Getting around....

Be sure to read through the Home page:

• https://sites.google.com/view/hikerinfo/home 

If you're new to Denver and the front range, let me help you get around.

• This information is based on years of hosting guests (CT Hikers and non-hikers)

• I try to update this information, as new information arrives - but take this with a grain of salt.

I've never been to Denver. What should I do before leaving home?

Secure your plans for: Getting lodging, getting to the trailhead, getting cooking fuel, getting around, and getting ready for the weather!

There are MANY options for all of the above

• Getting lodging

  • My lodging options: https://sites.google.com/view/couchcamping 

    • Compare my place with other options, so you can plan with confidence

  • Other lodging options: https://sites.google.com/view/couchcamping/other-options 

  • Getting to the trailhead

    • https://sites.google.com/view/hikerinfo/ct-shuttlers

  • Getting cooking fuel

    • https://sites.google.com/view/hikerinfo/cooking-fuel 

  • Getting around (with RTD Denver)

    • https://sites.google.com/view/no-car-no-problem/light-rail 

• Getting ready for the weather

• Storms across the midwest and or the southeast have been known to delay flights to Denver

  • This can happen to your flight - even if you're NOT flying from/through those regions.

• Be prepared to have to handle (major) flight delays 

  • Some hikers have had 8-24 hour delays to their planned arrival times(!)

  • Plan for options (larger time windows) for getting cooking fuel and or getting to lodging and or getting to the trailhead.

I've landed at DIA. Now what?

Take the RTD-Denver, light rail A-Train, to Union Station. 

Even if you plan on using Ride-Share, to get to the the trailhead, save some $$ by leaving DIA, at a mimimum (the Littleton-Mineral Station is better)!

• For my detailed instructions, go here:

  • https://sites.google.com/view/no-car-no-problem/light-rail 

• Check Google Maps or the RTD-Denver website, for train times and ticket rates

  • https://app.rtd-denver.com/schedules 

  • The RTD Train costs $10 - for the whole day, to ALL RTD-transit options (trains, buses)

• Inside DIA: Walk to the SOUTH side of DIA, where the Westin Hotel is located

  • Take the escalator, down to the train tracks (and ticket kiosks)

  • ONLY the A-Train runs to/from DIA, so you cannot get on the "wrong" train, at DIA

• Ride-share options are the most expensive option, period. 

  • Convenience comes at a cost.

    • Rates will easily be higher, if you're heading straight to Waterton Canyon

  • From DIA: Ride-share costs, on average, a bare minimum of around $50 (maybe closer to $75)

  • From Union Station: Ride-share costs may be lower, than rates from DIA

• Shuttle vans are the next-most-expensive option

  • Some shuttle-van services have counters at the airport - but if you're sper late, these may NOT be an option

  • They may not take you to Waterton Canyon

I'm at Union Station. Now what?

That depends on what you need to do and whether or not you're staying a night or two, along the front range.

I'm going to spend some time in the downtown Denver area

• Have someone store your backpack, to lighten your load!

  • https://sites.google.com/view/no-car-no-problem/luggage-storage 

I'm buying cooking fuel and or food and or water bottle(s), after I get to Denver

• Cooking Fuel

  • It's a lovely walk, along the river, from Union Station and REI or Wilderness Exchange Unlimited (places that sell cooking fuel)

    • REI and Wilderness Exchange are within 1 block of each other - so it makes shopping around easier

  • Before leaving home, make sure the store(s) HAVE cooking fuel (in the size/quantity needed) 

    • Stores can and HAVE been known to sell out of cooking, during the summer!

• Food

  • The closest, walkable option for buying "regular" food is at the Whole Foods, near Union Station (it's 1-2 blocks away)

  • All other grocery stores are farther away and or require a car

• "Smart" Water Bottles

  • Whole Foods may not carry the "sports cap" style of "Smart" brand water bottles that hikers like

  • There is a 7-11 convenience store (i.e. more-expensive and fewer options), a short walk from the Littleton-Mineral Station

    • In the past, they have sold the Smart water bottles with the sports cap

I'm heading to the trailhead, from Union Station. Now what?

I have all I need and want to hit the trail, asap

• Take the RTD D-Train to the Littleton-Mineral Station

  • Depending on the arrangements you've made, for a CT Shuttler or not, the closest train station, to Waterton Canyon, is the Littleton-Mineral Station (at the southern end of the D-Train)

  • For my detailed instructions, go here:

    • https://sites.google.com/view/no-car-no-problem/light-rail 

I want to stay a night or more, along the front range. Now what?

That depends on what you need to do and whether or not you're staying a night or two, along the front range.

I'm staying a night or more, in downtown Denver

• You're on your own - ask the host/hostel contacts for details and look at my sites, for helpful info

I'm staying a night, somewhere along the front range

• Take the RTD-Train to the station closest to your destination

• There are many options, for lodging along the Front Range:

  • https://sites.google.com/view/hikerinfo/lodging