Explore Hiking Trails with ColoradoHiking.org

At ColoradoHiking.org, we’re here to help you hike smarter, safer, and with more confidence — whether you’re venturing out on your very first trail or preparing for a multi-day backpacking trip along the Colorado Trail. We’ve gathered the best tools, maps, gear suggestions, safety tips, and planning resources — all tailored for exploring Colorado’s diverse landscapes. From dispersed camping to navigation apps and trail databases, this is your one-stop guide to hiking and backpacking in the Centennial State. 🥾🌲

Your guide to trusted tools, websites, and communities to help you hike smarter and adventure further in Colorado.

🌐 The Colorado Trail Foundation
Website: coloradotrail.org
An official hub for the 486-mile Colorado Trail. Offers segment maps, trail conditions, packing lists, GPS data, and volunteer opportunities. They also publish the official Colorado Trail Databook.

📍 AllTrails
Website: alltrails.com
A crowd-sourced platform for trails all over Colorado. Includes reviews, elevation profiles, user photos, and GPS navigation. Filter by difficulty, length, dog-friendliness, and more.

🗺️ Gaia GPS
Website: gaiagps.com
Professional-level topographic maps and offline GPS navigation tools. Great for dispersed hiking and remote backpacking routes in Colorado’s national forests and wilderness areas.

🧭 Hiking Project (by REI)
Website: hikingproject.com
REI-supported hiking guide with user-curated trail maps, photos, difficulty ratings, and interactive terrain overlays. Especially useful for regional trip planning.

📲 COTREX (Colorado Trail Explorer)
Website: trails.colorado.gov
Official state-run mapping tool featuring nearly every trail in Colorado. Includes detailed overlays, closures, elevation, trail use type, and accessibility info.

🛏️ The Dyrt
Website: thedyrt.com
Nationwide campground directory with reviews, photos, and dispersed camping info. Use their "Pro" version to access offline maps and public land camping zones.

🚐 Campendium
Website: campendium.com
Focuses on free and low-cost campsites. User reviews include road access info, cell coverage reports, and RV suitability.

🆓 FreeCampsites.net
Website: freecampsites.net
A bare-bones but powerful tool for finding true dispersed (free) camping on federal land. Includes coordinates, site descriptions, and local rules.

⛺ Recreation.gov
Website: recreation.gov
Book federal campsites in National Forests and Parks. Useful for reserving popular spots along the Colorado Trail or near major trailheads.

🪶 LighterPack
Website: lighterpack.com
Plan your gear loadout and visualize pack weight by category. Ideal for Colorado Trail section hikes and gear shakedowns.

🔧 Garage Grown Gear
Website: garagegrowngear.com
Online shop featuring small-batch ultralight brands and innovative outdoor gear, many of which are perfect for Colorado terrain.

🏬 REI Colorado Stores
Website: rei.com/stores
In-person gear consultations, rentals, and local trail clinics. Check locations in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs.

❄️ Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)
Website: avalanche.state.co.us
Essential for winter and early spring hiking. Tracks avalanche risk zones and conditions across Colorado's mountain ranges.

🌤️ NOAA Colorado Forecasts
Website: weather.gov → Click Colorado on map
Get accurate and up-to-date weather forecasts by zone. Crucial for any backpacking trip above treeline.

🧭 CalTopo
Website: caltopo.com
Custom map-building and printing for backcountry trips. Great for offline navigation and emergency planning.

🌨️ Spring Snow Still a Hazard

Website: Track snowpack »

Snowpack remains on many higher elevation trails, including large sections of the Colorado Trail. Expect melting snow, postholing, and lingering drifts.

🌱 Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Website: lnt.org
Teaches the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. Learn how to reduce impact on Colorado’s fragile alpine and wilderness ecosystems.

⛰️ Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI)
Website: 14ers.org
Supports trail maintenance and conservation on Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Offers volunteering and education resources.

💬 Backpacker Forums (r/Ultralight, r/CampingandHiking)
Website: reddit.com
These active subreddits provide real-time trip reports, gear suggestions, and community advice from people hiking in Colorado and beyond.

Need help choosing a trail or planning your route? Check out our Trails Page or Contact Us — we’re always happy to help fellow hikers explore with confidence! 🌄