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Select Your Trip Type:
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There are dozens and dozens of superb dayhiking options in the park, from casual wildlife-spotting strolls to gnarly peak scrambles. Pick one that suits your ability and interests from a list compiled by BACKPACKER editors here; the magazine's website has a section devoted just to Rocky Mountain hikes, complete with interactive maps and downloadable GPS data. Then check the weather forecast, gear up, and go!
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1. Daypack: In Rocky's lower elevations (below treeline, which is at about 9,500 feet), you generally won't need a big pack for dayhikes. The main trails are well-traveled and relatively gentle, which makes for fast escapes if a thunderstorm rolls in. For a daypack, BACKPACKER testers recommend a lightweight pick like the Black Diamond RPM, which weighs just a few ounces over a pound and features a very secure harness for stability on fast-paced hikes and even trail runs (click here to read a full review). (Photo by www.sethhughes.com)
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2. Headlamp:
BACKPACKER editors insist that you carry some kind of light-and not just for safety. In this park, the best times to spot wildlife - bear and bighorn sheep in particular - are at dawn and dusk, when they come out to feed. That means that you might be walking in the dark for a few miles. The ultralight Princeton Tec Scout is a simple, inexpensive headlamp with three brightness levels and enough battery life for a few weeks of sunset hikes. See a full review of this $20 light here). (Photo by courtesy)
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3. Camera:
You wouldn't want to head home without great pictures of the park's wildlife, would you? Or the famously jagged, snow-covered peaks. But you don't want to lug a five-pound camera when you're trying to cover miles. To capture all of the color and action, you'll want to pack one of the high-quality, lightweight digital point-and-shoots that have hit the market in recent years. BACKPACKER field testers gave an Editors' Choice Award this year to the Nikon Coolpix P6000, a compact digital that takes 10MP images and records GPS data with every snap, letting you easily transfer images back home to Google Earth or a map on your computer. Read reviews of this Nikon, other digital cameras, and video cameras. (Photo by courtesy)
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4. Trekking Poles:
Sturdy aluminum hiking sticks provide two key benefits in the Colorado Rockies: shock absorption (great for your knees) and stability (great for your ankles and anything that could break if you fall). Improve your balance and lessen the impact of steep trails with Komperdell's Contour Titanal, a lightweight telescoping model that packs small but takes years of abuse (read our full review here). To learn more about trekking poles and see more reviews, go here or user our GearFinder to find your perfect pair. (Photo by courtesy)
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5. First aid kit:
You might scoff at the idea of carrying first aid on a simple dayhike-until you slice your thumb while cutting that salami for lunch. We recommend at least a minimal kit that's small and light enough to slip in your daypack's side pocket-and hold some basic wound-management supplies. Helenbac's Pocket Ultralight kit has just the right amount of bandages and ointment, costs only $8, and weights just under 2 oz. For more first-aid kit reviews, click here. (Photo by courtesy)
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For complete gear checklists for this and other types of hiking trips, visit
www.backpacker.com/gear/checklist/.
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