Across the Divide
Guided Backpacking Trips
5 Days, 4 Nights 25+MI / 40+KM
Trip Highlights
Our 5-Day Across the Divide backpacking trip takes you from the Atlantic-bound waters of the Big Thompson River to the Pacific-bound headwaters west of the Continental Divide—all under your own power. We’ll ascend through a canyon dotted with alpine lakes and waterfalls, then cross over glacial cliffs to reach the high country. Day three is the trip’s highlight as we crest the Divide, with chances to spot elk, bighorn sheep, and even the elusive white-tailed ptarmigan. We then descend through wildlife-rich forests on the western slope before shuttling back to Estes Park via alpine tundra. This is a truly epic Colorado adventure from one side of the continent to the other.
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Cross the Continental Divide
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Tremendous Mountain Views
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Glacial-carved Valleys
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Alpine Tundra
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Snow-fed Waterfalls
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Abundant Wildlife Babitat
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Pristine Streams & Lakes
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-8 mi -
Group Size
1-6 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This tour hikes over the Continental Divide, from Estes Park to Grand Lake, CO, ascending to an elevation of 12,300 FT/ 3,750 M above sea level. Each day contains steep sections of trail for long durations. Day three is the most challenging, requiring 9 MI/ 14 KM of hiking with an elevation gain and loss of 2,500 FT/ 760 M while crossing the divide.
Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,150 feet
This Rocky Mountain National Park backpacking trip starts with a brief shuttle to the trail. After a trailhead breakfast and a final fitting of our backpacks, we begin the uphill journey hiking through an area that was burned in 2020. Your guide will explain the intricacies of fire ecology, and you’ll witness first-hand the forest’s amazing ability to regenerate! Today is a wonderful day for wildflowers and potential wildlife sightings. We’ll have lunch by the river and later make camp next to the awe-inspiring, Odessa Lake.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 2.2 miles plus optional day hike
Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet
Today we’ll continue in the presence of mountain water: from rushing rivers and waterfalls, to high mountain lakes. Our hike will take us through the reaches of Odessa Gorge, a land of towering cliffs, wildlife, and wildflowers.
This is our shortest day with full gear on our backs, and provides multiple options for side hikes together to more remote mountain lakes and waterfalls off the beaten path.
We’ll camp within earshot of the creek, near an alpine lake nearing tree line, at 10, 600 feet, where a hearty dinner awaits as we settle in and prepare for our divide traverse and our longest day the next morning.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 7.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,370 feet
Elevation Loss: 1,570 feet
Day 3 is the most difficult and in some ways the most stunning of our trip. We’ll rise before the sun, eat a hearty breakfast, and make our way out of Odessa Gorge to the heights of Flattop Mountain at 12, 324 feet. This route will take us into the higher reaches of the National Park – we’ll see glaciers, likely Rocky Mountain Bighorn, and we’ll spend much of the day in the alpine zone, where we can see to both sides of the Continent for unending miles.
From Flattop Mountain we’ll traverse south through the tundra into the Park’s western forests and the North Inlet creek. Our camp is just below tree line in the high spruce/fir forests that abound on the western slope of the Park.
As evening descends we’ll enjoy a well-earned dinner and listen to the creek as it murmurs past us near camp.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 5.2 miles plus optional morning hike
Elevation Loss: 1,700 feet
After breakfast, we’ll break camp and head down into the valley of North Inlet creek. Today’s walk provides a great time to take a closer look at the flowers and wildlife of the subalpine forest, as we move through an area rich in Elk, Moose, and Rocky Mountain wildflowers of infinite variety.
Our final evening we’ll camp once more to the sound of rushing water, with limitless stars above, as we reflect on the journey of days past and those to come.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 4 miles
Elevation Loss: 700 feet
Shuttle to Estes Park: 1.5 hours
Our final day together we’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast and pack up for our final 4-mile stretch to the North Inlet Trailhead. We’ll then enjoy a shuttle up and over the Divide along Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous road in the Lower 48! We’ll stop for a picnic lunch and officially end our trip in Estes Park, where we began, having come full circle across the Divide and back on Trail Ridge Road.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Entrance fees and national park permits
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Transportation for the duration of the trip beginning and ending in Estes Park, CO
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Bear cannisters for food storage
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
BACKCOUNTRY SLEEPING
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
BACKCOUNTRY CUISINE
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
AMAZING CAMPSITES
IN THE ACTION
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group in Estes Park, Colorado at the Estes Park Mountain Shop (2050 Big Thompson Ave) at 5:00 PM the evening before your trip begins for an orientation meeting. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip to answer any questions you have, provide you with more details about your exact trip, and coordinate the rendezvous.
We recommend guests arrive in Estes Park (or another nearby location that is 7500′ or higher) 1-2 days before your trip starts. This will help you acclimatize to the higher elevation, and make for a more enjoyable experience during your tour. This is especially important if you have never been to higher altitude, or are flying in from sea level.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Estes Park, Colorado
All Rocky Mountain National Park trips begin and end from Estes Park, Colorado. Estes Park does not have an airport. The most convenient airport is Denver International Airport (DIA), which is served by most major airlines and is an inexpensive airport to fly into. From DIA one can take a shuttle or rent a car to reach Estes Park. It is a 1.5-hour drive from DIA to Estes Park on good roads.
Denver to Estes Park Shuttles
Estes Park Shuttle: 970-586-5151
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in the Colorado Rockies
Being a high mountain environment, the Rocky Mountains are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Colorado’s high country. On trips in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer rain is always a possibility on your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | |||
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Month
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High / Low
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June
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71°
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48°
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July
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79°
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55°
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August
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78°
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53°
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September
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69°
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45°
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Reviews
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Grant P
1 year agoDefinitely a Memorable Trip
Amanda did a fantastic job as our tour guide with her expert knowledge and skills this was very memorable as it was my first ever hike highly recommend
Mathis Y
2 years agoAwesome!
My first backpacking trip. It was amazing! Our guide, Connor, was just great. Great guide and a great chef. The beauty of the hike was unbelievable. Highly recommend.
Rob F
2 years agoExperience was Excellent
This was my first backpacking trip and hike and Wildland made everything so easy. Everything about the experience was excellent, from the itinerary, equipment, customer service, guide, and food. Our guide, Chris, was amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the hiking area. Plus, he was an amazing cook and motivator for the difficult parts of the hike. I learned so much from the experience and would definitely book with Wildland again!
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