This park is a study in contrasts. There are easy trails in the low country that meander through elk-filled meadows and gurgling waterfalls-and are blessed with mild, sunny weather most of the summer. Then there’s the high country, where high-angle paths offer plenty of physical and technical challenge-and fast-changing weather brings sudden cold spells, rain, and even summer snowstorms. This gear list is built with gear recommendations from BACKPACKER editors for low-country adventures, but is also a good place to start if you tackle something higher and more ambitious (if you do, round out your gear and clothing from the backpacking gear list).
1. Sunscreen:
Many trails in this park wander through open country-or get you above treeline very quickly-which means lots of sun on almost every hike here. Add the high elevation–every trailhead is over 7,000 feet–and you get a significant level of UV exposure. In fact, fair-skinned hikers can burn in less than an hour at 10,000 feet without a healthy dose of sunscreen. Keep the red in check with a BACKPACKER favorite-Smartshield’s Sunscreen SPF 30 Lotion. This waterproof sunblock protects without feeling greasy or running into your eyes (read a full review here). (Photo by courtesy)
Many trails in this park wander through open country-or get you above treeline very quickly-which means lots of sun on almost every hike here. Add the high elevation–every trailhead is over 7,000 feet–and you get a significant level of UV exposure. In fact, fair-skinned hikers can burn in less than an hour at 10,000 feet without a healthy dose of sunscreen. Keep the red in check with a BACKPACKER favorite-Smartshield’s Sunscreen SPF 30 Lotion. This waterproof sunblock protects without feeling greasy or running into your eyes (read a full review here). (Photo by courtesy)
2. Sun hat:
Sticking with the UV theme, it’s wise to double down with your sun protection by wearing a lid like Royal Robbin’s Extreme Expedition Hat, which shades your face, ears, and neck. This fast-drying, breathable Coolmax cap comes with a snap-off neck shield that we soaked with water throughout the day for extra evaporative cooling. For more on this and other hats, including wide-brimmed sombreros, click here. (Photo by courtesy)
Sticking with the UV theme, it’s wise to double down with your sun protection by wearing a lid like Royal Robbin’s Extreme Expedition Hat, which shades your face, ears, and neck. This fast-drying, breathable Coolmax cap comes with a snap-off neck shield that we soaked with water throughout the day for extra evaporative cooling. For more on this and other hats, including wide-brimmed sombreros, click here. (Photo by courtesy)
3. Shirt:
Wool is a winter fabric, right? Not any more. Today’s extrafine merino wool layers are perfect for warm-weather hiking, because they wick moisture away from your skin, breathe well, and resist odor better than synthetic fabrics. A new t-shirt that many BACKPACKER editors are wearing is Patagonia’s Wool 1, a light blend of merino and polyester that you can wear day after day without stinking up the joint. And if the weather suddenly turns cold, wool is a great insulator. Review the review here. (Photo by courtesy)
Wool is a winter fabric, right? Not any more. Today’s extrafine merino wool layers are perfect for warm-weather hiking, because they wick moisture away from your skin, breathe well, and resist odor better than synthetic fabrics. A new t-shirt that many BACKPACKER editors are wearing is Patagonia’s Wool 1, a light blend of merino and polyester that you can wear day after day without stinking up the joint. And if the weather suddenly turns cold, wool is a great insulator. Review the review here. (Photo by courtesy)
4. Hiking boots:
Rocky isn’t a place for sneakers, even on dayhikes. The soft, unsupportive soles in sneakers are an almost-guaranteed recipe for blisters and sore feet. BACKPACKER recommends a mid-cut or high-cut hiking boot to provide stability and cushion, and to keep grit out. Since you’ll be home by nightfall and can dry out wet shoes, select a model that’s not waterproof for better breathability. Merrell’s Chameleon Evo Mid stood out in BACKPACKER’s recent boot testing (full review here). Find your perfect boot with BACKPACKER’s interactive tool. (Photo by Julia Vandenoever)
Rocky isn’t a place for sneakers, even on dayhikes. The soft, unsupportive soles in sneakers are an almost-guaranteed recipe for blisters and sore feet. BACKPACKER recommends a mid-cut or high-cut hiking boot to provide stability and cushion, and to keep grit out. Since you’ll be home by nightfall and can dry out wet shoes, select a model that’s not waterproof for better breathability. Merrell’s Chameleon Evo Mid stood out in BACKPACKER’s recent boot testing (full review here). Find your perfect boot with BACKPACKER’s interactive tool. (Photo by Julia Vandenoever)
5. Raincoat:
When it rains in Rocky Mountain National Park, the precipitation tends to come down hard-but not for very long. For remote hikes and overnight backpacking trips, you’ll want a beefy rain shell. But for dayhikes, especially in the low country, stick with something lightweight that packs up small and tucks away into the bottom of your pack. The North Face Diad, which won a BACKPACKER Editors’ Choice Award in 2006 for its smart but streamlined features, weighs only 11 ounces, less than one sneaker! If it’s a warm rain, open the side vents to cool off. Read the review here. (Photo by courtesy)
When it rains in Rocky Mountain National Park, the precipitation tends to come down hard-but not for very long. For remote hikes and overnight backpacking trips, you’ll want a beefy rain shell. But for dayhikes, especially in the low country, stick with something lightweight that packs up small and tucks away into the bottom of your pack. The North Face Diad, which won a BACKPACKER Editors’ Choice Award in 2006 for its smart but streamlined features, weighs only 11 ounces, less than one sneaker! If it’s a warm rain, open the side vents to cool off. Read the review here. (Photo by courtesy)
