Picking the Right Trail For You

Before visiting a wilderness office in person or starting an online application, you need to find a campsite that fits your skill level and travel date availability. Some campgrounds are more popular than others, so availability will be limited. If you already have a particular trail in mind, make sure to book early. Campsites become available as soon as March 1st.

Any person of any skill level can purchase a permit to backpack in RMNP. That being said, picking the right trail does require preparation. Knowing your backpacking skill level before planning your trip will help you to choose trails and campsites that are a match for your ability, which will set you up for success on your trip. Use the following questions to help figure out what kind of experience is right for you.

Skill Level Questionnaire

How many overnight backpacking trips have you completed? 0 (1 point) _____ 1-5 (2 points) _____ 5+ (3 points) _____ What is your fitness level? I go for walks (1 point) _____ I lift weights and/or run (2 points) _____ I do high-intensity workouts like CrossFit (3 points) _____ Where do you live? Sea level (1 point) _____ 5000 ft elevation (2 points) _____ I live in the mountains (8000+ ft elevation) (3 points) _____

Add up the points for each question. Use the table below to find out your skill level.

Skill Level Matrix