Jefferson, Colorado

Looking for the best backpacking in Jefferson? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Jefferson. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Backpacking Spots in and near Jefferson

  • Breckenridge, Colorado

    Camp at Boreas Pass

    9 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Boreas pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains that sits on the Continental Divide at 11,481'. Forest Service Road 33 goes over the pass and has numerous campsites all along its length, with several near the summit that feature breathtaking views of the Tenmile Range and the Breckenri...
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  • Breckenridge, Colorado

    Ski or Snowshoe to Section House Hut

    5.0
    6.25 mi / 1200 ft gain
    There are a couple routes to Section Hut on Boreas Pass, but the best adds trekking through the forest on Baker's Tank trail. Starting at 10,350' at the TH, look for a trail in the woods that starts climbing relatively quickly. Follow this for about 2.5 miles to the junction with the road and B...
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  • Breckenridge, Colorado

    Lower Crystal Lake via Crystal Creek Road

    5.0
    4.52 mi / 1624 ft gain
    To get to the Crystal Lakes start at the Spruce Creek Trailhead. You can hike or drive to the Lower Crystal Lake along Crystal Creek Road. If you choose to drive, you will need a high clearance 4x4 vehicle as you follow along Crystal Creek Road. The road is steep, but when they get to the top it ...
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  • Breckenridge, Colorado

    Hike to & Stay at Francie's Cabin

    5.0
    1.09 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Located at 11,360' and owned by the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, Francies Cabin was built in memory of Frances Lockwood Bailey in 1994 and is located just a short distance (5 mile drive, 1.05 mile hike) from town of Breckenridge, Colorado. It has a summer and winter capacity of 20 peop...
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  • Breckenridge, Colorado

    Backpack & Fish The Mohawk Lakes

    4.0
    6.8 mi / 1940 ft gain
    The trailhead is located a few miles out side of Breckenridge Colorado. The trail starts at 10,390' and the first two miles are spent walking through a mix of fir, aspen, and spruce trees until the trail goes parallel to Spruce Creek Road and eventually crosses it and continues over a small dam (...
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  • Bailey, Colorado

    Payne Creek Trail via Brookside McCurdy Trailhead

    4.5
    17.98 mi / 3773 ft gain
    Day 1: Park at the Payne Creek/Brookside Trailhead (8,040 ft.) right outside Bailey. You'll go on the trail for about a mile before the trail parts to Craig Meadows or Craig Park. If you start this in the nighttime, it's best to camp before you part ways on the trail as it's a little more spaciou...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Silver Dollar Lake Trail

    5.0
    3.93 mi / 945 ft gain
    Guanella Pass, which connects the charming and historic town of Georgetown in the north to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Grant to the south, is a recreational outdoorsman’s dream. Volumes could be written on what this 22-mile scenic byway has to offer. Silver Dollar Lake Trail is just one tiny po...
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  • Jefferson, Colorado

    Backpack Lost Creek

    4.0
    5 mi
    I included a trail map of where I camped. There are many sites all throughout this area. From the Lost Park Campground Parking lot follow the Lost Creek for 2.4 miles. At the 1 mile mark was the best place that we found to cross the creek (there are two logs that make a bridge across the creek). ...
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  • Silver Plume, Colorado

    Grays and Torreys Peaks

    4.3
    7.97 mi / 3458 ft gain
    At about an hour's drive from Denver, Grays Peak (14,270 ft./4338m) and its sister mountain, Torreys Peak (14,267 ft./4337m), are two of the most popular 14ers in the state. Because of this, a wealth of information is available on the internet. Rather than go into all the details of the technical...
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  • Frisco, Colorado

    Ski to Janet's Cabin

    6 mi / 1900 ft gain
    Janet's Cabin is located on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide at 11,610 ft, near Copper Mountain ski resort. This hut is one of the rare huts with not only a sauna but indoor bathrooms (composting pits)!  The cabin was built in 1990 and due to the location helicopters were required to b...
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  • Frisco, Colorado

    Backpack to the Gore Range's Wheeler and Lost Lakes

    4.5
    10 mi / 2200 ft gain
    The range offers many remote lakes and peaks which hikers can access from various points of entry. Wheeler and Lost Lakes lie within the boundaries of the Eagle's Nest Wilderness Area.The Gore Trail begins on the north side of the CO-91 pedestrian bridge over I-70. You will follow the trail up al...
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  • Frisco, Colorado

    Backpack the Colorado Trail: Copper Mountain to Hagerman Pass

    39 mi
    The Colorado Trail (CT) runs for 483 miles from Denver to Durango, crossing through eight mountain ranges and passing through six wilderness areas. There are great resources on completing a thru-hike of the CT; this post is about Segments 8-9 of the CT from Copper Mountain to Tennessee Pass.These...
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  • Idaho Springs, Colorado

    ATV Leavenworth Creek Road (Guanella Pass)

    16.6 mi / 3655 ft gain
    September is famous in Colorado for clear, deep blue skies,sublimely perfect temperatures, and gold-digging – of the leaf variety, thatis. On September 9, wildflower season was recently past and the best of theleaves were yet to come, but it was the perfect, clear and sunny day to checkout the hi...
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  • Idaho Springs, Colorado

    Lower and Upper Chicago Lake

    4.5
    9.22 mi / 2270 ft gain
    From the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. Follow the switchbacks down and across Chicago Creek. After crossing the creek, follow the sign indicating that the trail follows the dirt road and hang a left; from here, you'll reach the Idah...
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  • Evergreen, Colorado

    Hike the Resthouse/Lincoln Lake Trail

    4.5
    While the Mt. Evans Wilderness never has a shortage of visitors, thanks to its proximity to Denver, it is possible to find a more private hike if you know where to look. Lincoln Lake Trail, accessible from Echo Lake year-round, is not as glamorous as its sister trail, Chicago Lakes, but is a wond...
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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Herman Gulch Trail

    5.0
    6.52 mi / 1696 ft gain
    Herman Gulch is one of those special places that makes you fall in love with Colorado all over again. This spectacular wildflower hike that ends at an alpine lake will have your head swiveling from start to finish. Wildflower season is July and August, with peak season being mid-to-late July. Ple...
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