Rocky Mountain Basecamp Tour
Camping Hiking Tours
5 Days, 4 Nights 34MI / 54KM
Trip Highlights
This Rocky Mountain National Park camping tour is an opportunity to have a diverse range of mountain hiking experiences carrying only a light backpack. In the evenings you’ll enjoy fantastic meals and access to showers at a quiet, private campground on the western, less-crowded side of the Continental Divide. During the days we’ll enter Rocky Mountain National Park for an amazing variety of hikes throughout the Park.
From our basecamp we’ll venture out on carefully selected day hikes to various stunning features of Rocky Mountain National Park. These hand-picked hikes will take you through mountain meadows, to waterfalls, to the tops of alpine peaks, to the shores of high mountain lakes, to the edges of glaciers, and through fantastic wildlife areas. Each evening you’ll appreciate delicious meals prepared by your guide. Then it’s time to relax by the campfire and/or have a hot shower. Your mornings will begin with a wonderful breakfast and hot coffee or tea before we head out on each day’s adventure!
-
5 Iconic Rocky Mountain Hikes
-
Abundant Wildlife
-
Premier Camping
-
Waterfalls, Creeks & Rivers
-
Alpine Lakes & High Peaks
-
Stunning Mountain Scenery
-
Fantastic Outdoor Cuisine
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
-
Trip Type
Camping Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
5 Days, 4 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-8 mi -
Group Size
2-12 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
"*" indicates required fields
Is This Trip Right For me?
This tour hikes on well-maintained trails, ranging from gradual to steep inclines.The difficulty of this trip (hiking distance and elevation change) may vary based on the group’s motivation level. Ratings reflect maximum hiking distances.
Difficulty Level
Learn More
Solitude Level
Learn More
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: 20 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1500 feet
Shuttle to campground: 1.5 hours
This Rocky Mountain National Park hiking tour begins in Estes Park, where we drive to the famous Bear Lake/Glacier Gorge area of the Park. This area offers access to some of RMNP’s most dramatic landscapes, from cascading waterfalls to pristine alpine lakes and towering granite cliffs. Our hike will take us past Alberta Falls, a beautiful cascading waterfall that plunges through a glacial-cut canyon. We’ll then continue up to Mills lake, a stunning alpine lake with incredible views of the towering mountains above. This hike is an extraordinary day in one of the most stunning alpine cirques in the Continental United States.
Following our hike we’ll drive up and over Trail Ridge Road to the more remote and wildlife-rich, west side of the Park. We’ll set up camp at an established, private campground literally on the edge of the Park and get ready for a very tasty dinner prepared by your guide. At night you can enjoy a hot shower and then relax around the campfire with a glass of hot chocolate, tea, wine or beer (alcoholic beverages not provided).
Day 2
Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
Elevation Loss/Gain: 600 feet
We’ll have a relaxing morning and breakfast before heading to the trailhead. Today’s trail meanders along the head waters of the Colorado River in a secluded valley with vast beautiful meadows. A prime location for wildlife sightings of moose, elk, and deer. We’ll break for lunch at Lulu City, a historical mining site abandoned in 1885. After exploring this historic site and enjoying the riverside views, we’ll make our way back to our cozy campsite. Another tasty dinner and campfire will top off this fantastic day.
Day 3
Shuttle to trailhead: 15 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 800 feet
After leisurely breakfast we will make our way to our Trailhead for a day of wildlife viewing and waterfall exploration. The trail skirts the edges of a wetland meadow, where sitings of moose and deer are common. The trail is very level for the first 2 miles as we hike along the creek. We will break for lunch and listen to the rapid water flowing to the headwaters of the Colorado River. Continuing further down the trail will bring more breathtaking views of mountain summits. With a full day of hiking, we will head back the way we came to our camp.
Day 4
Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 9.5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2400 feet
Today we embark into the alpine to the remote summit of Mount Ida (12,889 feet). Of all Rocky Mountain National Park’s peaks, Mount Ida provides one of the most astonishing vantage points on top of the Continental Divide, even compared to many higher summits. An early start is necessary to get ahead of afternoon storms, so after a nutritious breakfast and short shuttle, we will begin hiking above Poudre Lake. The trail begins with a steep incline until reaching tree line. We continue hiking along the crest of the Continental Divide, interspersed with some off trail travel and a few steep sections til reaching Mount Ida. From the summit we are rewarded with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains as the backdrop to a delicious picnic lunch.
Day 5
Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 4 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 700 feet
Shuttle to Estes Park: 1 hour
We will start our last day with another wonderful breakfast and relaxing morning. After collecting our belongings, we will drive across Trail Ridge Road towards Estes Park. We will stop to hike the Ute Trail. This is moderate trail along the alpine tundra, offering fantastic views of the Park in every direction. Following our hike, we’ll stop at the Alpine Visitors Center, a truly remarkable facility that sits at 11,796 ft. We’ll then continue to make our way towards Estes, stopping for lunch along the way, before we conclude our tour in Estes Park.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
Scroll horizontally to view all dates
What's Included
-
Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
-
Use of trekking poles
-
All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
-
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.
-
Entrance fees and national park permits
-
Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
-
The exceptional customer service; dialed-in logistics; amazing food; and friendly, knowledgeable guides Wildland is famous for!
What's Not Included
-
Clothes, raingear and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
-
Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
-
Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
PREMIER CAMPGROUNDS
4 nights
On our basecamp tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private vehicle-accessible campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.
FANTASTIC MEALS
14 Meals
Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.
COMFORTABLE CAMPING
Camping Amenities
What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, access to showers, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
You will meet your guide and group in Estes Park, Colorado on the morning of Day 1, when we pick you up at your hotel. 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 pick up.
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 in the pre-trip contact. 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
Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Robert S
1 year agoCouldn’t have asked for better guides.
Great experience! Will be using them again in the future!
William O
1 year agoThank you!
Registration was easy - Connor & Liz could not have been better guides and great to have on the trail. They were knowledgeable, fun, and kept us informed of everything we were doing throughout the trip. Would very much enjoy doing a future trek with them again. Thank you!
David D
1 year agoTremendous Value
The Wildland Trekking guides are excellent. They provide tremendous value added to the trips. I highly recommend Wildland.
You Might Also Like...
"*" indicates required fields
Leave a Reply