Women's Backpacking 101: Overnight Adventure

Join us for a supportive, beginner-friendly experience where you’ll learn the essentials of backpacking while spending a night under the stars in Golden Gate Canyon State Park! No experience is necessary! This event is specifically for women 18 and older.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT.

Date & Time: We’ll meet at the Visitors Center at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 18th. The morning will include learning how to pack our backpacks and covering key backpacking topics at the Visitors Center. At 1:00 PM, we’ll begin our group hike to our campspot. The next morning, we’ll all return to the parking lot by 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 19th.

Meeting Location: Visitors Center, Golden Gate Canyon State Park (92 Crawford Gulch Rd, Golden, CO 80403)

Campspot: The exact location will be disclosed to registered participants. Expect the hike-in to be around 2 miles with a little less than 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Meals: All main meals will be provided, but please pack extra snacks to eat between meals. Here is an example list of potential Backpacking Snack Ideas. Lunch will be served at the Visitors Center on Saturday while we cover backpacking topics. Dinner will be provided at camp on Saturday evening, and breakfast on Sunday morning before we hike out. A Google Form will be sent to all registered participants about food allergies and dietary needs.

Gear Checklist: Please use THIS gear list to help pack the essential items necessary for this specific overnight. A more comprehensive list for future backpacking trips will be provided after this overnight. If you don’t have the first 5 Essential items (backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, or a headlamp) email Kayla Beltran at [email protected].

Rental & Used Gear Resource List: Refer to THIS list of local gear shops to rent items or purchase at an affordable price.

Before our overnight on Saturday, October 18th, we’ll host a few optional Zoom sessions for registered participants. These casual virtual meet-ups are a welcoming space to ease nerves, ask questions, chat about gear, and get excited together before our adventure begins!

We’ll cover everything you need to feel confident on the trail:

• Safety Considerations
• Planning and Preparing Trips
• Gear Tips & Packing your Pack
• Food Storage & Nutrition
• Outdoor Hygiene and more!

After registering, all participants will receive an email with a waiver and Google Form to report food allergies and any existing medical conditions. If you have any questions, please email Kayla Beltran at [email protected].

Kayla Beltran - Park Interpreter

Kayla has been leading programs with Golden Gate Canyon State Park since April and brings a rich background in public education, outdoor education, and trail work. She’s been backpacking since 2014, with her first trip in one of Thailand’s National Parks, and has since backpacked in multiple places across the U.S.—from Canyonlands National Park in Utah to the high peaks of the Adirondacks in New York.

One of her favorite adventures was spending a week on the John Muir Trail in California’s eastern Sierras, covering more than 60 miles. She is Wilderness First Aid certified and a Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor. And when it comes to trail snacks? Nerd Clusters always make it into her pack!

Joe Reed - Park Ranger

Joe is currently in his second season as a Park Ranger at Golden Gate Canyon State Park, and previously worked as a public school teacher and as a construction lead managing volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. He has been backpacking since he was a teenager growing up in middle Tennessee, and his first ever backpacking trip was a two-night trip in Montgomery Bell State Park near Nashville. His favorite backpacking trip he’s taken so far was a one-night trip in Grand Teton National Park. Joe is a Wilderness First Aid instructor and a Leave No Trace Level 1 instructor. He is passionate about introducing new individuals to outdoor adventure and teaching them to enjoy it safely. His favorite trail snack? Homemade trail mix!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Visitor Center, 92 Crawford Gulch Road, Golden, United States