Hiking Checklist: What You Need to Bring on a Hike in Colorado
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The Essential List: What to Pack for a Day Hike in Colorado
Colorado is the perfect place for a hiking adventure, but it can be tricky to decide what to bring along when venturing out in the mountains. You'll need more than just sneakers, a light jacket and a bottle of water!
To take full advantage of all that Colorado has to offer---hikes with stunning mountain views, trekking to cooling waterfall, and bagging 14ers--you must ensure you're prepared.
Knowing what to bring on a hike can be super confusing, especially as a beginner hiker. Colorado weather is fickle. When I first moved here, I didn’t realize how important water, snacks and layers were to a successful hike. I’d finish a hike with a rip roaring headache, completely preventable with proper hydration and essential hiking gear.
Don't be caught unprepared on the trails! Read our guide and find out what to pack for a day hike in Colorado for the perfect outdoor experience.
Did you know 90% of Search and Rescue incidents are a result of day hiking gone awry? Simple mistakes and lack of essential hiking gear can create catastrophic mistakes.
Don’t be a statistic! A little bit of reading along with planning prevents a whole lot of uncomfortable moments.
This post covers:
Best hiking daypacks
What to bring on a hike in Colorado
Free printable Colorado trail packing list
Essential hiking gear tips
What to wear hiking *Colorado Capsule Wardrobe checklist
Best Hiking Daypack
You need a place to stash hiking essential gear beyond the plastic water bottle you’ve carried in the past. Daypacks are the smallest and sweetest of the backpack family. Ranging in capacity from 13L to 36L, try on a few of these favorites to stash your essential hiking gear.
In our early years of hiking, we’d grab the kids school packs for weekend hiking. While our 20 year old backs were fine with thin straps and shoulder heavy weight, our ongoing chiropractor bills say otherwise.
Hiking shorts are great for summers in Colorado.
Daypacks keep your hands free for balance along rocky trails and give you extra space to carry those sweet snacks!
As a beginner hiker, knowing how to properly fit your backpack for hiking is important. Straps can be your friend or enemy depending how you use them. A hiking day pack should be comfortable on your back without pulling on your shoulders.
The sweet spot for most hiking daypacks is 21-35 liters. Many local outdoor outfitter stores custom fit backpacks on you.
If you prefer online shopping, we love using Osprey’s Packfinder tool. With a few clicks, find out what daypack works for your body and hiking needs. Osprey makes some of the world’s best daypacks and overnight backpacks. Their customer service and lifetime warranty is stellar.
PRO TIP! Knowing what to keep in a hiking daypack eliminates a lot of on trail worry. Keep a simple Colorado trail packing list with items you always need on a hike - first aid kit, electrolytes, flashlight, emergency blanket and protein bar. If you use any of these items during your hike, replenish them as soon as you get home.
Backpack Essentials
Hip belt
Room for hydration pack
Robust and comfortable
Long lasting
Once you’ve decided on a day pack for your Colorado Springs hikes, add in essential hiking gear keeping in mind a few things.
What to bring on a hike is as important as what to wear on a hike.
Consider…
EASY ACCESS
What supplies for hiking do you need? Think through how often you’ll need to access that hiking gear during the day. What to take on a hike “just in case” vs hiking gear essentials? For us, chapstick and gummies stay in hip pockets, cell phones on the sides and trekking poles looped on the outside of the daypack.
Extra supplies for hiking such as layers, snacks and water should be placed in bottom of your daypack.
WEIGHT
When packing for a day hike, put your heaviest hiking gear essentials at the bottom of the pack. Your shoulders will thank you.
SAFETY
Packing for a day hike in Colorado should always include pepper spray or bear spray. Keep these self defense tools within easy reach - side pockets work well.
LOCAL TIP! Assemble your items, load your daypack and keep it filled. Periodically do a backpack check, restocking items that you’ve used over the past few weeks.
If you are a beginner hiker, a basic backpack works fine. Head to local consignment stores for high quality used hiking gear. Or consider renting hiking gear, trying out a few different styles before committing money towards gear you might not like. Knowing where to buy affordable used hiking gear for beginners keeps hiking as a low budget sport!
A well packed daypack is essential hiking gear for high altitude hikes.
What to Bring on a Hike
Colorado hiking trails are a blast to explore if you are prepared. As avid hikers with over 40 years of combined hiking experience under our belts, we have a few things we never leave home without. We put them all in a simple hiking checklist. Download this free Colorado trail packing list, print off a copy and keep it next to your daypack.
We guarantee knowing what to wear hiking and what to bring on a hike is easy peesy with a hiking checklist.
CLICK BELOW FOR BEST HIKING GEAR LIST FOR BEGINNERS
A helpful hiking gear list for beginners should include comfortable clothing, right fitting boots, a backpack, map/or map app, a first aid kit and basic supplies like snacks and water. If you want to explore the great outdoors, it’s important to have the best hiking gear for beginners and experts with you.
Jump down to see the breakdown of each of these categories. Some essential gear can be easily borrowed or purchased used. Other pieces, like hiking underwear, is best purchased new.
ESSENTIAL HIKING GEAR CATEGORIES
Clothing/Footwear
Additional gear for rain/snow
Health/Hygiene
Misc Gear
Hydration/Food
Navigation/Safety
Hiking gear essentials for a day hike in Colorado
Essential Hiking Gear for a Fantastic Day Hike
The list of best gear for hiking is relatively short. However, many Colorado hikes begin at high altitude which can bring a few surprises. Abrupt weather changes, wild animal encounters, steep elevations and altitude symptoms can surprise even the most experienced hiker.
We break down each of the essential hiking gear items on our hiking checklist.
Rule of thumb: For short hikes within city limits, water, snacks and layers will suffice. Knowing what to bring on longer hikes could limit unexpected surprises and potential search and rescue situations.
COMPRESSION SACK
Get a compression sack for bulky but necessary hike apparel. Compressing clothing layers and hiking gear saves space with easy accessibility. Precious hiking time is wasted trying to find that one thing buried deep in your backpack.
INSULATING LAYER
Colorado hiking, no matter the season, is a mixed bag of weather.
A few summers ago, while hiking Buckskin Pass near Aspen, we were caught in a torrential downpour in the middle of August, taking the 80-degree day to the 40s in an hour. Boy we were grateful for that extra shirt during the 4 mile trek back to the car!
LOCAL TIP! Experts say cotton can kill. It keeps you sweaty in hot temperatures and chilled when things turn wet and cold. Wool blends are perfect for Colorado hiking days, keeping you warm when wet. We are big fans of Smartwool, socks, gloves, base layers, you name it!
Every hiking outfit for fall should include a warm hat and gloves.
HAT AND GLOVES
A hat or warm beanie is important for that quick windstorm on all but the hottest hiking in Colorado. Add a pair of cheap gloves for added warmth. Or get a pair of Smartwool gloves that will last you for years. Made from wool, they’ll keep you warm even when wet! And we all know a hat makes cute hiking outfits stand out.
LOCAL TIP! Many big box stores (think Walmart and Target) carry inexpensive gloves. They tend to disappear around March so buy a few pairs and store them in your car and backpack for year round access.
EXTRA PAIR SOCKS
It is easy to forget this hike apparel item. On a Rocky Mountain National Park snowshoe hike to Mills Lake, a short path across a small stream looked easily passable. Nope! After sinking hip deep into some pretty chilly water, my feet were COLD! Luckily I’d put a pair of wool socks in my pack that morning. A quick change helped warm up my toes for the long 5 miles back to our car.
Put socks in a small ziplock bag to ensure they stay dry. When you switch out socks, you’ll have a place to stash your stinky smelly ones, keeping your day pack relatively stink free!
Knowing what to bring a hike can save a life!
FIRST AID KIT
Supplies for hiking should always include some sort of a first aid kit! DIY your medical kit like we do or buy a pre assembled kit. We love the Kavu zipped pixie pouch. Load up the pouch with these hiking gear essentials and head out on a Colorado Springs hike.
Band aids
Blister kit or Moleskin
Dental floss *In a pinch, it holds together broken gear and shoes
Tylenol and/or Ibuprofen
2-3 tampons *Great for a bloody nose
2 sanitary pads *Use as large bandages
2-3 Alcohol wipes
KT Tape *Keeps moleskin/bandages in place
GU gel *Fast sugar
INSIDER TIP! We are both are Wilderness First Responder certified. This is a valuable resource for learning ways to help you and others on the trail when a crisis is happening and help is far away. The NOLS two-day course is offered at various locations including your local REI. Dress rehearsing crisis situations trains your brain for potential trail mishaps.
Some of the best gear for hiking the Manitou Incline is a hat!
SUN PROTECTION
No matter how much protesting our kids give us, hike apparel always includes a sun hat.
Trekking to our amazing mountains vistas put you closer to the sun, with the dry climate tricking you into thinking it’s nice and cool. Don’t be fooled! Lather on sunscreen every 2-3 hours during a hike.
Trust us, while a tan might be fashionable, skin cancer is not. Neither are any of the sun damage treatments that seem to be a rite of passage for people 40 and older.
Grab those sunglasses while you’re at it and wear them! We also wear womens hiking shirts with SPF built in. On the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim hike, Patagonia’s long sleeve sunshirt prevented some significant sunburns!
HYDRATION/WATER BOTTLE
Using an insulated water reservoir gives you a leg up on the hydration game, allowing small sips throughout the day which is a huge benefit for your post Colorado hike recovery.
LOCAL TIP! Add Ultima Replenisher electrolytes for headache relief and electrolyte replenishment. *If you have a hard time stomaching water, adding a small cap of electrolyte powder does double duty - flavoring water and helping restock salt.
RELATED LINK: HOW TO STAY HYDRATED ON THE TRAIL: HIKING ELECTROLYTES 101
Water Filter
Typically your hydration reservoir provides sufficient water for a day hiking trip on Colorado Springs trails. However, calamity can strike and leave you stranded without water.
We’ve had a few hikes with leaking reservoirs or forgetting to properly seal our water bladder.
Carry a portable water filter for those just in case moments. The Epic Water Outdoors OG Woodman and the Katadyn BeFree filters are our favorites; under $50 each, fast and easy to carry and use!
RELATED LINK: ELEVATE YOUR HIKING GAME: 2024 MUST-HAVE WATER FILTERS
SNACKS
Add snack favorites when packing for a day hike.
All that hiking makes a person hungry. Not enough food and the mood can quickly change from happy to hangry. Salty and sweet snacks work well to keep the body balanced and moving.
We love Rx bars, Lara bars, cashews, grapes, and homemade oatmeal chocolate chunk bars. Throw in some Justin’s peanut and almond butter along with the classic trail mix and you have a feast for days!
On the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim hike, we consumed thousands of calories. The longer you hike, your body will begin to crave various tastes. Tanya loved her trail mix while Melody was all about Trader Joe’s gummies.
Packing a variety of sweet, salty, fresh and dehydrated snacks gives choices when nothing sounds good. PLUS, if you happen upon a hiker needing encouragement, offering an extra snack from your day pack goes a long way in the kindness (and karma) department.
MISCELLANEOUS AND EMERGENCY GEAR
LOCAL TIP! Hiking what to pack should be easy. Use a plastic one gallon zip lock bag to store miscellaneous essential hiking gear. The bag doubles as a garbage bag for post hike disposal.
In the ziplock bag, check off these supplies for hiking.
Pocket knife/Scissors
Emergency Blanket/Shelter *Dagmi Outdoors Reusable blankets are a CoHH fav!
Use “CoHH” for 10% off any order.
BIFF *Bathroom in Forest (TP/Shovel/Bag for Waste) or WAG bags
Whistle
Lighter/Waterproof matches *fire starter
Chapstick *SPF preferred
Carabiners
Sunscreen
Headlamp plus batteries
Bear and Pepper Spray
Come prepared. While we don’t want to face an angry bear or person, the reality is that at some point that might happen.
Tanya carries bear spray on a carabiner outside her pack, giving easy access to grab and spray. Melody carries pepper spray in her hip belt for a quick reach.
We regularly practice using bear spray, removing the safety and aiming toward a pretend bear. What good is a can of bear spray if you don’t know how to use it? Learn how to properly carry and use bear spray from the experts!
On solo hikes, Melody also carries Damsels in Defense pepper spray.
LOCAL TIP! Consider taking a self-defense class. You will feel empowered knowing how to defend yourself if met with an attacker on the trail. Solo hiking requires a few more essential hiking gear items and intuitive tips to stay safe.
External Battery pack
Cold weather zaps your phone’s battery life. Don’t be caught without juice for your cell. On a recent hike up Tanner Trail near Canyon City, Colorado, Melody forgot to put her external battery in a waterproof bag. The battery had to take an extended time out in rice. Remember, electronics work far better when dry!
EXTRAS
TRIPOD
For under $15 find an inexpensive remote-controlled tripod. It wraps around tree branches, perches on rocks and gets you those amazing nature shots and killer selfies.
GPS/GARMIN INREACH
Include a satellite/GPS unit to your hiking gear supplies. We love the Garmin inReach for it’s relatively inexpensive price, low monthly membership fees and one touch SOS button for help anywhere.
TREKKING POLES
When we started hiking, we avoided using poles. Truth be told, we thought they were for unsteady hikers. Age and a few near falls changed our minds. Trekking poles bring stability to an elevation hike. Downhills are relatively pain free when you rely on your arms to help your feet down.
Each person has trekking pole preferences. Tanya and I use Black Diamond’s Black Distance Carbon Z’s and Trail Ergo Cork.
RELATED LINK: HIKING POLES: YOUR TRAILSIDE SUPERPOWER
Seasonal Hiking Gear
Seasonal items are added depending on the activity we choose. Water wading and hammocking are our kids favorite summer mid-hike activities. We always add spikes and gore tex gaiters for winter hiking.
Snowshoeing at Palmer Lake Reservoirs
WHAT TO PACK WHEN HIKING IN COLD WEATHER
Winters in Colorado mean early sunset, getting cold and dark quickly. Be sure to add these essential hiking gear items to avoid potential life threatening situations.
thick base layer
Wool blends are a good addition to your winter hiking wardrobe. We love the Smartwool half zip long sleeve. Fleece lined hiking clothes work well exploring some of the best snowshoeing Colorado has to offer.
Traction *Spikes or Crampons
Trails can be icy in spots. Spikes can easily come off or on depending on trail conditions. Use a ziplock bag or stuff sack, put them inside and clip them to the outside of your pack with a carabiner.
Disposable hot hands and toe warmers
Gaiters
Gore Tex gaiters keep snow out of your shoes, keeping your feet dry. Knee length gaiters offer warmth on snowshoe hikes and Colorado cross country skiing. If your goal is hiking a few 14ers, low cut gaiters keep out scree, the tiny pesky stones found at high altitudes.
OPTIONAL: HEATED GLOVES
When the wind kicks up on that first day as a beginner skiing in Colorado, you’ll be happy for these heated gloves. Heated winter gear is having a moment and we are here for it! For long hikes along exposed trails, consider powering up your heated gloves to keep your digits warm and toasty!
HIking shorts were key to staying cool on our Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike
ESSENTIAL HIKING GEAR FOR HOT WEATHER
Colorado summers heat up fast. The sun rises around 5:30 am and is pretty hot by 11. HIking clothes for summing include shorts and pants, long sleeves and tank tops. Knowing what to wear when hiking is like learning a new dance. We’ve learned how to dress for a hike depends on the trail, the weather and elevation. Check all three before out head out. Layers are key, as always, for dry climate hiking.
Buff or Bandana
On hot days, wet your bandana or buff cloth, putting it around your neck. Use it to wipe sweaty brows. In a pinch, it works for that unexpected bathroom break because heat can do a number on your GI tract!
Extra salt or electrolytes
Avoid a raging headache and add a NUUN or electrolyte packet to your water bottle or hydration reservoir. Grab a few salt packets at a drive through, stashing them in your daypack.
Water Shoes
Tanya loves her Chacos. They are easy to strap on daypack, perfect for mountain stream water crossings. Melody is a big fan of Tevas. No matter what type of water shoes you get, carabiner those puppies on you daypack!
LOCAL TIP! After a long hike, slip your sore feet out of your hiking boots and into your water shoes. After taking a long “AHHHHH” you will be thrilled to have your toes wiggling and happy.
Knowing what to wear when hiking Colorado trails is a piece of cake with the Capsule wardrobe checklist.
WHAT TO WEAR HIKING COLORADO TRAILS
Knowing what to wear hiking in Colorado is challenging. There are STILL days I’m out on the trail, caught in a pelting rainstorm without a backup pair of wool socks.
After years of hiking with my kids and giving them my layers and food, I decided it was time to create THE LIST, affectionately known in our home as the Colorado Capsule Wardrobe.
Steve Jobs was onto something with his basic black t-shirt outfit. On Colorado trails, start with basic layers and add or subtract depending on the season and trails you’re hiking.
Essential hiking gear is critical for a great day of hiking Colorado Springs and surrounding trails. What you take on a hike regarding clothes can provide extra comfort and protection no matter the season.
Hike apparel for summer includes shorts, tanks and gaiters.
Always keep in your backpack:
Extra pair wool socks *store in a ziplock bag to keep dry
Gloves and warm hat *Altitude hiking, even in summer, can get nippy at the summit.
Rain jacket *This is the perfect wind and waterproof barrier.
RELATED LINK: We've uncovered the secret weapon against being drenched - the Patagonia Rain Jacket 3L Torrentshell. Move over, weather woes, because this isn't your average rain jacket—it's the VIP pass to staying dry and fabulous even in the unpredictable Rocky Mountain weather.
That hiking outfit for fall can look cute and be functional. Heck, buying cute hiking outfits is half the fun right? We are big fans of functional and form flattering clothing. Make note of the type of hikes you enjoy, how long you like to be out and then build your hiking clothes list from there.
I love long distance, high elevation hikes - blame it on my marathon running days. Knowing what to wear hiking for me means leggings, long sleeve layers combined with my Patagonia down vest. This is my go to Colorado hiking outfit most months out of the year. Unless the temps are super hot, the shorts can stay home. Meanwhile, my eldest daughter hikes in shorts unless it’s literally freezing. Hike apparel is truly up to the owner. However, carrying emergency layers is the smart thing to do!
Hiking shoes or boots work best on most Colorado trails. In this world of vast outdoor gear, it’s hard to decide if runners, hikers or boots are your jam. We’ve taken the guesswork out of comparison shopping with a full review on hiking shoes, trail runners and solid sturdy boots.
RELATED LINKS:
What to Wear Hiking in Colorado
Hiking Boots, Shoes, Trail Runners? What do I need for Colorado Trails?
Some of the best gear for hiking is small and easy to carry.
HIKING GEAR ESSENTIALS TIPS
Map Apps
We use All Trails and REI Hiking Project apps for our weekly hikes. Many use Caltopo.com, a free site for topo maps and trail distances. Remember to download your trail map BEFORE you head out. COTREX is a Colorado specific app with elevation, trails, mileage and more.
Pocket Pals Trail Maps makes waterproof/tearproof maps of many local trails as well as 14er hikes. We love these waterproof, tear-resistant maps that fit in your pocket. Pocket Pals also offers immediate digital downloads if you prefer.
Receive 10% OFF any of Pocket Pals digital and waterproof paper maps when you use our promo code “10%OFF”.
Don’t get caught on unfamiliar trails without a backup to no cell service!
take Two Copies
Text a copy of your trail hike plans to a friend. Print a second copy and put it under your car seat.
Even if you are just minutes from home, let someone know where you are headed and when you expect to be back. This is especially important if you are headed out on a solo hike.
LOCAL TIP! All Trails Pro allows you to set up an emergency contact. With a quick tap, they are alerted to your start, can see your progress as you hike and are notified if you aren’t back by the time you’ve designated in the app.
Hammocks are some of the best gear for hiking.
Hammock
When we hike with our kids, they love to hammock mid-hike. Hook hiking hammocks to the outside of your pack with a carabiner. Heck, we love to hammock too!
weather check
Summers in Colorado often bring afternoon rain and lightning storms. Winters are filled with sun but also fast and furious windstorms. Pack extra layers accordingly. ALWAYS CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE YOU HIKE.
Duct Tape
Wrap some duct tape around your trekking poles. In a pinch, this super strong tape can hold a hiking boot together or work as an impromptu bandaid.
Personal Identification
Bring your driver’s license with you. Consider adding a homemade emergency card that has your name, blood type, emergency contact and date. Laminate it or stick in a small ziplock bag, zip tie to your day pack for that “oh no, crap” just in case moment.
Safety is important. We have used Road ID for years. Your name, emergency contact number and blood type are etched into a small metal plate that you attach to your hiking shoe via velcro.
Cash and Car Keys
Have you had that heart pounding moment when you completed your amazing wilderness hike, only to find yourself back at the car without a clue where your keys went? We have!
Find a spot in your pack to zipper in that car key. While you’re at it, stash your driver’s license in the same spot. Point out the hiding spot to your hiking partner.
Bring along a little bit of cash or a credit card. You never know what might await you on the trail!
Large Garbage Bag
Perfect for the sudden downpour or river crossing, this cheap waterproof layer is easy to squeeze into a day pack crevice. In a pinch, use the garbage bag as a new hike apparel.
A prepared hiker is a happy hiker
Essential hiking gear is key to enjoying great outdoor adventures. We put together our favorite outdoor gear - a hiking gear list of everything we use regularly hiking and camping.
Each item on our Ultimate Outdoorsy Gift Guide list is owned and used by us. We don’t recommend anything we haven’t used and loved ourselves.
Related Links:
A Simple Guide to Preparing for a Backpacking Trip
Hiking Solo - What Should I Know Hiking Colorado Trails
