Trip Finder
Colorado Trail
Information for Enrolled Students

Packing List

We’ve provided packing recommendations below; however, equivalent items work just fine. We also offer many items for sale or rent via our online store. These items are marked with an “x” in the appropriate column.
Keep in mind that Colorado can still be chilly in June and July! Warm layers are very important, as evening temperatures can dip down in the low 40s. This is particularly important for first session in which the snowpack may not have melted. Please consider bringing additional layers for first session!

Long Underwear/Base Layer Top

Synthetic, Medium-Weight Long Sleeve Top

Qty: 2
Patagonia Capilene Cool Long Sleeve Shirt

T-Shirts

Minimum of Two Synthetic, Non-Cotton Shirts - Other May Be Cotton

Qty: 4
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily T-Shirt

Lightweight Top

Synthetic, Non-Cotton - This Can Be a Fleece Pullover, Sweater or Full Zip Jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 Fleece

Rain Jacket w Hood

100% Waterproof Rain Jacket w Hood

Qty: 1
Marmot Precip or Patagonia Torrentshell

Insulating Jacket

Synthetic or Down Insulation, Non-Cotton. This Can Be a Synthetic or Down "Puffy" Jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia Nano Puff or Down Sweater

Fleece Jacket

Synthetic, Non Cotton - This Needs to Be Heavier Than the Lightweight Top

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla or R2 Jacket

Sports Bras

For Girls

Qty: 4

Required Clothing Items

Long Underwear/Base Layer Bottom

Synthetic, non-cotton medium weight long underwear bottoms

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight/Midweight bottoms

Quick-dry Shorts

Synthetic, non-cotton shorts

Qty: 3
Patagonia Baggies

Bathing Suit

Males: your quick dry shorts can double as your bathing suit

Qty: 1

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple cotton pairs are permitted)

Qty: 6

Waterproof rain pants

100% Waterproof pants large enough to fit over regular pants

Qty: 1

Fleece pants

Synthetic, non-cotton fleece pants or heavyweight long underwear bottoms

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Pants or Patagonia R1 Pants

Long Pants

A pair of cotton pants are fine

Qty: 1

Required clothing items

Gloves

Wool or fleece, non-cotton medium weight gloves

Qty: 1

Warm Hat

Wool or fleece, non-cotton beanie

Qty: 1

Baseball Hat

A baseball hat or wide-brimmed hat for sun protection

Qty: 1

Mosquito Head Net

Required Item

Qty: 1

Required Additional Items

Hiking Boots/Trail Shoes

Medium weight boots - Break them in before arrival to avoid blisters!!

Qty: 1

River Shoes

They can be open-toed but do need to have a back strap

Qty: 1
Chaco, Teva, or Keen

Old Tennis Shoes

A pair of comfortable. closed-toe shoes that you don't mind getting dirty

Qty: 1

Socks

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 5 Pair

Required Shoes

Water Resistant Duffel Bag

70 Liters Duffel Bag

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L

Day Pack

20-30 Liters Daypack/Backpack

Qty: 1
Patagonia Refugio Pack 26L

For Carrying All of Your Gear

Sleeping Bag

Synthetic sleeping bag rated 20° – 30° Fahrenheit with a compression stuff sack

Qty: 1

Ground Pad

Insulating ground pad

Qty: 1
Therm-a-rest RidgeRest or Therm-a-Rest ProLite

Your duffel bag needs to be able to fit all of your belongings. Your sleeping bag & ground pad will take up a lot of the room in your duffel, so we encourage you to pack light around those bulky items.

Dopp Kit

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L-M

Small First Aid Kit

Contains: Insect repellent, waterproof sunscreen, Band-aids, Moleskin, Chapstick w/ sun prevention, Wet Ones wipes, Dramamine (if prone to motion sickness), personal hand sanitizer.

Qty: 1

Prescription Glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts.

Qty: 2 pair

Required Hygiene Items. *Please keep in mind that you will be carrying all toiletries with you on the plane, so make sure they are travel-sized!

Water Bottles

32oz Water Bottles

Qty: 2
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Water Bottle

Headlamp

With Fresh Batteries + 2 Sets of Spare Batteries; This is very important!

Qty: 1
Black Diamond Spot or Black Diamond Storm

Sunglasses

With 100% UV Protection

Qty: 1
Goodr

Sunglasses Holder

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Nylon Stuff Sack

Extra Nylon Stuff Sack (Sleeping Bag Size)

Qty: 1
Sea To Summit Stuff Sack

Cup With Lid

Sturdy Plastic or Metal Mug

Qty: 1
16oz Nalgene Wide Mouth

Bowl With Lid

Qty: 1
Tupperware or Nalgene

Plastic Spork OR Spoon & Fork, + Plastic Knife

Qty: 1
Light My Fire Spork

Required For Your Trip

Camp Chair

HIGHLY Recommended

Qty: 1
Crazy Creek

Wallet

Personal Wallet with $150 spending money

Qty: 1

Bandana/Buff

For additional sun and wind protection. Buffs are tube-like and can be worn up to 12 different ways providing versatile sun protection. Can even be worn as a headband!

Qty: 1

Whistle

Small, pea-less plastic will do

Qty: 1

Pack Towel

Absorbent & quick to dry, large or extra-large works best

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel

Carabiner

Non-plastic

Qty: 1

Additional Required Items

Digital Camera

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1
Canon Powershot G9 X

GoPro

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1
Used GoPros available for sale on Moondance Gear Store

External Charger

Portable charger / power bank to charge camera and GoPro

Qty: 1

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky

Qty: 1

Notebook with Pen

For journaling

Qty: 1

Backpacker's Pillow

HIGHLY recommend; a luxury to have while camping or on travel days

Qty: 1

Personal Protective Equipment: Mask

(2) reusable, breathable masks that completely cover nose and mouth and fit snuggly; Moondance will not provide masks. To be used where it is required by trip location or outfitter.

Qty: 2
Moondance Buff

Since we don’t allow cell phones during our trips, you may not use your phone as a camera. Leaders will take photos that will be shared at the end of the summer

Packing Tips

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

  • A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
  • Your rain jacket
  • Prescription medications & toothbrush
  • ID, money

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Lodging

Sleeping

4-person, single gender tents at frontcountry and backcountry campsites.


Eating

Please bring all personal eating utensils listed on the packing list. Moondance will provide all group cooking gear.

If you have any special dietary restrictions / considerations, please contact the Moondance office for further information.

Flights

Colorado Trail 1, June 7-June 20, 2024

Arrive
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Friday, June 7, 2024
  • Between 10AM-1PM
Depart
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Thursday, June 20, 2024
  • Between 10AM-1PM

Colorado Trail 2, June 24-July 7, 2024

Arrive
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Monday, June 24, 2024
  • Between 10AM-1PM
Depart
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Sunday, July 7, 2024
  • Between 10AM-1PM

Colorado Trail 3, July 11-July 24, 2024

Arrive
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Thursday, July 11, 2024
  • Between 10AM-1PM
Depart
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Wednesday, July 24, 2024
  • Between 10AM-1PM

Important Travel Notes:

If you’d like to book your travel through our partnered travel agency, Fly My Group, please follow this link and use the registration code “moondance24” to start the booking process. They are familiar with all Moondance flights.

• Keep in mind the group travels to and from the airport together, so arriving and departing within the specified windows below is very important.

• Remember when booking your child’s flight to allow at least a 2-hour layover in any connecting airport to avoid missed connections or baggage delays

• If your child flies as an unaccompanied minor, please remember to pay the unaccompanied minor fee for both legs of the trip when booking travelo We will contact you in the Spring to give your child’s trip leader’s names and contact information for the unaccompanied minor contact. In the meantime, please give the airline your information.

• If your child flies as an unaccompanied minor, a leader wearing a Moondance t-shirt will meet your child at the flight’s arrival gate. All other students will meet their leader at the Delta baggage claim.

• Ideally, fly direct and depart early to prevent any problems with flight changes and delays.