Co Rocky Mountain National Park Beginner Backpacking
aug 30-Sept 2, 2025

detailed itinerary | Price | FAQs

What Makes This Adventure Special:

The incredible world of backpacking awaits! Join us in this beginner-friendly adventure in one of the most beautiful National Parks! The experience of being in the Colorado Rockies is second to none. Enjoy:

All the gear you need for backpacking as a beginner
The opportunity to explore Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park
1 night front country camping, 2 nights backcountry camping
Glacier lake picnics, hikes, wildlife sightings

Our local guides with decades of experience take care us of throughout the experience: ensuring our gear is properly packed and fitted, tending to aches and pains on the trail, and prepare delicious and nutritious meals.

Our Root Adventures Tour Leader will infuse the experience with mindfulness practices that will help you reconnect with nature and yourself.

Plus:

+ Daily movement and mindfulness activities
+ Backpack training plan
+ Team of support for personal guidance
+ Root experienced tour leader and local guide
+ 3 month pre-trip physical and mental preparation guide
+ 2 pre-trip Zoom calls
+ Post-trip integration guide
+ 2 post-trip Zoom calls
+ Talk to a real human when booking and planning your trip!

Detailed Itinerary

(Click “+” To learn more)

Your adventure begins today! You’ll plan to meet your group and guides at your first night of camping accommodations just outside of Estes Park!
We’ll make sure our bags are packed and fitted properly and distribute group gear. We’ll enjoy a delicious camp dinner before getting into our tents to rest up before our first big day of hiking!
*Please arrive in Estes Park by 11am
Accommodations: Front Country Camping
Meals: L | D
After a leisurely morning at camp, we’ll begin the drive to the trailhead.
We’ll enjoy a 4 mile hike to our backcountry basecamp for the next three nights. Upon arriving at camp, you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner with good company.
You’ll sleep beneath the stars surrounded by the mountains.
Accommodations: Backcountry Camping
Meals: B | L | D
Today we’ll wake up early in preparation for a big day hike. We’ll spend the day hiking 11 miles, being sure to take our time! Mid-day we’ll stop for lunch with a view at a beautiful glacial lake.
We’ll be rewarded with lush green meadows, wildflowers, and maybe some falls. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for elk, moose, bears, big-horned sheep, and more!
After returning to our campsite, enjoy a gourmet camp dinner with a cool down stretch!
Accommodation: Backcountry Camping
Meals Provided: B | L | D
After watching another glorious sunrise, we’ll enjoy breakfast at camp before packing up and making the final trek to where we started.
We’ll then make our way to the town of Estes Park and enjoy a farewell lunch as we reflect on our adventure!
*Please depart anytime after 3PM
Meals: B | L

PRICE: $1995 per person, Double Occupancy

Deposit: $500 due today
Final Balance: due 90 days prior to departure

Solo travelers will be paired with one another or you can choose a single room for an additional $95

Payment plans available, please inquire.

FAQs

We provide a full service experience. Included in your trip cost:
+Food: All food from lunch on day one to lunch on day 4 are included as outlined in the itinerary.
+Accommodation: Accommodation during the backpacking portion of the trip will be in shared, modern, lightweight 2-person weather-proof tents.
+Equipment: Trip participants will be responsible for providing their own hiking clothing, rain gear, and sturdy hiking footwear. We will provide group camping gear along with sleeping bags and sleeping pads. Option for us to rent a backpack and hiking poles for you. The guides will provide the group safety gear such as tarps, emergency communication devices and bear spray as well as group cooking gear and food.
+Safety: As with all our trips, safety is our number one priority. We expect the unexpected and will have plans for anything that could happen while on our adventures. We will have radios and other types of emergency communication devices, evacuation plans, and all of our guides have current Advanced Wilderness First Aid Certificates.
+Root Expert Tour Leader who will facilitate mindfulness/wellness practices
+Local Guide
+Daily mindfulness activities
+Individual pre-trip assistance as needed
+2 pre-trip calls
+2 post trip calls
+Access to our Director of Traveler Experience who can help answer all your questions!
+All tips/gratuities
+6 Week Post-Trip Meditation Series to help integrate your experience
+Lifetime access to the Root Community
Airfare, travel insurance, souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and anything not detailed in the itinerary.
At this time of the year expect warm, sunny days followed by chilly nights. As we approach the end of the summer season expect for the weather to be a bit more chillier, so pack with plenty of layers!
The average temperature is 73 degrees Fahrenheit during the day with lows in the upper 30’s at night. There is a high potential for afternoon storms and winds, but they rarely stick around for long!
Please plan to arrive in Estes Park by 11am on August 30th.
Please note that we will help organize carpools from the Denver/Boulder/Golden area, but we cannot guarantee availability. If you do join a carpool, please be sure to give the driver gas money. Location details will be shared closer to start date.
If you are flying, please plan to fly out no earlier than 3PM (flight departure time) on September 2nd.
We classify this trip a difficulty level of 5 out of 5. Which means prior hiking experience is highly recommended. This is a beginner friendly backpacking trip, so no prior backpacking experience is necessary.
However expect to carry a 35+ lb pack for multiple days on trail for sustained daily time. Expect elevation gain, variable terrain and weather conditions. Below are approximate daily mileages. You can check out the full detailed itinerary above.
Day 1: 0km
Day 2: Hike to campsite- Approximately 4.3 miles with significant (1600ft) elevation gain This is where we will set up camp and spend the next two nights.
Day 3: Day Hike - Approximately 11.5 miles, however we will not be carrying full heavy packs and length is dependent. on group energy levels.
Day 4: Hike Out - Approximately 4.3 miles, significant elevation loss. We will be hiking the same route out as we did in!
Sleeping accommodations are a combination of front country camping as well as back country camping as detailed in the itinerary.
Accommodations are in shared, modern, lightweight 2 person weather-proof tents. There is an option for a single supplement if you do not wish to share a tent.
You will be carrying a heavy backpacking pack (35+ lbs) with everything you need for camping for 4 days. You will be carrying individual gear as well as a portion of the distributed shared group gear provided by the local guides.
The key in backpacking is to pack as light as possible! We will talk about this much more and make sure you are prepared!
You can find a detailed packing list here. We will also go over gear in much more detail on our two pre-trip calls.
Incredible meals are provided by the local guides and will help be prepared by all participants.
All dietary restrictions are taken into consideration as well! You can indicate any dietary restrictions in the registration form upon sign up.
There is no access to electricity and minimal to zero access to cell phone service.
On the backpacking portion of the trip there will be no access to showers or toilets. Your guides will show you how to practice “leave no trace” practices for elimination on trails and outdoors.
Here is a packing list. We will also go through gear questions in more detail in our two pre-trip calls.
It is recommended that you do practice hikes, walks, or strength and cardio conditioning to prepare for this trip. Three months prior to departure you will receive our pre-trip preparation series that has a full training plan.
Please email info@rootadventures.com or schedule a call. We would love to hear from you!