colorado backpacking info

A forum that'll feed your need for exploring the limitless adventure possibilities found in "other" places. Post trip reports or ask questions about outdoor adventures beyond the Sierra Nevada here.
Post Reply
User avatar
overheadx2
Topix Expert
Posts: 579
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:08 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: huntington beach

colorado backpacking info

Post by overheadx2 »

Sorry Mav and Eric, I know I probably should have posted this in the beyond the sierra section, but I wanted to make sure it was seen. I will move it if you would like. Any how, I got some good intel last year about the San Juan wilderness area as well as some other southern Colorado areas from Tom_H but decided on a trip to Maroon Bells. It was amazing, but the fishing was not very good and it was very crowded. We went to Maroon bells because my brother wanted to go there for the photography and it was supposed to be one of the top hikes in Colorado. In 2018, I want to do another trip to Colorado but am looking for something with some passes, FISHING and solitude. I am looking for a loop from 20 to 35 miles in the depending on the amount altitude gains and the amount of XC in the San Juan NF , Uncompahgre NF or even the Durango railroad. I am pretty comfortable with XC travel and class 2 passes but not much interest in peak bagging or climbing. I would enjoy getting off the trail without completely bushwhacking. Any suggestions?
User avatar
Teresa Gergen
Topix Regular
Posts: 109
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:47 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Colorado

Re: colorado backpacking info

Post by Teresa Gergen »

.....
Last edited by Teresa Gergen on Wed Nov 14, 2018 8:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
gregodorizzi
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 39
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2016 4:14 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: colorado backpacking info

Post by gregodorizzi »

Would you consider a point-to-point N/S (or S/N) journey between Rocky Mtn National Park (north) and I-70? You can tailor a route that matches your desired mileage and exit to the east relatively easily toward Boulder (or enter at a desired mid-point and hike to I-70 going south or to the national park going north). The 'route' is called the Pfiffner Traverse, but it's mostly cross-country, so there's not a genuine fixed route. And it's almost completely off-trail through the park and through the Indian Peaks Wilderness and James Peak Wilderness. I've encountered as much solitude doing this trip as I have in my XC trips in the Sierra. It's spectacular. :thumbsup:
User avatar
Tom_H
Topix Expert
Posts: 795
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:11 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Camas, WA

Re: colorado backpacking info

Post by Tom_H »

Out of quite a few trips through Uncompaghre, I only saw two people...and both were from a distance. (Although my boss encountered two female Outward Bound instructors practicing naturism in their camp on one trip I did.) The high mountain scenery is beautiful, especially from the walk up climb of Uncompaghre Peak (14er). We counted 14 eagles (8 Golden, 6 Balds) all at one time in the many drainages flowing away from that peak at sunset. (There's a square rock windbreak on top for bivvying.) The alpenglow is surreal almost every night. You understand where John Denver's Fire in the Sky comes from.

There were some fish in the streams, but it's not a fishing paradise by any means. There are a couple of tarns, no lakes.

The passes are high and seem to take forever to scale, but all have trails. We did one tough scramble up a col to shortcut the Uncompaghre climb once. Wetterhorn Peak (14er) is a 5.6 climb, tremendous exposure, but not overly technical.

So I got you serious solitude and majestic scenery, but not ideal fishing.

CalTopo Map
User avatar
jimmyjamhikes
Topix Regular
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:00 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: San Diego, CA
Contact:

Re: colorado backpacking info

Post by jimmyjamhikes »

I did a trip on the CDT in the South San Juans in late July this year and can't wait to go back some time with my wife. We only ran into a couple of section hikers and 3 thru hikers. Summit Peak was spectacular!

https://jimmyjamhikingclub.wordpress.co ... mmit-peak/

Image
User avatar
Teresa Gergen
Topix Regular
Posts: 109
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:47 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Colorado

Re: colorado backpacking info

Post by Teresa Gergen »

.....
Last edited by Teresa Gergen on Wed Nov 14, 2018 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
OpenSkiesBeckon
Topix Novice
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:46 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: colorado backpacking info

Post by OpenSkiesBeckon »

I recommend checking out a loop out of Beartown Trailhead (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogran ... ecid=28902) IF IF IF you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle. You go up over Hunchback Pass, then drop down into the Vallecito drainage, then up the Trinity Basin area, then up past Silex Lake, over past Leviathan, then over to Sunlight Basin. Head down Sunlight drainage back to Vallecito Creek, back up and over Hunchback. Half the time is XC, but it's not hard XC, very doable and the country is spectacular.

The hardest part is driving to Beartown Trailhead. That's a tough road, but I did it with no issues in a stock 4-Runner. Got to drive through the Rio Grande. :)

Now, if you truly want solitude in the San Juans, head to the southeast corner of 'em. The peaks aren't as epic, but there's a ton of country, few roads, and fewer people.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests