Colorado hiking information needed ASAP!

[Elliott Wolin]

So our plane lands in Denver this Mon morning. And we made extensive plans for two weeks of hiking and backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park.

But the park is closed until further notice due to flooding! We need to make alternative plans immediately.

Please suggest other places to go in the area, for hiking and backpacking, that don't take too long to get to. We're willing to drive a number of hours, maybe even most of a day, but not much longer.

Thanks…

[Kimberly Wersal]

The western part of the state has had more rain than usual, but only a fraction of the rainfall that the Front Range has seen. Roads are passable, no flooding. It is supposed to start clearing by Monday or Tuesday, so I would say your best bet might be the San Juans– about a 5-6 hour drive from Denver. The forecast for next week looks good.

[Jason McSpadden]

Mother Nature is doing a job along the Front Range!

The Collegiate Range and Buena Vista is beautiful and only 2 hours southwest from Denver. The Sangre De Cristos and the Wet Valley or the San Luis Valley is about three hours south. If you can get north the Medicine Bow Mountains which start in Colorado and go up into Wyoming are nice too. The Snowy Range is just west of Laramie.

I hope this helps a bit.

[Luke Schmidt]

With two weeks I think heading to the San Juans would be worth the drive. Good areas would be

1. Wimenuche Wildernes – Very big and wild area for CO. There are a number of loops you can put together.
2. South San Juan Wilderness – I've not done this but its another big wilderness area and the drive in might be a bit shorter. Not as many loops as I recall.
3. Colorado trail from Spring Creek Pass to Durango – Most of the CT from the Pass to Durango is very nice. You could hike the CT north from Durango to Molas Pass then go down and catch a train. Another idea would be to hike up from Durango then loop through part of the Wimenuche wilderness. You can go up the CT on through Elk Park cross a pass and come out through Chicago Basin to catch the train.

You could also consider the Sangri de Cristo Range, and the Maroon Bells (scenic but a bit more crowded).

With two weeks would you consider heading north to the Wind River Range? Its a bit farther then the San Juans but you'll lose a day or most of a day driving no matter what.

[Greg Mihalik]

Colorado Trail from Tennessee Pass to Salida – 100 miles. Pretty nice country.
Sand Dunes National Park
Wenimuche Wilderness – More CT and CDT, as well as an extensive trail system.

Base yourself in Salida and you can cover a lot of country with a 4 hour drive.
In fact, we have a spare bedroom, if you're interested. We're about 3.5 hours from DIA.

Plus one friendly dog in a non-smoking house.

greg attt smgm dottt org

[Greg Mihalik]

NM.
Per Paul below, the Park is closed.

[Paul Magnanti]

The trails are closed for at least the immediate future. On the RMNP Facebook page. Posted five hours ago:

"We are supposed to be staying in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park in about 10 days. Is it best to cancel?

The park is closed to all recreation and visitors. Estes Park does not want visitors at this time. Estes Park community's infrastructure is overwhelmed due to the magnitude of this historic flood event. The limited resources must be focused on response and recovery. It's unknown when this situation will change. Thank you for your understanding."

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