Backpacker Magazine: Denver: Backpacking and Camping Trips, Hikes, Adventures, Topo Maps, Aerial Photos.

Boulder, CO: Mount Sanitas via Mount Sanitas Trail

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Navigate an obstacle course of countless log steps, steep rock slabs, and giant boulders on this 2.8-mile hike to a small summit overlooking Boulder.

Denver, CO: Enchanted Forest

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
An invigorating climb at the base of Lookout Mountain, this 5.4-mile lollipop loop follows a bustling creek into a forest thick with trees--and elk.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Ouzel Lake

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Amble along rushing creeks, waterfalls, and lichen-covered rock outcroppings on the way to a secluded alpine lake in Rocky Mountain National Park's Wild Basin.

Frisco, CO: Peak 1

BACKPACKER Review
Catch breathtaking views of Summit County and the Tenmile Range on this 6.9-mile out-and-back that climbs to the 12,805-foot summit of Peak 1.

Denver: Betasso Preserve Loop

BACKPACKER Review
This 5.2-mile trail kicks off with a short albeit aggressive climb, then rambles through meadows that explode with wildflowers in the summer. Craggy mountain vistas abound.

Denver, CO: Beaver Brook

BACKPACKER Review
One of the Front Range's best hikes, this 10-mile point-to-point offers solitude, mountain views, and a couple of thigh-burning climbs.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Trail Ridge Road

This 50-miler in Rocky Mountain National Park tours Colorado's signature (and highest) paved pass, revealing epic views up to treeline and beyond.

Boulder, CO: Betasso Preserve

The 1,000-foot climb from Boulder to Betasso Preserve pays off with a 3-mile circuit on banked and off-camber singletrack--an ideal cross-country primer.

Boulder, CO: Flatiron Loop

Get up-close and personal with the signature red sandstone of Boulder’s legendary Flatirons while catching inimitable views of the Eastern Plains on this 2.89-mile Front Range classic.

Boulder, CO: Hall Ranch via the Antelope Trail

Blaze through conifer tunnels into open meadows of tall grass and brush on this 7-mile trail ride north of Boulder.

Denver: Castlewood Canyon- Rim & Creek Bottom Trail

A four mile loop in Castlewood Canyon State Park

Rocky Mountain National Park: Lily Lake to Sprague Lake Loop

Traverse exposed ridgelines, pass under thick pine stands and enjoy postcard views of Rocky Mountain National Park on this 20.5-mile lollypop loop.

Local Hikes: Mountain West

BACKPACKER Review
Hike Denver's lost wilderness, a twofer of peaks in Idaho, lava tubes in New Mexico, Zion's sneak route, and Bozeman's trout-filled lake.

Local Hikes: Denver/Boulder, CO

BACKPACKER Review
The best hikes near Denver/Boulder.

Winter Hiking For Beginners

BACKPACKER Review
Extend the hiking season at these three destinations, all perfect for winter newbies.

Share your tales of travel & adventure with our step-by-step guide. Upload trail descriptions, photos, video, and more.

Photos + Videos

Packing for a Backcountry Ski Day Kristin Hostetter shows you the essential gear, and how to pack it, for a day of backcountry skiing.	Adjust Your Pack Straps on the Trail Maximize your pack's comfort with a few easy, on-trail strap adjustments.

What makes a backpacker a backpacker? It's not the garage full of gear or piles of guidebooks--it's the experiences, from thru-hiking a long trail to pushing your personal envelope to inspiring a child's love of wilderness. Here we present BACKPACKER's new Life List: 10 experiences to add to your tick-listnow--and the key skills you need to nail them.