Guided Rocky Mountain National Park Backpacking

This morning begins in lovely Grand Lake, CO, home of the deepest Natural Lake in the Centennial State.  Guests will have the option to start early with a driving tour to the Trail Ridge Visitor’s Center, the highest visitor center in the National Park system, or take a leisurely morning and start the hike from Grand Lake.  We will begin the adventure on the North Inlet Trail; this is quintessential Rocky Mountain hiking through lush stands of quaking aspen, blue spruce, waterfalls, gurgling creeks, and bluebird skies.  We will make our first camp by North Inlet Creek and really lean into our outstanding and luxurious camp experience  

Hiking Miles: 7.5 miles

Elevation Change: 1900ft elevation gain

Travel Time: 2.5 hours

You came to see the mountains, and today you will be rewarded.  Nearly 90% of our adventure today is above timberline, strolling through high alpine meadows replete with soaring peaks, wildflowers (july-august), and the cuddliest Rocky Mountain denizen, the lovable Marmot.  We will duck back below the treeline to make camp near Tonahutu Creek.

Hiking Miles: 7.9 miles

Elevation: 200ft elevation gain

The final two days of our adventure are all downhill, and can be taken at a leisurely pace; a nice respite from the previous two days of mountain hiking.  This is the opportunity that our adventure team takes for wildlife photo workshops, as we can/will search for golden eagles, ptarmigan falcons, and osprey above the treeline.  Below treeline there are opportunities to sight elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, not to mention limitless species of cardinal, swallow nuthatch, and woodpeckers along with butterflies, fields of wildflowers, and the like.  Our adventure team will teach guests how to use exposure to capture some professional-style photographs.  We will debark from the adventure at the Tonahutu Creek Trailhead, and come back to Grand Lake where guests will be returned to the Grand Lake Lodge.  

Hiking Miles: 11.4

Elevation: 1550ft ft elevation loss