Backpacking 101 An easy starter backpacking experience at Staunton St. Park.
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Backpacking 101. This will be an easy backpacking trip overnight. I'll select an easy place to go where there is a campsite close with water. This trip is for people who are new at or wanting to try backpacking. It'll help you get a small sample of what backpacking is like. This weekend will help you decide if you'd like to join us on some of the other trips I play to do later in the summer/fall.
Directions to Staunton St. Pk. From Denver, take U.S. 285 south to Shaffers Crossing, about 6 miles west of Conifer. Turn north onto Elk Creek Rd. 1.5 miles to the park. If you didn't pay for a parks pass with your vehicle registration, there is a fee to enter the park. If you have to purchase a pass to enter the park, leave it on your dashboard when you park your vehicle.
I'm going to arrive there at about 10:00 am. I'll be in the Meadow Parking lot. We can't move into our campsites until 1:00. So I'll do a dayhike and get back to the parking lot around 12:30 to help you with your packing.
We have campsites 14 (one night/$28) and 15 (two nights/$56). They are in the Spruce Loop. Water and restrooms are in the parking lot. Site 15 is 600 feet from the parking lot. If you want to stay for both nights, set up in site 15. The campsite fees will be divided among the campers. In each site we are allowed 3 tents and 6 people. So we'll visit from site to site. The sites are close to the parking lot. So it's easy to make two trips if you want to bring a chair or something else.
Remember, you'll need food for while you are there. Propane and gas stoves are allowed. No campfires. There are storage boxes there for your food.
If you want to dayhike while you are there, I'd also bring a daypack. There is a new moon that weekend. So it will be a good night for star gazing.
In the meantime, two places you can go to learn about backpacking. Facebook. Appalachian Trail Hikers. The annual group of thru-hikers are starting up the AT now in Georgia headed for Maine. And Homemade Wanderlust by a lady who has done the AT, PCT and CDT. Lots of videos of things about backpacking.