Photo by Kara Foran on a trip in July, 2022
Rocky Mountain Kayaking & Hiking
What could make a summer adventure to basecamp and day hike our guides’ favorite mild to moderate trails in Rocky Mountain National Park even better? How about backcountry kayak camping with a backdrop of the peaks of the Continental Divide!
This new-for-2023 trip follows our classic Bad Adventures formula found in Utah Kayaking & Arches Hiking and Big Bend Kayaking & Caverns. We start with a fantastic two-day backcountry kayak adventure that helps us acclimatize and welcomes us to the grand scenery of the Colorado Rockies.
In the latter part of the trip, we settle into a cushy campsite in the heart of the National Park. Each day we hike to an alpine lake more beautiful than the last; yet accessible to adventurers of most fitness levels.
Oh, yeah, there’s also a hot springs soak along the way!
If you’ve wanted to do a Colorado trip with us, but haven’t felt up to the higher activity level of our Rocky Mountain Kayaking & Backpacking itinerary, this is the adventure for you!
Join me in the Rockies in July. Register today!
Bad Adventures founder
Is this for me?
We paddle single-person sit-on-top touring kayaks on a gorgeous lake on the first and second day. The physical activity is mild and all kayaking gear is provided!
We keep it to no more than 10 amazing adventurers plus a guide or two.
We spend the first night of the trip on a backcountry site on a gorgeous lake just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. The second night of the trip is spent at a comfy base camp on the west side of the Continental Divide. The final 2 nights are spent frontcountry camping at an idyllic site on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Dome-style tents and self-inflating camping mattresses are provided.
Most of our meals are cooked together at camp. We’ve prepared scrumptious recipes, will provision the trip, and lead meal preparations. This is gonna be yummy!
On the last 3 days of our adventure, we check out the best day-hikes Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer. The scenery is breathtaking!
Traveling solo?
This trip works well for couples, friends, and solo travelers. The adventures we plan seem to attract like-minded people. Odds are, you'll enjoy the company of your fellow travelers.
There’s no singles supplement fee!
Here’s the plan…
Mountain Lake Kayak Camping Day 1
We meet our adventure companions at the designated gateway hotels near Denver International Airport. We load bags into the van and head off into the mountains.
Lodgepole pine forests dominate the views on our drive, but give way to breathtaking “you-can-see-forever” perspectives of the Rockies as we approach tree line and cross the Continental Divide.
We dig into turkey and brie sandwiches at a lakeside picnic lunch, with the high peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park on the horizon. We reorganize our personal gear into dry bags, then set off in our kayaks for a night of self-supported kayak camping.
Ospreys soar above our heads as we paddle to camp. We pitch the provided tents and kick back in camp chairs on a private beach with heaping bowls of lemon garlic gnocchi and mugs of hot apple cider. We listen to guide stories and wind down watching the sun set into the folds of the mountains, illuminating alpine skies with vibrant golds and indigos.
Hot Springs! Day 2
The sizzle of bacon and eggs and the rich, nutty aroma of Bad Adventures’ signature good-morning coffee bring us to life. We bask in a few quiet moments among trees at camp before the day moves into gear.
We thread our way past islands on a morning paddle that returns us across the lake. After lunch, we enjoy a couple hours of relaxation at Hot Sulphur Springs Resort. We sample more than a dozen 98°–112° natural, spring-fed hot mineral water pools. This is the life!
At our campsite, we fuel up on a meal of spinach salmon salad and indulge in Bad Adventures’ not-so-modestly named “world’s greatest hot chocolate.”
Trail Ridge Road Ahead! Day 3
We load up the van and wind our way into the heights of Rocky Mountain National Park. Crossing above treeline yields inspiring views of the mountains along North America’s highest paved road. We stop to learn about the landscape, pose for photos, and pant in the thin air at the Alpine Visitor Center.
We enjoy a picnic lunch, establish our camp for our final two nights together, then head out on two feet to get the lay of the land. We use a vehicle shuttle to move up-valley, then indulge in a downhill hike to return to camp.
Do Go Chasing Waterfalls Day 4
After breakfast, we head to the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park for our first hike of the trip with elevation gain. Our destination? The gorgeous cascades of Ouzel Falls.
We enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the mountain town Estes Park (not included). In the afternoon, there’s an optional moderate guided hike through an incredible rock landscape dotted with Ponderosa Pine to visit the picturesque Gem Lake. Prefer to conserve energy for our final day together? Enjoy free time in town, instead.
More Alpine Lakes?! Day 5
Our final day contains some of our best hiking views! From our trailhead, we visit one breathtaking alpine lake after the next. The terrain is not too challenging for adventures of most ability levels and we’ve saved our highest elevation hiking for our final day to maximize acclimatization. We rest on warm lakeside rocks, breathe cool mountain air, and listen for the song of thrush and drum of woodpecker.
All good things must come to an end, though. After a picnic lunch, we start our drive back to Denver. We reach the gateway hotels and Denver International Airport between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. If you choose to fly home this night, please don’t book a flight earlier than 8:00 PM.
How intense is this?
Overall, this is a moderate trip.
Paddle to Camp on the Lake
On days with ideal weather conditions, the calm, glassy water makes for an easy paddle. Potential wind and choppy water can make this paddle more challenging.
Easy to Slightly Challenging
Distance
2¾ to 3 miles
Paddle back from Camp
On days with ideal weather conditions, the calm, glassy water makes for an easy paddle. Potential wind and choppy water can make this paddle more challenging.
Easy to Slightly Challenging
Distance
2¾ to 3 miles
Glacier Gorge Hike
Mild
Distance
3½ miles
Route Type
Point-to-Point
Elevation Gain
75 feet
Elevation Loss
775 feet
Starting Elevation
9,200 feet
Gem Lake Hike
This trail is rocky and rugged, with areas of steep elevation gain. Hiking at high elevation can make this hike more difficult.
Moderate
Distance
3½ miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Elevation Gain
900 feet
Elevation Loss
900 feet
Starting Elevation
7,870 feet
Ouzel Falls Hike
The consistent elevation gain and rocky trail, along with hiking at a high elevation, makes this hike moderate.
Moderate
Distance
5½ miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Elevation Gain
870 feet
Elevation Loss
870 feet
Starting Elevation
8,500 feet
Hike to Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes
Hiking at a high elevation makes this hike moderate for most.
Moderate
Distance
3½ miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Elevation Gain
600 feet
Elevation Loss
600 feet
Starting Elevation
9,400 feet
What’s included?
Guided Lake Kayaking
Explore a beautiful lake nestled in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains
Kayak & Paddling Gear
We bring a single-person sit-on-top touring kayak, paddle, lifejacket, and dry bag for you to use.
Camping Gear
Tents, comfy self-inflating mattresses and camp cookware are all included!
4 Nights of Tent Camping
Both our backcountry and frontcountry campsites are stunning!
Services of a Guide or Two
Friendly, accommodating, fully credentialed, and always professional.
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners
We’re talking about meticulously planned yummy provisions.
National Park Admission and All Permits
Sit back and relax! We've got the red tape covered.
Transportation in Colorado
Ride in style in a comfortable Ford Transit passenger van.
Group Gear
Medical kit, satellite phone, navigation supplies, and more.
Airfare and other travel expenses to get to and from the trip, hotel accommodations before and after the trip, hot springs admission ($26), lunch on day 4 in Estes Park, travel insurance, and guide gratuity.
What should I pack?
We put together a recommended packing list with all the clothing and gear you need for the trip.
Where do we meet?
Denver Airport Gateway Hotels
We can pick you up from any of the following gateway hotels near Denver International Airport between 7:00 and 7:30 AM on the first morning.
Where does the trip end?
We can drop you off at any of our recommended Denver Airport Gateway hotels between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. If you are flying out the night the trip concludes, we can drop you off at Denver International Airport by 7:00 pm. We do not recommend booking a flight before 9:00 PM.
FAQs
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.
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 on the west side of Continental Divide. The final two nights are spent at a frontcountry site in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Dome-style 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.
Seriously good. Expect a “Blue Apron for paddling” sort of arrangement for the second night 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 guides 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 into town on day 4 for a lunch at a restaurant. We tend to receive better service if we’re less smelly.
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. In anticipation for your trip, we recommend checking the weather forecast for the area. Check the weather for Grand Lake, CO for the first 2 days of the trip. For our hiking days, check the forecast for Estes Park, CO.
Let’s do this!
$299 to reserve your spot today
Balance due 60 days before the trip.
Possible change of plans? You can cancel for a full refund until 90 days before the trip.