Hiking the CDT Loop - Colorado Backpacking & Camping Trip

4 Days of Hiking, Camping & Backpacking on Colorado’s Continental Divide Trail in the Rocky Mountain National Forest. GPS Data at http://www.sintax77.com

For this backpacking trip, we’ll be doing a 4 day, 3 night camping trip on a section of the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Sometimes referred to as the “CDT Short Loop”, this backpacking loop is a 29 mile mile circuit with several access point options. In our case, we parked at the Green Mountain trailhead, just past the RMNP Kawuneeche visitor center and park entrance by Grand Lake, CO. The 2 mile Green Mountain trail provided us access to the CDT and brought our mileage for the loop up to 33 miles.

For an easier read, check out my full blog post here: http://www.sintax77.com/hiking-the-cd...

GPS Data for this trip and many others can be found on my Trip Data Page. Includes full track data for each day, and way-points for campsites used, water sources, etc along the loop.

Season: First week of September

Trailhead Used: Green Mountain Trailhead, RMNP, Grand Lake, CO – 40°18’26.7″N 105°50’28.7″W
This parking area is only a few miles into the park & provides overnight parking for plenty of vehicles. A park entrance pass and wilderness camping permit is required (contact the Kawuneeche Office for details and availability)

Trails Used Day 1:

Park at the Green Mountain Trailhead.
Green Mountain Trail
Junction with Tonahutu Creek Trail (CDT)
Continue north on the Continental Divide Trail
Setup camp at Sunset camp (Elevation 9,498′)
This is a single group tentsite that must be reserved via permit.

Day 1 Mileage: 4 miles
Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 974′

Trails Used, Day 2:

Continue on the Tonahutu Creek Trail (CDT)
Stock up on water before heading up the ridge (last chance at N40° 19.579′ W105° 43.701′)
Continue on Tonahutu Creek Trail (CDT) through Ptarmigan Pass
Junction North Inlet Trail / Flattop Mountain Trail
Head south on the North Inlet Trail (CDT)
Junction North Inlet / Lake Nanita Trail
Head South on the Lake Nanita Trail
Setup camp at Pine Marten Camp (Elevation 9,568′)
These are two separate single group tentsites that must be reserved via permit.

Trails used Day 3:

Dayhike to Lake Nokoni by heading south on the Lake Nanita Trail
We only went to the first lake, Nokoni, due to weather and time issues, but there is a second lake, Nanita, about .75 miles further up the trail.
Backtrack to camp and grab packs.
Return to Junction w/ North Inlet Trail
Continue west on the North Inlet Trail (CDT)
Setup camp at Twinberry Camp # 2 (Elevation 8,661′)
These are two separate single group tentsites that must be reserved via permit.

Day 3 Mileage: 9.6 miles (4 miles round trip for lake hike, 5.6 miles on the CDT Loop)
Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,414′ (Almost all of this was from the lake hike excursion)

Trails used Day 4:

Continue west on the North Inlet Trail (CDT)
Arrive at the North Inlet Trailhead
Beyond the parking lot, you’ll find the Tonahutu Trailhead
Head north on the Tonahutu Creek Trail
Junction with Green Mountain Trail
Return to Green Mountain Trailhead

Day 4 Mileage: 9.5 miles
Day 4 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,204′

Grand Total Mileage: 37 Miles
Grand Total Elevation Gain: 6,666′
Note: 4 miles and 1,414′ can be attributed to our day 3 lake hike)

Notable Backpacking Gear Seen / Discussed:

Nemo Losi 3p Tent https://amzn.to/2yKoqGb
Unigear Sleeping Pad https://amzn.to/2Nu3nvV
Big Agnes Q-Core SL Sleeping Pad https://amzn.to/2NP4afX
Alite Mayfly Camp Chair https://amzn.to/2ItzfQq
WrightSocks https://amzn.to/2O8sB3n
Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier https://amzn.to/2EO8JmG
REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Jacket https://go.magik.ly/ml/gs0d/
Hammock Gear Burrow Top Quilts http://bit.ly/2qlZgJn
Outdoor Vitals 15° Down MummyPod Sleeping Bag https://amzn.to/2CIO15D
Hammock Gear Dyneema Hex Tarp w/ Doors http://bit.ly/2Sq1fsB
2T's Hammock Chair http://bit.ly/2Ppe3Rn
Shawn's Gregory Optic 48 Backpack https://amzn.to/2KOLsTp
Sara's ULA Ohm 2.0 Backpack http://bit.ly/2Sq1FPH
Dutchware Argon Pack Cover http://bit.ly/2O8N7AL
Toaks 450ml Titanium Cup https://amzn.to/2GLboZV
Packit Gourmet Backpacking Meals https://www.packitgourmet.com/
Sea To Summit Alpha Light Long Spork https://amzn.to/2y4sek8
MalloMe Camp Cook Kit https://amzn.to/2O6ZIEX
Budget Canister Stove https://amzn.to/2n7iNv6
Mike's MSR Whisperlite Universal Stove https://amzn.to/2EOZBy6
BearVault BV500 Bear Canister https://amzn.to/2CJRUqf
NatGeo Rocky Mountain National Park Map https://amzn.to/2EMNrFP
Sangean DT-400W Weather Band Radio https://amzn.to/2EMNv8x
Garmin Oregon GPS https://amzn.to/2ObFHNh

Want to help support the channel? The next time you're about to do some shopping, go through
http://www.sintax77.com/Amazon
(or bookmark it) & a portion of your session will help support the next trip ...at no additional cost to you!