Across the Divide
Estes Park, CO
5.0 (4 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Cross the Continental Divide
- Tremendous Mountain Views
- Glacial-carved Valleys
- Alpine Tundra
- Snow-fed Waterfalls
- Abundant Wildlife Babitat
- Pristine Streams & Lakes
Description
Please Note: Â This trip was affected by the 2020 wildfires in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park Service has not indicated yet whether this area will be open in 2021, or what condition it will be in. For the time being, we are not adding 2021 reservations for this trip. We heartily recommend our Rocky Mountain High Alpine Adventure, Longs Peak Loop Trek, and the Alpine Peaks, Lakes & Waterfalls Thru-hike as excellent alternatives!
Our 5-Day Across the Divide backpack takes us from the rivers that flow east into the Atlantic, to the very headwaters of those that make their way west to the Pacific – and we do it all under our own power! We’ll begin along the waters of the pristine Big Thompson River, follow the drainage up past roaring waterfalls, alpine lakes, and glacial-carved granite cliffs. Then we’ll ascend above the clouds, over the Divide, and down into the river valleys flowing west out of the mountains!
Days one and two we’ll ascend through a long and lake-strewn canyon with views of high peaks above – on day three we’ll make our way up and over the continental divide. This is the crux and highlight of our trip – we’ll likely see elk, quite possibly bighorn sheep, and if we’re alert we’ll glimpse the white-tailed ptarmigan above tree line as we pass. Days 4 and 5 we’ll continue through the wildlife – rich forests of the western slope as we descend to our final destination and the return trip by shuttle through the alpine tundra to Estes Park. Don’t miss this epic Colorado backpacking adventure!
$1455 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 34-45 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 4-8 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 1700 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 2370 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well maintained
- Additional:
- This trip goes up to approximately 12,000 feet in elevation. It’s best to arrive in Estes Park a day or two early to acclimatize.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Rocky Mountain National Park backpacking trip a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time.
Learn More about our Rating SystemTravel to Estes Park
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
SuperShuttle: 970-482-0505
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private Trips- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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