Hiking the Colorado backcountry has become a very popular pasttime in the last few years. What better way to get away from the mad pace of the city! Whether tourists or residents, there are people almost everywhere you look above six thousand feet.

Hiking	Great Hikes	Essential Links
	Climbing
Hiking Hiking in the Colorado high country is much like basic hiking anywhere except for the special challenges of altitude, sudden weather changes and possible disorientation in the mountains. Check Tips for Hiking the High Country below.
Basic Tips for Hiking the High Country. Start out slowly, gradually increasing your pace and distance traveled. Let the slowest person in your hiking, paddling, biking or cross-country skiing party set the pace.This is especially important when children are part of your group. Plan your hike ahead and assign duties that are agreeable to each person. If someone doesn't like to cook, don't force them. The goal is to have a good time outdoors. Take turns leading the group and sharing decision-making responsibilities. Hike, bike or ski only on marked trails in wilderness areas unless bushwhacking is allowed and you have excellent navigation skills. Hike and travel in groups as much as possible, especially during winter and in hazardous terrain. Leave your itinerary with a friend or family member and check in with them upon your return. Learn basic repair skills for changing a bike tire, fixing a backpack or mending a snowshoe. Remember to take repair kits on your trip. Mountain weather is generally cooler, cloudier and windier than other places. For every 1,000 feet of elevation, the temperature often drops three to five degrees. Wear sunglasses and a hat or visor when you hike, ski or paddle. Snowblindness, caused by the sun's glare on snow, can also be caused by sunlight reflecting off water or boulders. Keep your eyes and face covered, especially during your first few days outdoors. Bring sunscreen no matter the season. You can get a painful sunburn even in subfreezing temperatures. Develop an emergency plan before you start your trip. Make sure everyone knows what to do if they become lost or a medical emergency arises. Give children whistles with the instructions to "stop and blow" if they become lost. Take frequent rests or vary your pace to recover from strenuous activity spurts. A steady pace will get you there with less discomfort than the sprint-and-catch-your-breath approach. Drink plenty of water. Water is heavy to carry, but thirst on the trail is a hazard. Take a tip from athletes: Before a hike, drink some water so you're well hydrated and energized. Don't run out of water. Never drink your total supply between refills. Backcountry water supplies are unpredictable. It's better to arrive at a gushing stream with 1/3 quart of water left then to arrive at an empty streambed and have no water left at all. Treat or filter all water and rehydrate to your heart's content at the water supply. Pack carbohydrates-energy bars, granola, candy, gorp and fruit provide an instant pick-me-up on the trail. Bring a first-aid kit tailored to your outing. Give yourself about two hours of daylight to set up camp. National parks and many state parks and other federal lands prohibit dogs.Be sure to keep pets on leashes in restricted areas, especially in cattle and sheep country. Bring water for pets and make sure they have name tags. Watch for injuries to your dog's foot pads in rocky areas, on ice or in extremely hot terrain. Pay attention to local regulations, especially concerning camp fires. In many desert or drought areas, fires are prohibited and you must use a camp stove. Dress in layers. Polyester clothing worn closest to your skin will trap warm air next to the skin and transfer or wick body moisture away. Always carry a poncho or other rain gear. BACK TO TOP

	Day Hiker's Checklist Before you hit the trail, take the time to make sure you've included the items on the following list to make your trip safer and more enjoyable. This list is designed to help equip hikers just starting out. You will probably develop your own mental checklist as you gain experience.
	Gear
	Map and/or guidebook Compass Full canteen(s) or water bottle(s) Pocket knife Flashlight or headlamp with new batteries Waterproof matches Insect repellent First aid kit Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, hat with visor) Toilet tissue (in a plastic bag) Notebook with pencil Whistle Day pack or fanny pack Moleskin(TM) Money A handful of zip seal plastic bags Camera and film (optional) Binoculars (optional)

Backpacking
Backpacking and hiking in Colorado are fun and not really so different from backpacking or hiking anywhere else where the mountains are high, beckoning and accessible.

The prime considerations where you are going to are: (1) be in shape, (2) have the proper equipment (3) have the proper clothing, (4) have the proper food and (5) have a thorough awareness of the mountains and what they can do to you as well as what you can do to them.

The equipment you choose to bring along to the mountains is completely up to you. It is limited only by what you can fit in your pack and by how much weight and bulk you can handle. Here is a sample list:

• Backpack and frame
• Tent or tarp
• Ground cloth
• Sleeping bag
• Foam pad
• Rope (nylon cord)\
• Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs
• Sunglasses
• Insect repellent
• Matches in waterproof case
• Whistle
• Knife
• Water bottle (plastic)
• Eating utensils

Sanitation

Because of the need to prevent deterioration of the environment and spread of disease,
the following precautions must be taken:

1. Cooking and eating utensils and hands must be clean for every meal.
2. All human waste and uneaten food that cannot be burned must be disposed of by burying away from your camp and at least 300 feet from any stream or dbody of water.
3. Soap should be kept out of lakes and streams as much as possible. Wasing with soap should be done in a pot, and the wash water discarded 200 feet from the stream. Soaps should be diodegradable.
4. Toilet paper must be burned or buried.
5. All no-burnable, no-biodegradeable refuse must be pack out. Carry out litter left by others.

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GREAT HIKING TRAILS

Agnes Vaille Falls Trail
Trail begins at 8700 feet elevation and ends at 9000 feet. It is a hal mile interpretive trail that ends at a waterfall. To get to the Agnes Vaille trailhead, take US 285 to CR 162. Turn west and travel about six miles. Agnes Vaille Falls Trail is located in the Chalk Creek Canyon. Chalk cliffs surround the area. Mountain goats and bighorn mountain sheeps may be seen.

Colorado Trail

Colorado Trail Chalk Creek to Highway 50

Colorado Trail Clear Creek to N. Cottonwood Creek

Colorado Trail Hwy 50 to Marshall Pass

E Colorado Trail N. Cottonwood to S. Cottonwood Creek.

(from Mt. Shavano Campground to blanks Cabin)
This two mile section follows the Sawatch Range through some beautiful aspen groves. To get to the trailhead, take US 50 to CR 240 north. Drive to the Mt. shavano Campground.

Starvation Trail
You can make this into a loop trail by returning on the Poncha Creek Road. To access the Starvation Creek trailhead, take US 285 south from Poncha springs five miles. turn right on CR 243 (Mears Junction) Continue past the O'Haver lake/Marshall Pass turnoff. Take CR 203 to the Starvation Creek trailhead. Camping is permitted off the trail, which abounds with interesting rocks. There are book trout in some pools.

North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead
This trail is a gateway to several easy day trips that can lead to picnic sites or jumping-off points for longer climbs up to14,000 ft peaks. To get to the trailhead, take CR 350 west off US 24 in Buena vista. Turn right on Cr 361, then follow the signs. High clearnace vehicles are recommended. The path from the trailhead parking lot splits about a miles down the trail. Going to the right leads hikers north into the Horn Fork Basin. The path to the left goes to Kroenke Lake.

Horn Fork Basin
This basin is form by the ridges of Mt. harvard and Mt. columbia. Nestled against the south ridge of Harvard, at the end of the basin is an excllent trout fishing lake called Bear Lake. Above timberline, high alpine meadows surround both sides of Horn Fork Creek. The hike to the basin and Bear Lake is a gentle climb of 2000 feet.

Kroenke Lake
This is a pleasant destination for a picnic lunch. it is four miles from the trailhead parking lot. The trail leading to Kroenke continues past the lake on to the Contienetal Divide. The Colorado Trail bisects North cottonwood Creek road before the trailhead. Hiking north on the trail for about a mile leads to Harvard Lakes, which can provide an afternoon of fishing. Paths leading to Mt. Columbia and Mt. harvard intersect the colorado Trail north of Harvard Lakes.

Rainbow Trail
Rainbow Trail #1336H-I

Rainbow Trail #1336G-H

Starting in Salida at CR 108, the Rainbow Trail extends southest into Fremont County. Paralleling the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range, the trail ends in Custer County near the Great Sand Dunes. For the purpose of taking aday hike, the trail can be picked up at CR 108 or just south of Mears Junction on US 285 south of Salida. Features accessible from the trail include methodist Mountain, Hunts Lake, Stout Creek and The Bushnell Lakes and falls. Mines are scattered throut the Rainbow Trail region.

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Links

Rock-N-Row
Rock & Mountain climbing Instruction
P. O. Box 1192
Salida, CO 81201
719-539-9165