Your Colorado Hiking Checklist

As much as I love hiking, I am not an avid hiker that does fourteeners every weekend. However, I have made my share of stupid mistakes while hiking which has led me to have a better idea of what you can do to have a great time hiking in Colorado. 

If you are hiking in Colorado, follow these tips and you’ll be all set.

Things you should always bring:

• Water, especially in the summer.
• Sunscreen! No matter what time of year.
• A rain jacket or a warmer jacket depending on where you are hiking and what time of year.
• Tennis shoes with traction or hiking boots. I have done all my hiking with normal running shoes because I don’t have hiking boots. I have been fine with my tennis shoes on most trails, but even in the summer trails can get slippery.
• Snacks! I always bring snacks when I go on longer hikes.

Things that are good to bring:

• Hats either to keep sun out of your face or to keep you warm and dry.
• Pants, if you are wearing shorts and it is a longer hike at higher elevation.
• Sunglasses.
• A whistle to scare away bears or other wild animals.
• Your pooch! It’s always more fun to hike with a dog. You will see many dogs hiking in Colorado. However, make sure the trail is dog friendly before you go.
• If you are bringing your dog, make sure you bring extra water for them!

Things to keep in the car:

• An extra change of clothes in case it pours rain.
• A hoodie, especially if you aren’t bringing one on the hike.
• Extra water and snacks in the car.
• Extra shoes in case it’s muddy.

Hiking in the Summer:

Summer is the most common time for hiking in Colorado because people are wanting to get outside and move. While this is great, summer in Colorado is hot. If you are hiking in the summer, bring lots of water and aim to start in the early morning or evening. Shorts are usually good unless you are hiking way up in the mountains, in which case you may want to bring or wear a pair of pants or a light jacket.

A couple of summers ago, Luke and I hiked to Blue Lake in Telluride and since it was the middle of the summer, I wore shorts and a tank top. The trail was about five miles and when we got close to the lake there was still a ton of snow that I had to struggle through in my shorts and tennis shoes. That was not fun.

If you are doing a shorter hike in the afternoon or evening, it’s a good idea bring a rain jacket. And keep in mind if it rains, it will probably be slippery.

Also remember that summer is the busy season for hiking, so if you don’t get to the trail head early you may not be able to find parking and there will likely be many people along the trail.

Hiking in the Fall:

The fall is one of my favorite times to visit the mountains because you can see all the beautiful aspens. Why not enjoy a great fall hike while you’re at it? The fall in Colorado can be very unpredictable, though. It can be cold and rainy or beautiful outside, sometimes all in one day!

I recently went on a five mile hike on Upper Piney Lake Trail and experienced being overly warm, cold, and very cold within three hours. If you are hiking in the fall, bring layers. I wore jeans, a tank top with a light jacket and a vest over it. I also brought an extra long sleeve shirt to put on over my tank top and an extra jacket, which I didn’t end up needing. This worked well! I was a little hot in the beginning, but I was glad that I had brought so many layers when it started raining a really cold rain at the end.

Hiking in the Winter:

In the winter I prefer snowshoeing, which is easy to do and there are many rental shops where you can get snowshoes. If that is not your style, you can also get spikes for your hiking boots to prevent slipping.

Even in the winter, some of the lower trails will melt and you may not need snowshoes or spikes. Just make sure you check the conditions before you go.

Layers are your friend in winter as well. The winter wind can be really harsh, so it’s good to bring a hat and gloves.

Hiking in the Spring:

Hiking in the spring can also be unpredictable. Colorado still gets a lot of snow through March and April (usually the worst snow storms) and if not, then there is likely going to be ice or snow leftover which makes hiking a slippery mess. Sometimes the weather is beautiful in the spring, sometimes it is freezing, so check the forecast before hitting the trails.

One time I attempted to hike a fairly easy trail in the spring, but I was wearing a pair of Toms. I kept sliding downhill while I tried to walk so we had to turn around. We hadn’t been planning on hiking that day otherwise I would have worn better shoes. Luke and his mom will never let me live that one down.

What kind of hiking mishaps have you encountered? What are your hiking essentials?

Check out more things to do in Denver here.

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