Hike: Big Meadows to North Inlet (4 day)

Trip Details

Itinerary

Day 0: Meet and go over gear, food, and itinerary in afternoon. Plan on meeting for 1-1.5 hours the night before to make sure all gear is double-checked and backpack is packed and ready to go for an early morning departure.  Note: Some companies include this day as part of the total trip length, thus making it a four-day trip. However, we only include it as Day 0 due to building rapport with your Colorado local guide and helping with acclimation.

Day 1: This day starts on the southeastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail begins at 8500′ under Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines and follows a meandering river for 2.5 -4 miles to our campsite. We will spend the afternoon around the river enjoying the serene setting underneath the canopy of evergreen trees. Elevation gain: 750-1300′. Distance: 2.5-4 miles depending upon exact campsite and 3-4 hours.

Day 2: Today we continue west to our Thunder Lake campsite. The route continues hiking west through evergreen forests to the sub-alpine Thunder Lake. After arriving and setting up camp, we spend the afternoon exploring the Thunder Lake Basin with amazing views of the Mighty Mt. Alice. For those interested in fly-fishing, the inlet and outlet streams of Thunder Lake offer great fishing opportunities for the native Greenback Cutthroat Trout. Elevation gain: 750-1300′. Elevation gain: 750-1300′. Distance: 2.5-4 miles depending upon exact starting campsite and 3-4 hours.

Day 3: This is a great opportunity to climb one of the seldom climbed peaks, Mt Alice at 13,331′, in the Southern end of the park. We generally start early in order to get to the summit by 10-11 and be heading back down before the afternoon thunderstorms possible roll in. We generally start early in order to get to the summit by 10am or 11am and we head back down before the afternoon thunderstorms possibly roll in. Late Afternoon: fly fishing day the streams around Thunder Lake. Elevation gain: 2700′. Distance: 5.2 miles.

Day 4: We spend a leisurely am getting up and packing camp after the ascent attempt of Mt Alice the day before. Our route retraces day 1 in reverse and follows rivers downhill for 7 miles back to the Trailhead, on the south-eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Drive back to Estes Park, Boulder, or Denver. Elevation loss: -2110′. Distance: 7 miles.

Difficulty Description: 

Moderate – On moderate trips, you will hike 3-6 miles with a 25-35 pound backpack remaining on maintained trails. Elevation gain/loss may be as much as but not more than 2250 feet. For a moderate trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light daypack. Altitudes range from 7,000 – 10,500’. With 2 day ascent to Thunder Lake

Difficult – On difficult trips, you will hike up to 8 miles a day with a 25-35 pound backpack. Elevation gain/loss may be as much as 3000 feet on maintained trails, or up to 2000 feet on more rugged trails. For a difficult trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack at altitudes of 7000’ – 10,750’. This trip can be considered very difficult for summit day based on altitude , travel on un-maintained trails and class 3 terrain, but we feel 4-day trip can decease difficulty from very difficult to difficult rating.

What to Bring: Sent with trip confirmation

Included: The services of a professional backpacking guide, Rocky Mountain National Park permit and back-country Colorado camping permits, transportation between Boulder and the wilderness trail heads, all food during the backpacking trip, a re-supply drop, if necessary, gear for water purification and cooking, bear canister, tent, medical kit, CB radio and contingency and emergency support.

Not included in our rates: Meals while in the front country (breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day), laundry, alcoholic beverages, hotel overnight before your trip and at trip’s conclusion; personal equipment (sleeping bag, pad, backpack – these items are available to rent), and gratuities for your guide(s) – while this is at your discretion, the recommended amount is 20%.  If you want to add fly-fishing, cost is $100 extra per person (rod, reel, and flies for the trip and backpacking – angling guide).