SAMPLE HIKING TRIPS Made with love by your CUHC Officers DISCLAIMER: Be sure to check trail conditions and weather before you hit the trail! IMPORTANT: Permits and wilderness regulations are frequently changing. Verify that the information provided below is correct before you go.
DAY HIKES Beginner: Blue Lake and Mitchell Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness Mileage: ~2 miles roundtrip for Mitchell and ~5 miles roundtrip for Blue Elevation Gain: ~900 feet for Blue Max Elevation: 11,387 feet Trailhead: Mitchell Lake Trailhead (2WD accessible) Distance from Boulder, CO: ~33 miles and ~1 hour Best Time of Year to Hike: Year Round (Brainard Lake Recreation Area closes its gate in the winter ) Sturdy hiking shoes Snacks Water (1-2 liters) Appropriate Clothing Microspikes or Snowshoes if necessary To Find More Details: https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7004315/blue-mitchell-lake
Intermediate: Chasm Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park Mileage: ~8 miles Elevation Gain: ~2,700 feet Max Elevation: 11,675 feet Trailhead: Longs Peak Trailhead (2WD accessible) Distance from Boulder, CO: ~43 miles and ~1 hour Best Time of Year to Hike: Spring, Summer and Fall (attempting Chasm Lake in the winter and early spring can be dangerous as ice forms on the final scramble up to the lake) Sturdy hiking shoes Snacks Water (1-2 liters) Appropriate clothing Microspikes if necessary To Find More Details: https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7001041/chasm-lake
Advanced: Quandary Peak (14,265 feet) via East Ridge, Tenmile Range Mileage: 6.75 miles Elevation Gain: 3,450 feet Max Elevation: 14,265 feet Trailhead: Quandary Trailhead (2WD accessible) Distance from Boulder, CO: ~103 miles and ~2.5 hours Best Time of Year to Hike: Year Round (Be sure to check avalanche danger if attempting in Late Fall/Winter/Early Spring) Sturdy hiking shoes Snacks Water (2-3 liters) Appropriate clothing Microspikes if necessary To Find More Details: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=quan1&peak=quandary+peak
WEEKEND BACKPACKING Beginner: Rogers Peak Lake and Heart Lake, James Peak Wilderness Total Mileage: ~9 miles Total Elevation Gain: ~2,300 feet Max Elevation: 11,347 feet Trailhead: East Portal Trailhead - Moffat Tunnel (2WD accessible dirt road) Distance from Boulder, CO: ~30 miles and ~1 hour Best Time of Year to Hike: Spring, Summer and Fall (Winter camping can be challenging and dangerous and should not be attempted if you have little experience backpacking) Sturdy hiking shoes Food and snacks + cooking equipment Water (2 liter capacity) + filtration/treatment (streams and lakes available) Toilet paper and backpacking toiletries (pack it out!) Backpack (45+ liters), tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad Head lamp Sunscreen and sunglasses Appropriate clothing Permits: Permits are not required in James Peak Wilderness Campsites: Camp where impact is minimal (must be at least 100 feet from water and trails) To Find More Details: http://www.protrails.com/trail/103/indian-peaks-wilderness-area-rogers-peak-lake-and-heart-lake
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=80804 Intermediate: High Lonesome Loop, Indian Peaks Wilderness Total Mileage: ~15 miles Total Elevation Gain: ~3,400 feet Max Elevation: 12,105 feet Trailhead: Hessie Trailhead (2WD accessible) Distance From Boulder: ~22 miles and ~1 hour Best Time of Year to Hike: Spring, Summer and Fall (Winter camping can be challenging and dangerous and should not be attempted if you have little experience backpacking) Sturdy hiking boots Food and Snacks + cooking equipment Water (2 liter capacity) + filtration/treatment (streams and lakes available) Toilet paper and backpacking toiletries (pack it out!) Backpack (45+ liters), tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad Head lamp Sunscreen and sunglasses Appropriate clothing Permits: Permits required June 1 to September 15 AND for groups of 8-12 between September 16 to May 31. More than 12 people is prohibited. Campsites: Camp where impact is minimal (must be at least 100 feet from water and trails) (see exceptions)
To Find More Details: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=80803 http://www.protrails.com/trail/331/indian-peaks-wilderness-area-king-lake-high-lonesome-devils -thumb-lake-loop Advanced: Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells Wilderness Total Mileage: ~28 miles Total Elevation Gain: ~7,800 feet Max Elevation: 12,500 feet Trailhead: Maroon-Snowmass Trailhead (2WD accessible) Distance from Boulder, CO: ~176 miles and ~4 hours Best Time of Year to Hike: Summer and Fall Sturdy hiking shoes Food and snacks + cooking equipment Water (2 liter capacity) + filtration/treatment (streams and lakes available) Bear canister (Maroon Bells Wilderness regulations require that all food and other bear attractants be stored in a bear canister) Toilet paper and backpacking toiletries (pack it out!) Backpack (45+ liters), tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad Head lamp Sunscreen and sunglasses Appropriate clothing
Permits: Self-register for permit at trailhead Campsites: Camp where impact is minimal (must be at least 100 feet from water and trails) or at designated sites To Find More Details: https://www.fs.usda.gov/internet/fse_documents/stelprdb5186829.pdf https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7001635/four-pass-loop DESERT TRIP IDEAS Day Hikes: Arches National Park (~6 hours) Delicate Arch (3 miles) Landscape Arch (1.3 miles) Fiery Furnace (no trail - permits required) Canyonlands National Park (~7 hours) Mesa Arch (0.5 miles) Confluence Overlook (10 miles) Druid Arch (11 miles) Backpacking: Canyonlands National Park Alcove Spring Trail to Zeus and Moses Spires Needles District - many trails can be linked together to form a loop Bears Ears National Monument Fish and Owl Canyons Loop FALL/SPRING BREAK TRIP IDEAS Please check with the National Park Service or Forest Service for permit information. Bear Ears National Monument Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Canyonlands National Park - the Maze District Grand Canyon National Park Capitol Reef National Park Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Want other trip ideas? Check out some of our favorite places to explore and find the hike that fits you: Rocky Mountain National Park (~1 hour) Indian Peaks Wilderness (~1 hour) James Peak Wilderness (~1 hour)
Lost Creek Wilderness (~2 hours) Holy Cross Wilderness (~3 hours) Collegiate Peaks Wilderness (~4 hours) Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness (~4 hours) Never Summer Wilderness (~4 hours) Sangre de Cristo Wilderness (~4 hours) Have more questions? Come by our Office (UMC 443) during office hours! We can answer questions and provide you with more information. With love, CUHC