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Thru‐hiker enthusiasts know the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) as one third of the ‘Triple Crown’ of long distance hiking in the USA, along with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the Appalachian Trail. At the heart of this adventure, we will carry a full pack for a 4‐day trek on a short, but incredibly scenic loop section of the CDT in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. A guide favorite, this backpacking route offers miles of trekking above treeline with outstanding views, day hikes to gorgeous alpine lakes, and lots of wildlife viewing opportunities.
Where most of the CDT runs along the actual divide, this loop allows us to stand atop and peer over both sides of the Continental Divide. On our way to the main trail, we enjoy classic day hikes to cascading waterfalls, alpine lakes, and dramatic viewpoints and travel along Trail Ridge Road ‐ the highest paved road in the USA. As a grand finale we are rewarded with a fun day of introductory paddling on the Upper Colorado River, a soak in a hot spring, and a celebratory lunch at a local brew pub. No backpacking experience is required, but participants must be in good health and able to hike up and down hills at high altitude for 3 days with a backpack weighing about 30lbs/15kg.
Day 1 SCENIC DRIVE AND DAY HIKE (2 HR DRIVE/10KM HIKE)
Day 2 ALPINE LAKES LOOP HIKE (12‐20KM)
Day 3 ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE (2HR DRIVE/BACKPACK 6.6KM)
Day 4 BACKPACKING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL (9‐14KM)
Day 5 BACKPACK THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL (15KM)
Day 6 ALPINE LAKES DAY HIKE (13KM/600M ELEVATION GAIN)
Day 7 COMPLETE THE CDT LOOP (BACKPACK 11KM)
Day 8 COLORADO RIVER ADVENTURE (16.5KM PADDLE)
Day 9 MORNING HIKE AND RETURN TO DENVER (3HR DRIVE)
We plan for an early departure from camp each morning to take advantage of cooler temperatures and daylight hours. We choose idyllic locations mid to 2/3rd of the way through our hike for our lunch break and plan to be setting up at our next site by about 4‐5pm when we will be served a snack and settle into camp before dinner is prepared and served under the stars.
Participants will be responsible for setting up their tents and are invited to (but not required to) participate in camp chores like collecting and filtering water and cleaning dishes. The guides will do the rest including all food handling.
The United States is a vast country. However, most of the National Parks are located in the Western part of the country, reducing the area of interest to the walker significantly. The West (anything west of the Rocky Mountains) consists of 10 large states. Two mountain ranges cut the area from north to south along the lines of plate tectonics. While the Pacific Northwest has active cone shaped volcanoes, the rest of the area does not. Here we only see the remnants of ancient volcanic activities – in lava flows, hot springs, volcanic fissures and calderas.
The Rocky Mountains have unpredictable weather which can change rapidly. As with other highland climates, the climate changes with increasing altitude (At least 10 to 15 degrees cooler in the higher elevations at any given time). In general, the Rockies have mild summers (June‐Aug) with sunny mornings, afternoon thunderstorms and clear nights. In the fall (Sept/Oct) there are cool, crisp days, wind, and decreasing precipitation. It has snowed at the highest elevations in the park during every month of the year and in hiking season, temperatures can range from freezing overnight to 25C during the daytime, so it’s best to be prepared for any kind of weather.
Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut‐free or allergen‐free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travelers with life‐threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self‐administering these medications.
This is a partial participation, camping‐based tour. Participants will be responsible for setting up their own tents and are invited to, but not required to, assist with “camp chores” such as fetching and filtering water and collecting firewood.
Pre and post tour accommodation:
Accommodation in Denver is not included in this package.
During the loop trek, participants are expected to carry their own personal belongings including clothing, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, as well as 10 to 15 pounds of group gear/food. This should total around 30 ‐ 40lbs (15‐20kg).
Equipment required:
Backpack with comfortable waist harness ‐ Minimum 65L, sleeping bag and mat, hydration system, and sturdy hiking boots. A comprehensive packing list is provided upon booking
All travelers will require a valid passport to enter the United States and your passport should still be valid for 6 months after you return from your trip. If you are travelling on more than
one passport, please use the same passport for the entire trip. The following information also applies to visitors entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (including Australians, New Zealanders, and British):
From 1 April 2016, all travelers wishing to enter the US under the VWP will need to hold a passport with the following criteria:
If your passport was issued before October 26, 2005, it must be ‘machine readable’ (with 2 lines of letters, numbers and <<< at the bottom)
If your passport was issued between October 26, 2005 and October 25, 2006, it must be machine readable and include a digital photo
If your passport was issued on or after October 26, 2006, it must be an e‐passport with a digital photo and an integrated chip (with this internationally recognized symbol <http://www.dhs. gov/ e‐passports> on the front cover).
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct passport and that there are sufficient blank pages for any visas required and for entry/departure stamps.
Many travelers to the United States (including Australians, New Zealanders and British) entering the country require a prearranged, approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This is obtained electronically for passport holders from countries eligible for the Visa Waiver Program. The authorization must be in hand upon entry to the USA and can be obtained at the following official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov for a fee of US$14, payable by credit or debit card. It is very important to make payments through the official website. Visa Waiver travelers who have not obtained approval through ESTA should expect to be denied boarding on any air carrier bound for the United States.
From 21 January 2016 most people who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria since March 2011, or are dual nationals of these countries, will no longer qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program and existing ESTAs could be revoked. You will instead need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. Certain exemptions apply on a case‐by‐case basis. Bottom line: If in doubt, please contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.
Please consult your reservation consultant/travel agent if you have any questions regarding your eligibility for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) or the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
All other passport holders should check with the relevant consul.
Please bear in mind that visas may be required for countries you are visiting en route or transiting through on the way to your destination. It is important that you check the requirements of all countries you will visit. Visa costs and requirements do change regularly so we suggest you check with your travel agent or Rogue Adventures reservations consultant. It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary visas.
The adventures featured in our brochures, and on our website, are just a starting point for many of our private group travelers. Working closely with our Groups Department we can organise custom designed itineraries for groups of friends, clubs, charity’s, schools or even work colleagues. Our team will assist you with all aspects of your private group adventure from itinerary design to group flights. Contact our team today.
