5-6 day Colorado hike suggestions?

Some of the least traveled wilderness is also the most likely to yield loops in this state. I'd suggest a loop starting near Skinny Fish Creek (#1813) to the Driveway (#1812) then skirting the Chinese Wall east and south.

Depending on how many miles you make a day you could drop back down into the North Fork of the White basin at Little Trappers Lake, Fraser Creek, or Big Fish Creek.

I was a back country ranger in the early 90's on this forest and I can assure that you'll come away with a memorable experience.

Well, thanks for all the good information, everyone. I'm still slowly researching all of it. I have my Flat Tops map. Well- half of it. Apparently it is spread across two different Trails Illustrated maps. More will follow- hopefully in the form of a trip report or two.

The new loop around Pikes might be the Ring the Peak trail if we're thinking of the same thing. I can get some GPS data for anyone who tries it. It's a big single day loop on a bike.

digging this up from the way back machine … looking to plan a similar trip late June/Early July 2018 … Dean … what did you end up doing? Any recommendations?

This has been a helpful thread.

Well, at this point I’ve been all over Colorado since I posted this.  (This thread dates from shortly after I moved to Colorado.)  Lost Creek and the Sangres are my go-to spots because they’re close to Colorado Springs.  Still haven’t managed to hit Flat Tops, but By God I will eventually.  The Four Pass hike in Maroon Bells is so beautiful it looks Photoshopped, but is so popular that it can be crowded in the summer, especially near the trailheads.  It’s pretty easy to throw together any length of trip you like in the South San Juans or the Weminuche- just get a map and look around.  Same with Lost Creek, actually.  It can be hard to come up with longer hikes in the Sangres, though- those are mostly short out-and-back hikes suitable for a weekend at most.  But this guy managed to put together something pretty epic (a very few others have done something similar).  FYI June can still be a bit early for some of higher passes to be snow-free, if that’s important for you.

What kind of hike are you looking for?

FWIW PMags is the real expert on obscure- well, actually all- Colorado hikes.  He’s around here someplace.

I will second the Sangres, I spent weekends up there as a kid, way before the Wilderness designation. Made me sad I could no longer ride a motorcycle to my favorite spot on the planet. Anyway off of nostalgia way……….

Has anyone spent much time in the San Juan’s near Platoro? I am looking at Tobacco lake to Blue Lake with side trips to Timber Lake and the summit of Conejos sometime in Late July or August 2018. Mileage is about 21-22 over 5-7 days with a heavy slant on flyfishing and enjoying the scenery. I will be doing the trip with others and can leave a car at one trailhead and a truck at the other if it matters.

Lakefinder lists the fish in the various lakes as yellowstone cutts, rainbow, brookies, and browns. I have no idea whats been stocked since 2011 though…….  Would be an awesome trip if I could see all the above……………