This mild winter has many of us scratching our heads. Where did our winter go? As we gradually slip into the shoulder season between winter and spring, now is the perfect time to start planning your summer adventures. Especially if hiking is your jam.

Walden, CO is the perfect jumping off point for some truly world-class hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Not only do we have hundreds of miles of trails ranging in difficulty from beginner to mountaineer, we have that one key ingredient you won’t find in much of Colorado these days: solitude. Part of the wonder of the hiking experience is to lace up your boots and set out without having to wait in line while someone takes a selfie or finding a place to park to ride a shuttle to the trailhead.

We have two major thru-hikes that pass through Jackson County, CO. Trails that run through alpine forests, craggy tundra landscapes, and a quiet little town in the dead center of it all where you can stop and take a break, do some laundry, enjoy an ice cold trail beer, and get some rest before setting out again.

Best Trails to Hike Near Walden, CO

When most people pass through North Park, they might appreciate the stunning scenery of the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway along HWY 14 from Fort Collins to Walden, or they might be on their way to Granby, Steamboat, or even Laramie, WY and taking the quiet scenic route. What they probably don’t see is the variety of trail systems that avid hikers have been hitting for generations. Here are some of the places to check out for the best hiking in Colorado.

Colorado State Forest State Park

Colorado’s only State Forest, the Colorado State Forest State Park occupies much of the east side of Jackson County along the Medicine Bow mountains from Cameron Pass at the southern end until almost the Wyoming border where it meets the Medicine Bow National Forest. Throughout these hundreds of thousands of acres you will find hiking trails, campgrounds, recreation areas, and the Rawah Wilderness Area.

The best way to access the State Forest State Park can be found near Gould, CO. Stop by the Moose Visitor Center on HWY 14 for information. You can head over to Michigan Reservoir and discover trail systems that will take you to the spine of the Medicine Bow Mountains by way of Montgomery Pass, Kelly Lake, and repurposed logging roads that are now trail systems. In the summer, an ultramarathon takes place on these trails, drawing in athletes from all over the world. In the winter, nordic skiers, snowmobilers, and snowshoers tackle the trails.

The Gould trail system throughout the Routt-Arapaho National Forest eventually connects with trails in Grand County and Rocky Mountain National Park. Experienced hikers can travel the entire ridge all the way to the Wyoming border and beyond. Unlike RMNP, you will probably encounter more wildlife than hikers throughout the duration of your hike.

Routt-Arapaho National Forest

This is a trickier hike to nail down. The National Forest covers multiple areas, from Gould to Rand, including the ghost town of Teller City near Owl Mountain and Skeleton Pass, as well as the southern end of the Park Range and all the way north including Big Creek Lakes. You will find trail heads with short day hikes and the beginning of long expeditions which could take several days to complete.

Areas of interest include:

• Lake Katherine (an extinct volcanic neck and one of the deepest lakes in Colorado)
• Red Canyon
• Hidden Lakes
• Teal and Tiago Lakes
• Big Creek Lakes
• Rainbow Lakes trail system
• Mt. Zirkel and Zirkel Wilderness Area

Big Thru-Hikes in North Park

The Continental Divide Trail skirts along the southern edge of North Park, following the Never Summer mountains from Rocky Mountain National Park to Rabbit Ears Pass, cutting through sections of National Forest as well as the last remaining gap in Colorado along the CDT. 

New to the big thru-hike scene is the Northern Colorado Trail, which runs from Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park all the way to Glenwood Springs. Walden sits at the halfway mark, which makes it a great stop to have a cheese burger, wash a load of clothes, stock up on supplies, and spend a couple nights in Hanson Park (or a hotel or vacation rental if you want!).

Places of Interest for Thru-hikers

Equipment has a funny way of wearing out when you need it the most. Walden is a great place to resupply and replace that broken equipment along the way. You’ll find tents, camping supplies, clothing, and other necessities at these locations in Walden:

• Timberline Builders Supply 
• Corkle’s Mini Mart
• North Park Supers
• North Park Anglers (an Orvis partner)
• Family Dollar
• Walden Sinclair Station

Mail Pickup and Delivery

You can also use General Delivery at the Walden Post Office to send letters and postcards as well as receive packages. For Walden, CO, use zip code 80480. It’s the only post office for miles and works exceptionally well for resupply and package pickup. Some limitations may apply, especially with shipping companies that only recognize street addresses.

Some Important Things to Know Before You Go

Before embarking on any new adventure you need to come prepared. Here’s some important things to know this year in light of the mild winter.

Fire safety

With the dry winter, you can expect a dry spring, summer, and fall this year. Due to previous droughts and beetle infestations, anyone venturing into the forests and plains of North Park MUST OBSERVE FIRE SAFETY RULES. It is very likely fire bans will be in effect this hiking season. This may even include portable camp stoves, so please follow the rules during fire bans and be on the lookout for signs of wildfire, especially after lightning strikes. Everyone be safe out there and keep our forests and wildlife safe too.

Leave No Trace

Part of North Park’s natural beauty lies in how untouched so many of our favorite places to hike and camp are. We are unparalleled in how pristine and primal these places still are, often evoking images of a time where early trappers and indigenous people traveled these lands. Please don’t ruin it for the rest of us. Pack out all trash, leave campsites looking as good as you found them (if not better) and leave as little impact as possible when exploring our public lands. A little bit goes a long way when it comes to making sure these places can be enjoyed by future generations.

Not only does leave no trace apply to camping and litter, it also means treating the trail and other hikers with respect. Please don’t stack rocks. Cairns are rock stacks in the high country which mark the trail where there are few trees. These are necessary parts of the trail system. Don’t add to the number of cairns and for the safety of others, don’t knock any of them down in your travels. Thank you.

Be Bear Aware

A mild winter means that hibernating critters such as bears will be waking up early. And they are likely to be hungry. For these early risers that means they will be looking for a snack. Scarcity of food means dumpster diving and bothering campers for scraps. Hikers often draw attention from wildlife due to the possibility of free handouts and an easy meal. For this same reason, if you are traveling with pets, you need to practice wildlife safety, maintain a safe distance from animals, and don’t feed or approach wild animals.

Though Colorado has no grizzlies, black bears can be a problem for the less-experienced. When hiking and camping, use bear-proof canisters and suspend food and garbage safety above the ground at a safe distance from your camp. Hang food and/or garbage in trees in protected containers. To learn more about best practices in bear country check out the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website on recreating in bear country.

Moose in the Area

Believe it or not, but bears are less of a worry on the trails than moose. In spring, moose become very protective, especially of newborn calves. Use the rule of thumb. If you hold up your thumb and can’t cover the moose, you are too close. Moose can outrun a thoroughbred horse—even in snow! The best way to avoid you or your pet being trampled by one is to stay away and don’t act aggressively towards them.

Avalanche!

Definitely worth mentioning for late spring, this unusually warm winter with intermittent snowfall means the possibility of avalanches in the high country. Avoid snow fields, especially on a steep incline. Carry avalanche safety kits, or simply avoid walking under or on snow fields. Also avoid walking on frozen lakes in the high country as lake ice can easily shift and trap hikers. Walk on the banks only and get home safe.

Plan Your Trip Now!

It’s never too early to start daydreaming about planning your next hiking adventure in North Park. Check out the links throughout this article for resources on places of interest, inspiration, and summer events that will make the most of your trip to Jackson County. North Park is Colorado’s best kept secret when it comes to outdoor activities, fishing, and adventure sports. Whether it is hiking, climbing, mountain biking, or just taking a long drive to pass the weekend away from the city, add the Walden, CO area to your itinerary of places to discover the real Colorado. And leave the crowds behind.

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