rocky Mountain National Park) Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service (Lawn Lake Trailhead, Fall River Road, Mummy Range) 12.8 miles Hard Designated wilderness campsites; wilderness permit required
- Thunder Lake (Wild Basin, Rocky Mountain National Park) Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service (Wild Basin, southeast corner of the park) 13.6 miles Hard Designated wilderness campsites (3 individual, 1 group, 1 stock at Thunder Lake); wilderness permit required
San Juan Mountains
- Blue Lakes (Mount Sneffels Wilderness) Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Uncompahgre National Forest, Ouray Ranger District (East Dallas Creek, near Ridgway) 7 miles Hard Camping at Lower Blue Lake only; no camping at Middle or Upper Blue Lakes
- Chicago Basin via Needle Creek (by Train from Durango) Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest (Needleton train stop, Animas River canyon) 13 miles Hard Dispersed camping in Chicago Basin; free self-issued wilderness registration
- Colorado Trail Segment 25 (Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road) San Juan National Forest (Molas Pass, south of Silverton) 20.4 miles Hard Dispersed camping along the trail; Little Molas Lake Campground near the start
- Highland Mary Lakes and Verde Lakes Loop Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest (Cunningham Gulch, east of Silverton) 7.7 miles Hard Dispersed wilderness camping (no permit reported)
- Ice Lakes Basin (near Silverton) San Juan National Forest, Columbine Ranger District (South Mineral Creek, west of Silverton) 9 miles Hard Established campsites in the lower basin; designated camping areas only along South Mineral Road
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Great Sand Dunes Backcountry (Camping on the Dunes) Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, National Park Service (San Luis Valley) 3 miles Moderate Non-designated camping in the Dunes Backcountry, or designated Sand Ramp Trail sites; permit required
- Willow Lake (Sangre de Cristo Wilderness) Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, Rio Grande National Forest (Willow Creek Trailhead, Crestone) 10 miles Hard Designated camping zone below the lake; no camping at the lakeshore
Backpacking in Colorado: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Colorado?
It depends on the managing agency. Rocky Mountain National Park requires a wilderness permit for every overnight year-round, and Great Sand Dunes National Park requires a Recreation.gov permit, though the National Preserve does not. The Forest Service requires advance permits in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness permit zones, such as the Four Pass Loop and Conundrum Hot Springs, and in the Indian Peaks Wilderness from June 1 to September 15. Many other national forest wildernesses on this site, such as Eagles Nest, Lost Creek, and Holy Cross, use a free self-issued registration at the trailhead, so check with the ranger district before you go.
When is the best time to backpack in Colorado?
For most high-country trips, summer and early fall. The Forest Service calls July through September the best time in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and says campsites, trails, and passes are typically snow-covered from early October to late June. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so plan to be off passes and other exposed ground early. At Great Sand Dunes, the NPS warns that sand can reach 150 degrees on summer afternoons and that snow is a concern from October through May.
Do you need a bear canister in Colorado?
On some trips, yes. Rocky Mountain National Park requires a hard-sided bear canister from April 1 through October 31 and does not allow food hangs, and canisters are required for all backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. In the Indian Peaks Wilderness, the Forest Service requires canisters near all trailheads and in the Diamond Lake and Jasper Lake zones and recommends them elsewhere. Where no rule applies, Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises a bear-resistant container or a hang at least 10 feet off the ground, with cooking and food storage well away from your tent.
Can you have a campfire while backpacking in Colorado?
Often not. Campfires are prohibited in Rocky Mountain National Park's wilderness, above 10,800 feet anywhere in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, east of the Continental Divide in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, in the Needle Creek drainage at Chicago Basin, and in the Missouri Lakes and Fancy Creek watershed. Other areas ban fires near lakes or above treeline, and seasonal fire restrictions can apply anywhere. Bring a stove and check current restrictions with the managing agency.
Can you bring a dog backpacking in Colorado?
Rules vary by managing agency. Dogs are not allowed on Rocky Mountain National Park trails like the Fern Lake loop, in Waterton Canyon at the start of Colorado Trail Segment 1, or in the Conundrum Hot Springs zone, and pets are not allowed at Great Sand Dunes' Sand Ramp Trail designated sites. Elsewhere in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness dogs must be leashed, and the Indian Peaks and Eagles Nest wildernesses require a hand-held leash.
When is hunting season in Colorado?
Fall hunting overlaps with the end of the backpacking season. For 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife's dates as reported by the Kiowa County Press were archery September 2 to 30, muzzleloader September 12 to 20, and rifle seasons October 14 to 18, October 24 to November 1, November 7 to 15, and November 18 to 22. CPW recommends, but does not require, that hikers wear bright colors, and the NPS advises bright clothing in the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve during hunting season. Check CPW for dates in the area you plan to visit.
Where this comes from
- Recreation.gov: Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Permits
- Recreation.gov: Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Overnight Permits
- USFS: Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
- USFS: Indian Peaks Wilderness
- NPS: Great Sand Dunes backpacking
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Backcountry camping in bear country (PDF)
- Kiowa County Press: Colorado hunting seasons open with new regulations for 2026