Wilderness Overnight Backpacking Trip Planning

Wilderness Backpacking Camp Site

NPS

Quick Facts

Amenities

1 listed

Primitive Campsites

Overview

Rocky Mountain National Park boasts various opportunities for wilderness overnight backpackers to get their boots on the trail. Highlighted below are helpful tips for backpacking beginners to the most advanced mountainous trekkers.

Rocky Mountain National Park's wilderness is a busy place. People travel from all over the world to experience the natural phenomena that the park hosts. This means you must plan ahead. 

Before you start planning, please read the items below to ensure that Rocky can meet your expectations.

Overnight Backpacking in the Wilderness Requires a Physical Permit

All wilderness permits MUST be picked up in person during regular business hours by the permit holder at one of two Wilderness Office locations listed below:

• East Side of RMNP (near Estes Park, CO): Wilderness Office located near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Address: 1000 U.S. Hwy 36, Estes Park, CO 80517
• West Side of RMNP (near Grand Lake, CO): Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Address: 16018 U.S. Hwy 34, Grand Lake, CO 80447

Food Storage

Overnight wilderness backpackers are REQUIRED to secure all food items, scented items, and garbage inside a hard sided commercially made carry in/carry out bear-resistant food storage canister. This is required for RMNP wilderness areas due to recurring wildlife incidents. Other methods of food storage are not permitted in the park's wilderness at this time.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a Designated Site Wilderness

There is no dispersed camping allowed. Camp safely away from standing dead trees as near as is safely possible due to the silver metal arrowhead that marks the site.

Campfires Are Prohibited

Campfires are PROHIBITED in the wilderness. Use portable stoves only.

Water

Backpackers should purify all water before consuming.

Ready to Plan For Your Trip?

Once you are ready to begin planning for your next overnight wilderness backpacking adventure, please visit RMNP's Wilderness Overnight Backpacking webpage to see maps, a list of frequently asked questions, and more detailed trip planning information.

When you are ready to make your reservations for summertime wilderness overnight backpacking trips, visit Recreation.gov to make your selections for Wilderness Permits.