Hiking Club at CU
Resources
There are countless resources about how to explore the wilderness, but here are a few to get you started! Please reach out to your officers with any questions or concerns you may have
about being safe and prepared in the outdoors.
Hiking
Here you can find information about hiking trails and permits.
Recreation.gov: Plan hikes and purchase permits
National Park Service: Check trail conditions, closures, and guidelines
All Trails: Find hikes and download trail maps
Hiking Project: Find hikes and download trail maps
Open Space & Mountain Parks (OSMP): City of Boulder trail closures and conditions
There are also some handy apps you can download for your phone:
All Trails: (mobile version)
Hiking Project: (mobile version)
Far Out: Download trail maps and stats,
but also get info about water sources and campsites
This website is super helpful if you are just getting into hiking!
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/outdoor-hiking-for-beginners/
Camping
These websites show dispersed campsites on public land, which means you can camp there for free.
Make sure to check local guidelines to make sure you're camping properly.
iOverlander: free dispersed camping
Free Campsites: free dispersed camping
Campendium: free dispersed camping and paid campsites
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): public land that allows free dispersed camping
US Forest Service (USFS): public land that allows free dispersed camping
CAUTION: These videos are intended to kickstart your knowledge, but are by no means a replacement for official first aid training.
First Aid
It's essential to bring first aid kits while exploring the outdoors.
Check out our PACK LISTS below to see what gear you should bring.
You can also become certified in wilderness first aid from the following programs.
This is the best way to make sure you and your fellow hikers are safe in the backcountry.
CU Wilderness Medicine: courses offered through the university
NOLS Wilderness First Aid (WFA): basic course for casual hikers and backpackers
NOLS Wilderness First Responder (WFR): more advanced course for professionals
The following videos will give you some tips for administering first aid.
The first is a basic intro, and the second goes into depth for those interested in this subject.
Weather
It's very important to check the weather before heading into the mountains, especially in Colorado.
These resources will help you understand when to hike and when to bail.
REI: Weather Basics for Backpackers
Outside Online: Backcountry Weather Conditions
Some great apps and websites to keep in your pocket:
Wunderground: Weather, radar, etc.
AccuWeather: Weather, radar, etc.
Meteo Blue: The usual tools, plus info about wind patterns,
atmospheric pressure, and other important features
NOAA: More detailed weather info,
especially predictions and live updates
National Weather Service: Provides detailed weather info,
especially alerts and predictions.
Pack Lists
We created a few pack lists for you to download. Each one is tailored to specific types of trips,
but there is quite a bit of overlap between them.
CAR CAMPING
DAY HIKING
BACKPACKING
You do not need every item on these lists. They are just meant to give you ideas of what to bring.
Local Gear Shops
Hikers often ask us where to buy gear, so here's a list of some places nearby.
REI: they have everything
• Membership: sign up, trust us it's worth it for the perks
• Rentals and Repairs: hiking, camping, snowshoeing, etc.
• Re/Supply (aka. Garage Sale): used gear with amazing prices
Boulder Sports Recycler: used gear for great prices
Denver Wilderness Exchange: used and discounted gear
Neptune Mountaineering: can be expensive, but super helpful staff
Moosejaw: shop online or get a local store discount through the club
Fjällräven: expensive, but high quality and they offer a club discount
Cotopaxi: high quality and they offer a club discount
Facebook Marketplace: people are always selling gear in the area
Craigslist: old school version of FB Marketplace, but still has good finds
Bare Boulder: gear repairs, which can be cheaper than buying new
Our Sponsors
25% off purchases at their Pearl Street location
(tell them you're a member)
They give us free swaaag
20% off by entering
“Boulder” at checkout on
http://bedrocksandals.com
Requipper
Scholarship program,
inquire for details
They sponsor some of our trips and give us gear!
They give us gear!
