Rocky Mountain Kayaking & Backpacking

Absolutely! We had new adventurers in mind when we designed this itinerary. We’ll make sure the backpack we issue you fits well and that you’re ready for the trail! We won’t be racing to get to camp and our group dynamic will leave you feeling encouraged!

No problem! Just please let us know what you’re packing that's beyond the scope of the packing list, so we can load for the trip accordingly.

If you bring your own backpack, please make sure you can fit an 8.5-inch circumference by 13-inch tall bear canister that we provide.

We tent camp all four nights of the trip. Our first night is spent at a backcountry camp on a gorgeous lake. The next night is spent at a comfortable frontcountry basecamp as we prepare for backpacking. The final two nights are spent at a backcountry site in Rocky Mountain National Park!

Dome-style backpacking tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided. You’ll have a tent all to yourself, unless you specifically request to share with someone. You’re also free to bring your own tent if you’d prefer.

We camp at 8,350-feet on nights 1 and 2. We camp at 9,800-feet on nights 3 and 4.

Seriously good. Expect a “Blue Apron for backpacking” sort of arrangement for all backcountry parts of the trip. We provide the ingredients and recipes for hot breakfasts and dinners, as well as no-stove lunches. Meals will be provisioned for groups of 2 to 3 adventurers to cook together.

Food is provisioned at more than 4,000 calories per person per day. Nobody’s going hungry!

Meals at our frontcountry camp will be prepared by your guide and feature fresh local ingredients.

We can accommodate many common food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary requirements. It’s best to contact us to determine if we’ll be able to accommodate your needs.

$26 bucks.

There are showers available at the hot springs on the second day of the trip.

Consider packing bathing wipes for some personal hygiene touch up. We head directly from our exit trailhead to a restaurant for lunch on the last day. We tend to receive better service if we’re less smelly.

On our first night backcountry kayak camping, we provide a portable river toilet. This helps us pack out all our waste, following Leave No Trace principles. These are very easy to use, especially with a little bit of instruction from our experienced guides. At our backcountry backpacking camp for nights 3 and 4, we have our very own privy. It is set away from camp, allowing for privacy from fellow campers and hikers. No cat holes for us!

The areas we hike and camp in have a small black bear population. These bears are known for being quite shy and skittish. They tend to keep their distance from humans.

We spend most of this trip between 8,000 and 9,000 feet of elevation. We have specifically designed the itinerary to account for this. The more difficult physical activities are at the end of our adventure, allowing for acclimation those first couple days. Coming from sea-level and extra worried about the altitude? We recommend flying into Denver a day earlier to have some more time to adjust to the thinner air.

You can reserve your spot today by paying a $299 deposit. The balance is due 60 days before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.

We only advertise trips we plan to operate. Since our founding in 2013, Bad Adventures has never canceled a multi-day trip. However, we must reserve the right to do so. Be sure to review our Trip and Course Policies and purchase Travel Insurance.

We recommend taking out a travel insurance policy. Bad Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips and a travel insurance policy keeps you protected. See the Travel Insurance Page for more information.

There's no cancellation fee if you decide to cancel 90 days or more before the trip and we'll even refund your deposit! However, if you cancel less than 90-days before the trip, your deposit is nonrefundable. Additionally, there are significant cancellation fees if you decide to cancel your registration 59 days or less before the trip. Be sure to read the complete Trip and Course Policies.

Weather varies, but we expect daytime highs in the high 70's to low 80's and nighttime lows in the 40's. Expect the weather to be just slightly colder if your itinerary is in June. In anticipation for your trip, we recommend checking the weather forecast for Grand Lake, CO. We camp at an elevation that is 1,000 feet higher than Grand Lake the last 2 nights, so expect temperatures to be approximately 10 degrees colder.