Backpacking in Colorado's San Juan Mountains

The San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado provide one of the most scenic backdrops for a backpacking trip. The rugged mountains, cascading creeks, open meadows, spectacular wildflowers and abundant wildlife make this the supreme destination for a backcountry excursion. Our trips are designed for beginning to intermediate backpackers and will suit backcounty travellers of all ages and ability levels. This is a great adventure for families or a group of friends.

Our backpacking trips take place in the Weminuche Wilderness, typically in either the Chicago Basin, Ice Lakes Basin, and the world-famous Colorado Trail. We utilize the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNGRR) to access the wilderness area. A relic of the mining trade of the 1880’s - 1930’s, the train is world famous as it is one of the few narrow gauge railroads left in existence. This is a unique experience and adds an interesting start and finish to our backpacking trips. Come and join us on a truly unforgettable trip in Colorado's largest wilderness area!

*If our scheduled climbs do not fit your needs, we can also schedule private dates to accommodate your schedule needs/requirements.

2012 Offerings

Chicago Basin Backpacking - (3 - 4 days)
An excellent introduction to backpacking in the San Juan backcountry, and a great way to see Chicago Basin, the home of the 14'ers and the crown jewel of the Weminuche Wilderness. 3 and 4 day intineraries are available.

Best of the Weminuche - (5 days)
If you'd like to see all the Weminuche Wilderness has to offer, then consider joining this one-of-a-kind backpacking adventure. We'll travel to some of the best, and least travelled areas of the San Juans all the while hiking on beautiful trails.

Ice Lakes Basin - (3 days)
Cascading waterfalls, brilliant wildflower displays and turquoise lakes permeate the landscape of Ice Lakes Basin. Matching unparalleled scenery with relative easy access makes this 3-day backpacking excursion a perfect trip for families, or those new to wilderness travel.

The Colorado Trail - (3 - 9 days; segments 24 - 28)
The Colorado Trail is widely considered one of the finest long-distance trails in the United States and even the world. Segments 24 through 28 are some of the most beautiful along the entire route showcasing breath-taking mountain views, dense wildflower displays and rushing mountain creeks.