Rocky Mountain Backpacking
Spend six days backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park. You’ll explore the park’s hidden gems with a naturalist guide and finish a night at a hotel in Estes Park.
TRIP DATES:
June 11 – 16, 2025 SOLD OUT | July 15 – 20, 2025 SOLD OUT | August 6 – 11, 2025 SOLD OUT
$2200 Per Person
Six days of Rocky Mountain backpacking! Rocky Mountain National Park is a backpacker’s paradise, known for its towering peaks, stunning waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and alpine lakes. Take a tour that lets you immerse yourself in the park. Our guides are master naturalists, botanists, geologists, historians, and – most importantly – relentlessly curious! This is not just a sightseeing tour, it’s a trip all about learning and connection.
Included
- Medically-trained, naturalist guides
- Round-trip transportation
- Accommodations
- Tent, sleeping pad, and group camping equipment
- All meals
- Park entry fees
Not Included
- Flights
- Sleeping bag (Available to Rent for $50)
- Personal Camping Gear (See Packing List)
- Gratuity for Your Guide
Weather
The Rocky Mountains have very extreme weather – August can be warm and sunny in the day, but cold in the evenings with highs in the 70s and lows in the high 40s. Expect brief afternoon thunderstorms almost every day.
Intensity- Moderate
Moderate – Expect to spend up to 6 hours per day walking or hiking (up to 10 miles and 2,500ft elevation change) while carrying a loaded pack.
Several days will include slackpacking with just a daypack full of water and snacks! Suitable for most fit people with a bit of hiking experience.
Accommodations
- One night frontcountry camping in Estes Park
- Three nights backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park
- One night in a hotel in Estes Park
- Pricing is based on double occupancy accommodations
- Single supplement is available for an additional $500 per person
Flights
You will be flying into the Denver Airport. You’ll want to pick a flight that arrives before 12pm MST on the first day. Alternatively, we can collect you from your accommodation in Denver at around 11:15am if you’ve arrived early.
At the end of your trip, your backpacking guide will drop you back at the Denver airport at 12pm for your travel home (or back at your accommodation if you’re staying to explore.)
Take a tour that lets you immerse yourself in the park. Our guides are master naturalists, botanists, geologists, historians, and – most importantly – relentlessly curious! This is more than a sightseeing tour; it’s about learning and connection with Rocky Mountain National Park.
Day One
Your adventure begins today! You’ll meet your group and backpacking guides in Denver, and get to know each other over lunch at a local restaurant. Then, set off for our campsite just outside Rocky Mountain National Park. We’ll set up camp, make a delicious dinner, and organize our packs together for the next day’s adventure!
Meals: L, D
Day Two
Get an early start in Rocky Mountain National Park to begin the backpacking portion of our trip. We’ll make the 6 mile journey to Finch Lake with a steep incline to get warmed up! Upon arrival, we’ll set up our basecamp for the next several days. We’ll cook a delicious camp dinner and tell ghost stories around the fire!
Meals: B, L, D
Day Three
After a relaxing morning, we’ll slackpack to Lion Lake or Lake of the Winds. We will leave our tents and heavy gear at camp so we’re able to hike quickly and have plenty of time to enjoy our day splashing around in an incredible alpine lake!
Meals: B, L, D
Day Five
On this morning, we’ll pack up camp and hike out of the backcountry and head to our hotel in Estes Park. We’ll have a chance to freshen up before enjoying a farewell dinner with your new friends and backpacking guides!
Meals: B, L, D
Day Four
Today, we’ll strap on our packs and head to another backcountry lake. Along the way, you’ll learn about the park’s ecological history from your naturalist guide, and upon arrival we recommend taking a refreshing dip!
Meals: B, L
Day Six
Enjoy breakfast at a local cafe in Estes Park before departing for the airport and bidding farewell to a new group of friends!
Meals: B
Packing LIst
Required Gear
- Backpacking pack (60 liters recommended)
- Day pack (15-30 liters recommended)
- Luggage (can be left in the vehicle, 1 small suitcase per person)
- Sleeping bag (also available to rent), rated to 15 degrees
- Pack cover
- Headlamp
- Reusable water bottles
Recommended Gear & Personal Items
- Cotton or silk sleeping bag liner (optional, recommended if renting)
- Travel pillow
- Sunscreen
- Earplugs
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries (please choose biodegradable and scent-free items)
- Small, personal first aid kit (including blister treatment)
- Small, quick dry towel
Required Clothing
- Warm jacket (down, puffy, fleece)
- Rain jacket or shell
- Breathable wicking base layers
- Lightweight hiking pants
- Warm clothes to sleep in
- Warm hat
- Sun hat with a brim
- Wool socks (1 pair per day of trip)
- Hiking boots
- Sunglasses
Recommended Clothing
- Rain pants
- Buff or neck scarf
- Comfortable clothes for camp
- Sandals or camp shoes
Trip FAQ’s
What will we eat?
Meals may be prepared by guides, picked up as boxed lunches, or enjoyed in restaurants. We prioritize seasonal, fresh ingredients and local suppliers in all regions. We can cater to most dietary requests and allergies with advanced notice. Be sure to include this information in our client intake form when registering for your trip!
Who else will be there?
Good Trippers can be any age and everyone is welcome!
We get families, couples and friends, but most of our travelers come solo! We have hiking trips for all abilities, just make sure to review the Intensity section for information about what to expect on your trip. All group multi-day trips are 18+. If you’re traveling with kids, we’d be happy to make any itinerary private! Email info@goodtripadventures.com.
Do you offer payment plans?
We are here to help! We offer flexible payment plans tailored to your needs. Reach out to us for more information on how we can assist you with payment options. Regardless of the payment plan implemented, full payment must be received by 30 days in advance of the trip start.
Are there any age requirements?
They say age is just a number and we (mostly) agree! However, due to legal restrictions and group dynamic considerations, we do have a minimum age of 18 on our public group departures. But there’s no maximum!
If you have someone under 18 in your group, we can accommodate all ages on a private adventure, so let’s talk!