Backpacking and Art Along the East Inlet in Rocky Mountain National Park is an immersive backpacking and field-drawing experience for artists and outdoor enthusiasts who want a focused wilderness art trip. This experience is designed around meaningful time in place — hiking into the backcountry, establishing a scenic basecamp, and spending dedicated time observing and drawing the landscape over the course of three days.
Hosted by Colorado Mountain Expeditions and led by artist Katy Betz, this trip combines guided backpacking with structured and supportive outdoor art instruction. CME guides lead the wilderness travel portion of the experience, providing support from trailhead to backcountry campsite, while Katy guides participants through observational sketching and composition in an alpine environment. After hiking into the Gray Jay Group backcountry site near Lone Pine Lake and setting up camp, participants enjoy extended creative time to explore varied viewpoints, capture water and mountain subjects, and work directly from nature.
Experience
This trip is welcoming to participants who are comfortable with moderate hiking and want to deepen their creative practice in the field. CME guides provide hands-on support with pack fitting, pacing, camp setup, group routines, and wilderness travel skills so participants feel confident throughout the journey.
Art instruction focuses on practical field-sketching techniques for outdoor conditions. Guidance includes strategies for observing natural forms, composing engaging landscape subjects, and working with changing light and weather. Guided sessions are balanced with open time for individual work and informal group discussion.
Difficulty & Preparation
The backpacking portion of this trip is moderate. The hike to camp covers approximately 4.9 miles with about 1,260 feet of elevation gain. Participants should be comfortable hiking with a backpack for several miles at higher elevation and prepared for uneven mountain trail conditions.
Art instruction supports a range of experience levels, from those newer to outdoor drawing to seasoned field sketchers looking to refine their practice in a scenic alpine setting.
What’s Included
This trip includes professional Colorado Mountain Expeditions guides, field sketching instruction from artist Katy Betz, Rocky Mountain National Park permits, and all meals. Meals are thoughtfully planned and include a mix of fresh foods and nutritious backpacking meals. Group cooking equipment and stoves are provided. Select backpacking gear is available for participants who need it.
What’s Not Included
Personal clothing and footwear, personal art supplies, and transportation to and from the meeting location are not included. A recommended gear list and art supply list are available below
Why This Trip
This trip is for artists who want to slow down, carry what they need on their backs, and spend meaningful time learning from a landscape rather than passing through it. By combining guided backpacking with focused field sketching instruction, Backcountry Art in Rocky Mountain National Park offers a rare opportunity to build skills, confidence, and creative momentum in a truly wild setting.
Space is limited to maintain a high level of instruction and support. If you are looking for a deeper backcountry experience and the chance to develop your art practice in one of Colorado’s most beautiful wilderness areas, we invite you to join us.
Day 1
The trip begins with a shared start at the Wooly Mammoth Park & Ride at 8:00am, where participants leave personal vehicles behind and shuttle together to the Wild Basin trailhead in a Colorado Mountain Expeditions van. From the outset, the tone is collaborative and intentional—an opportunity to step away from daily routines and begin the transition into Rocky Mountain National Park’s backcountry.
At the trailhead, CME guides take time to ensure everyone feels prepared and confident. Packs are adjusted, gear is reviewed, and guides offer instruction on pacing, efficient movement, and what to expect on the trail. This orientation sets the foundation for a supportive and enjoyable backpacking experience, especially for those newer to overnight backcountry travel.
The hike to Sandbeach Lake is approximately 4.4 miles and unfolds through the quiet beauty of the Wild Basin. The group moves at a relaxed pace of about one mile per hour, with frequent breaks to rest, hydrate, enjoy lunch, and take in the scenery. Along the way, participants pass through shaded forests, cross mountain streams, and experience the gradual transition into higher-elevation terrain that defines this corner of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rather than rushing to camp, the journey itself becomes part of the experience—time to settle into the rhythm of walking, notice the landscape, and begin observing with an artist’s eye. Upon arrival at Sandbeach Lake, CME guides assist with campsite setup and share best practices for low-impact camping. As evening settles in, the group has time to unwind, connect, and enjoy the rare feeling of having truly arrived in the backcountry, knowing the days ahead are dedicated to creativity, learning, and immersion.
Day 2
The second day is devoted entirely to field sketching and creative immersion in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park. With no hiking required, participants spend the day near Sandbeach Lake working from direct observation in a setting defined by subalpine forests, granite peaks, alpine light, and the quiet rhythms of a high-country basin.
Katy Betz will provide ongoing instruction throughout the day, offering demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual feedback. Instruction focuses on deepening observational skills, simplifying complex natural forms, composing landscapes in the field, and learning how to respond creatively to changing light, weather, and atmosphere. With an entire day in one location, participants have the rare opportunity to return to subjects multiple times, allowing sketches to evolve as conditions shift.
CME guides handle camp logistics and meals, freeing participants to fully engage with their creative practice. The pace of the day is intentionally unstructured, encouraging a natural rhythm of sketching, resting, observing, and revisiting work as inspiration unfolds.
Day 3
The final morning begins with a relaxed breakfast at camp as the group enjoys one last quiet moment beside Sandbeach Lake. CME guides will assist with packing and camp breakdown, reviewing efficient packing techniques and ensuring everyone is comfortable for the hike out.
The hike out follows the same scenic route through the Wild Basin, offering a fresh perspective on the landscape encountered on the way in. With lighter packs and a familiar trail, the mood is often reflective and celebratory, with time to notice details that may have gone unseen earlier in the trip. Guides set a steady, comfortable pace and allow time for conversation, photos, and final moments of appreciation for being immersed in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The group will return to the trailhead and shuttle back to the Wooly Mammoth Park & Ride in the CME van, with an expected arrival around 3:00pm. Many participants leave with not only a stronger connection to their art practice, but also increased confidence in their backpacking skills and a sense of accomplishment from having spent meaningful time in the backcountry.
Weather & Conditions
Sandbeach Lake sits at high elevation in Rocky Mountain National Park, and weather can be variable even in mid‑summer. Days are often sunny with comfortable temperatures, but afternoon thunderstorms are common and conditions can change quickly. Mornings and evenings tend to be cool, and overnight temperatures may dip into the 30s or 40s. Participants should be prepared for sun, wind, rain, and rapidly shifting mountain weather.
Lodging
For those coming from out of state, you are encouraged to arrive at least one day before the trip begins.
Origin Hotel- Red Rocks is right across the street from the Park N Ride.
Arrival Transportation Options
Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the Denver area. Colorado Mountain Expeditions will provide a group shuttle to and from the trailhead as part of the trip. Uber or Lyft rides are easy to get from the Wooly Mammoth Park N Ride from anywhere in the Denver Metro including from Denver International Airport or Union Station.
On Monday, July 27, 2026, all participants will meet at the Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride in Golden, Colorado, where personal vehicles will be left for the duration of the trip. From this meeting location, the group will travel together in a Colorado Mountain Expeditions van to the Wild Basin Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Participants who prefer to travel independently to the meeting location may do so, but personal vehicles will not be driven to the trailhead due to park restrictions and limited parking.
Final meeting reminders and timing details will be confirmed in a pre-trip logistics email sent to registered participants.
Meeting Location (Day 1)
Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride
11300 U.S. Highway 40
Golden, CO 80403
This location serves as the centralized meeting point for the group. Participants will leave their vehicles here and shuttle together to the trailhead with Colorado Mountain Expeditions.
Please plan to arrive at the Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride by 8:00 AM on Monday, July 27, 2026. This allows time for check-in, gear organization, and loading before departing for Rocky Mountain National Park.
The shuttle will depart promptly after everyone is accounted for.
Parking
Participants may leave their vehicles at the Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride for the duration of the trip. This location is commonly used for multi-day trips and is considered a reliable long-term parking option.
Colorado Mountain Expeditions is not responsible for vehicles left at the park-n-ride.
There is signage at Wooly Mammoth Park N Ride stating "No Overnight Occupancy". This is because sleeping in your car overnight at this parking lot is illegal. Parking here overnight is common and perfectly legal.
Transportation During the Trip
Colorado Mountain Expeditions will provide all necessary group transportation from the initial meeting location to the trailhead and back. Once the trip begins, participants will not need access to their vehicles.
Departure (Last Day)
On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the group will hike out to the Wild Basin Trailhead and shuttle back to the Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride in the Colorado Mountain Expeditions van.
The anticipated return time to the Wooly Mammoth Park-n-Ride is approximately 3:00 PM, though this may vary slightly depending on trail conditions, weather, and group pace.
Participants should plan onward travel accordingly and avoid scheduling flights or other commitments too early in the evening.
We’re excited to welcome you to this immersive backpacking and art experience in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Colorado Mountain Expeditions (CME) was founded with a simple mission: to help people connect more deeply with Colorado’s mountain landscapes through professionally guided outdoor experiences. CME is a licensed Colorado outfitter specializing in small-group trips that emphasize thoughtful planning, learning in the field, and a strong connection to the natural world. Our team is committed to creating well-organized experiences that highlight Colorado’s alpine environments while supporting responsible and sustainable recreation.
For this trip, we are pleased to partner with artist Katy Betz. Katy’s work is grounded in careful observation of place, light, and atmosphere, and her teaching approach encourages artists to slow down, look closely, and respond creatively to the landscape around them. Her instruction supports a wide range of experience levels and emphasizes drawing and painting as tools for seeing, understanding, and engaging more deeply with the natural world.
This trip is a true backcountry experience, with the group traveling by foot into Rocky Mountain National Park and camping near Sand Beach Lake in the Wild Basin area. Once in camp, participants will have extended time to sketch, paint, and observe the surrounding alpine environment, including forests, water, and high mountain terrain. Instruction and guidance will take place outdoors, with a flexible structure that allows participants to work at their own pace while benefiting from group discussion and individual feedback.
By combining guided backpacking with focused creative time in a remote setting, this trip is designed to offer a meaningful balance of physical movement, artistic practice, and immersion in one of Colorado’s most iconic landscapes. We look forward to welcoming you to a thoughtfully guided and creatively rewarding experience in Rocky Mountain National Park.
