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!

Duffel Bag

70 Liters

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70 L

Day Pack

20 – 30 liter day pack /school backpack to carry your rain jacket, water bottle and snacks

Qty: 1
Patagonia Refugio Pack 26 L

For carrying all of your gear
NOTE: Moondance Adventures will provide you with a 65 Liter backpack and a waterproof backpack cover for the backpacking section of your trip.

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

NOTE: 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.

Water Bottles

Minimum 32oz water bottles

Qty: 2
Nalgene 1L wide mouth

Cup with lid

Sturdy plastic or metal; thermal plastic mug is best

Qty: 1
16oz Nalgene wide mouth

Bowl with lid

Qty: 1
Tupperware or Nalgene

Plastic Spoon

good idea to bring an extra

Light My Fire spork

Headlamp

With fresh batteries + 2 sets of spare batteries

Qty: 1
Black Diamond Spot or Black Diamond Storm

Mesh stuff sack

Sleeping bag size for food storage while backpacking

Qty: 1

Sunglasses

With 100% UV protection

Qty: 1
Goodr

Sunglasses holders

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Additional Required Items

Hiking Boots/Trail Shoes

Medium-weight boots - Break them in before arrival!

Qty: 1

Tennis Shoes

Old tennis shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty work best

Qty: 1

River Shoes

These can by open-toed but do need to have a back strap

Qty: 1
Teva, Keen, or Chaco

Socks

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 5 pair
Smartwool or Darn Tough

Required Shoes

Long Underwear/Base Layer Top

1 synthetic, medium-weight long sleeve top; 1 hooded sunshirt

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Crew; North Face Wander Sun Hoodie

T-shirts

Minimum of 2 synthetic, non-cotton t shirts, others may be cotton

Qty: 4
Patagonia Capilene T-Shirt, Marmot Windridge

Lightweight Top

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater, or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 fleece

Fleece Jacket

Synthetic, non-cotton. This needs to be heavier than the lightweight top

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla or R2 Jacket

Rain Jacket w/ Hood

100% waterproof rain jacket with a hood - No ponchos!

Qty: 1
Patagonia Torrentshell or Marmot Precip

Sports Bra

For girls

Qty: 3

Insulating Jacket

Synthetic or down insulation, non-cotton. This can be a synthetic or down “puffy” jacket, or an additional heavyweight fleece

Qty: 1
Patagonia Nano Puff or Down Sweater

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

Qty: 1

Required additional items

Dopp Kit*

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

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L – M

COVID-19 Vaccination Card + Copies

Valid COVID-19 vaccination card + 2 additional photocopies of your vaccination card

Qty: 2

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

*Please keep all toiletries in your checked luggage, with the exception of your toothbrush and any personal/prescription medication

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: 2

Whistle

Small, pea-less plastic will do

1

Pack Towel

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

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel

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 (Used GoPros available for purchase on Moondance Gear Store)

Qty: 1

External charger

Portable charger / power bank to charge camera and GoPro

Qty: 1

Backpacker's pillow

A luxury to have while camping or on travel days

Qty: 1

A good book

Paperback books are less bulky

Qty: 1

Notebook with pen

For journaling

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

*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
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Card
  • Personal Protective Equipment: Mask (2)

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 8-June 21, 2023

Arrive
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Thursday, June 8, 2023
  • Between 10AM-1PM
Depart
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Wednesday, June 21, 2023
  • Between 10AM-1PM

Colorado Trail 2, June 25-July 8, 2023

Arrive
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Sunday, June 25, 2023
  • Between 10AM-1PM
Depart
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Saturday, July 8, 2023
  • Between 10AM-1PM

Colorado Trail 3, July 12-July 25, 2023

Arrive
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Wednesday, July 12, 2023
  • Between 10AM-1PM
Depart
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Tuesday, July 25, 2023
  • Between 10AM-1PM

Important Travel Notes:

If you’d like to book your travel through our partnered travel agency, Exito, please follow this link 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 travel.

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.