Colorado Official State Vacation Guide - 2025
Your Guide to Getting Outside
2024-12-06 13:35:49
With Blackpackers Founder Patricia Cameron
When Colorado Springs resident Patricia Cameron decided to through-hike the Colorado Trail for the first time in 2020, she was blown away by the beauty.
“I had a campsite that was at 12,000 feet,” she said. “And to this day, my brain will just go back to that campsite. It is gorgeous out here, and to walk across the mountains makes you feel so small in a good way. … None of my problems are as big as a mountain.”
Exploring Colorado’s vast, beautiful landscape — especially when she’s on a multiday trip — is always inspiring. And being able to share that love with her son and community of friends later motivated her to bring that passion to a bigger audience through her nonprofit, Blackpackers. But Cameron wasn’t always outdoorsy. When she decided to go backpacking for the first time in 2017, she wasn’t sure where to start — so she Googled it.
At the time, Cameron worked in emergency medicine, first as an EMT before moving into urgent-care and practice-manager work. She was also a divorced mom, sharing custody with her ex-husband who grew up playing outside, and she wanted her son to have similar experiences. So, she tried camping by the blue water and craggy rock formations at Eleven Mile State Park in Lake George. She knew she was hooked when she woke up and looked outside her tent to see the sun’s rays shimmering on the lake, creating dazzling prisms.
Almost every weekend that summer, Cameron headed west to explore. She backpacked, taught herself to fish and asked her friends to come along.
“So many people were OK with coming,” she said. “They just expressed they didn’t have the gear to go. So, I started buying gear.”
After a couple years of purchasing equipment, Cameron realized she needed a more sustainable format for her passion, so Blackpackers — a nonprofit founded to address Colorado’s representation gap in the outdoors space — was born.
By investing in gear and educational opportunities, along with providing recreation-based programs (camping, backpacking, swimming, climbing and skiing), Blackpackers works to break down barriers and helps its participants access the great outdoors.
“We meet people at the intersection of underrepresentation and economic vulnerability,” she said, “and all that means is we’re trying to provide these curriculum-based, professionally guided and outfitted programs for little to no cost to our participants.”
During outings, the group not only learns their chosen activity; they are also taught about protecting and preserving Colorado’s wildlife and diverse ecosystems.
Tips for Adventuring Across Colorado
While Cameron is a backpacker at heart — she prefers to spend at least one night outdoors — she does occasionally go for day hikes. Looking for something easier? She likes the trails at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre in Morrison or Palmer Park in Colorado Springs, an expansive high-desert landscape easily accessed via the city’s public transportation.
Thinking about challenging yourself? Cameron suggests backpacking a multiday segment of the Colorado Trail. Hiking through these peaceful, rugged pathways is a great chance to relax, reflect and take in the beauty of your surroundings. You can start your trek from destinations like Denver, Breckenridge and Durango, which lead you through wildflower-filled alpine meadows and tree-lined forests to soaring peak views.
“The Colorado Trail changed my life, and I am absolutely in love with it,” Cameron said.
New to overnights outside? Cameron is an avid supporter of car camping because you can bring more gear, like a cookstove. She recommends booking Colorado State Park campsites, which are on a reservation system and often offer basic amenities like vaulted toilets, showers and picnic tables.
A particularly stunning, Cameron-approved camping spot is Cottonwood Lake Campground near Buena Vista. Choose between dispersed sites for more privacy or the established campground for its amenities. When you’re not cooking up a gourmet camp dinner, you can dip a fishing line in the reflective lake or trek through national forestland.
Whether you’re a beginner to exploring panoramic peaks and meandering trails or a seasoned pro, there’s an adventure for everyone in Colorado. You can always plan a long hike or thrill-filled camping trip, but sometimes an easy walk in a Colorado State Park is a solid way to spend a day. Time in nature doesn’t have to be physically challenging or intimidating; it’s just outside your door, after all.
Do Colorado Right
Check out the Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles, and see how to Do Colorado Right, by turning to p. 4.
Find Your Site
Know the weekend you want to camp, but aren’t sure where to go? Use the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website or app, type in the dates you want to stay, and it will tell you where space is available across the state.
Want to Get Involved?
Check Blackpackers.org for upcoming events, plus educational and volunteer opportunities for your vacation dates. Find Blackpackers on Facebook and Instagram @COBlackpackers.
©Colorado. View All Articles.