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Summit County, Colorado

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

Top Backpacking Spots in and near Summit County

  • Silverthorne, Colorado

    Lily Pad Lake Trail

    4.7
    3.27 mi / 531 ft gain
    Lily Pad Lake is a well known destination just outside of Silverthorne and in the Eagle's Nest Wilderness. The trail may be heavily trafficked on the weekends, but solitude can still be found in the early mornings or during the weekdays. The trail starts at the Lily Pad Lake Trailhead, just to t...
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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

    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 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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  • 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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  • Silverthorne, Colorado

    Backpack to Upper Slate Lake

    5.0
    28 mi / 1386 ft gain
    Starting from the Rock Creek Trailhead parking lot, it is an up and down trek to Upper Slate Lake. The trail map states 10 miles each way, but accounting for switchbacks it ends up being closer to 14 long, hard miles.You will be among aspens and pines for the first half as you have a few moderate...
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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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  • 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

    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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  • Dillon, Colorado

    Wildflowers, Lakes, and Peaks, Oh My!

    5.0
    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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  • 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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  • Parshall, Colorado

    Ski or Snowshoe Jones Pass

    4.0
    6 mi / 1600 ft gain
    Its sister trail, Butler Gulch, is an all-time favorite hike (both summer and winter), and since they share a trailhead, I knew Jones Pass would be special as well.Jones Pass is not the type of trail I normally take, since it is actually a 4x4 road that is used for Jeeping in the summer and snowm...
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  • Red Cliff, Colorado

    Ski to Fowler-Hilliard Hut

    6.5 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Fowler-Hilliard hut sits at 11,500 ft on a forested ridge of Resolution Mountain, with easy access to intermediate and expert backcountry skiing right out the door. This newer hut was built in 2010 after the original hut burned down from a lightning strike. The hut comes stocked with padded mattr...
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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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  • Vail, Colorado

    Hike the Upper Piney River Trail

    4.0
    5.6 mi / 350 ft gain
    Beginning at an elevation of 9,397 feet, this hike provides an easy 2.8 mile (one way) trip through the gorgeous meadows against the distant aspens and alpines. Wildflowers and wildlife are abundant, which make this trip a fantastic education and play experience for kids.Coordinates for the trail...
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