The Ultimate Gear List for Backpacking Colorado’s Crater Lake & Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak

When making a gear list for backpacking to Crater Lake and Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak, including everything you need while minimizing pack weight is an art! Hiking with extra weight on your back, especially at Colorado’s high altitude, is not ideal. After many backpacking trip experiences, we’ve learned what can be left at home and what is essential.

This packing list for Lone Eagle Peak is a checklist of gear we suggest bringing along for your backpacking trip. The list doesn’t include exactly everything we brought along with us, but that’s because we learned what was important and what wasn’t from our experience on the trail.

If we did it all over again, this would be our ideal gear list for backpacking to Colorado’s Crater Lake and Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak.  

Packing List for Backpacking Colorado’s Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak

Backpacking Gear

• Backpack with Rain Cover: Jordan and I both have been using Osprey packs for years and love them. I have the Women’s Osprey Aura AG 65 (Amazon | REI), he has the Men’s Osprey Aether AG 70 (Amazon | REI). After trying on many different backpacks from different brands, we found that these packs were the most comfortable with a full load. The Osprey Aether AG 70 backpack also happens to be a multi-year winner of the Outside Magazine’s Gear of the Year Award!
• Backpacking Tent: A lightweight, 3-season tent is ideal for backpacking. We brought our REI Co-Op Quarter Dome SL 2 Tent with us for our Lone Eagle Peak hike. The Quarter Dome tent is now discontinued, but a similar available option is the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Tent (Amazon | REI). Like our Quarter Dome, the Copper Spur is lightweight, has two vestibules, feels very spacious, and is long enough for a tall person like Jordan to lay down flat in (he’s 6’2”). If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the REI Co-Op Half Dome SL 2+ Tent is a great value.
• Sleeping Bag: A good backpacking sleeping bag is lightweight, warm, and compressible. Our sleeping bags have been discontinued, but we recommend something like the Big Agnes Sidewinder Sleeping Bag, which is available in both men’s (Amazon | REI) and women’s (Amazon | REI) versions and in different lengths! Having length options is ideal for finding a sleeping bag that is long enough without being excessively long (and therefore not excessively heavy). The Sidewinder sleeping bag is insulated with Responsible Down Standard and its unique design provides some wiggle room and comfort for side sleepers.
• Sleeping Pad: Sleeping pads can make or break a backpacking trip, making the difference between a few cold, uncomfortable sleepless hours, or a well-deserved full night’s rest. Our sleeping pad models are discontinued, but for a sleeping pad with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, we recommend the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (Amazon | REI).

Hiking Clothing 

• Rain Jacket: Pack a rain jacket in case of rain (or snow!) during your hike. A rain jacket can also be used for extra warmth over top of an insulated jacket on chilly nights and mornings. Jordan wore his REI Co-op XeroDry GTX Jacket (Women’s | Men’s). My rain jacket has been discontinued, but when I need to replace it, I have my eye on the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket (Women’s | Men’s). When shopping for a rain jacket, look for waterproofing, packability, weight, and pit zippers!
• Insulated Jacket: The Arc’teryx Atom Hoody Jacket is our go-to insulated midlayer jacket for backpacking. The Atom jacket is available in both men’s (Amazon | REI) and women’s (Amazon | REI) versions. It has an good balance of warmth, shoulder mobility, and breathability. The insulation is synthetic so it will still have warmth capability even if it accidentally gets wet. For more information on insulated midlayer jackets and some other style and brand options, check out our jacket comparison guide.
• Long Sleeve Quick-Dry Shirt: The sun is intense in the mountains, and it can be a pain to reapply sunscreen while backpacking. We were VERY glad to be wearing lightweight, quick-dry long sleeve shirts so we only had to focus on putting sunscreen on our face and hands. (I’ve missed putting sunscreen on my fingers during backpacking trips in the past and they got roasted – the alpine sun is no joke!) The shirt that I wore on the Four Pass Loop has been discontinued, but the Brooks Dash Half-Zip Long Sleeve Top (Women’s | Men’s) is a similar option with thumbholes and a collar. Jordan wore his Prana Sol Defender Hoodie (Amazon | REI).
• Moisture-wicking Undergarments
• Hiking Pants/Leggings: For hiking leggings, I highly recommend CRZ YOGA Leggings. They are very stretchy, breathable, and fairly inexpensive. I have 4 pairs that I wear all the time and they’ve lasted me for years! If you prefer hiking pants, go with the Women’s Prana Halle Hiking Pants (Amazon | REI). Prana’s hiking pants are incredible and are available for men and women. Jordan lives by his Prana hiking pants. He goes for the Men’s Prana Zion Hiking Pants (Amazon | REI) when he wants a roomier fit with more pockets and the Men’s Prana Brion Hiking Pants (Amazon | REI) when he’s going for a more fitted, lighter feel. In general, we recommend pants/full length leggings over shorts for coverage from the sun.  
• Hiking Boots: For day hikes, we prefer trail running shoes over hiking boots, but for a backpacking trip, it’s nice to have the sturdiness and ankle support of a hiking boot. Waterproof boots are best in order to be prepared for variable weather conditions and water crossings.  I love my Salomon X Ultra Hiking Boots (Women’s | Men’s), and Jordan has been wearing the Merrell Moab Hiking Boots (Women’s | Men’s) for years.
• Hiking Socks: Good socks are important for preventing blisters. Smartwool Hike Light Socks (Women’s | Men’s) are our favorite hiking socks. 

Camp Clothing

• Sleep Shirt and Bottoms: We like to dedicate a moisture-wicking top and bottom for sleeping during our camping trips. Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Tops (Women‘s | Men’s) and Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Bottoms (Women’s | Men’s) are a generally a top pick for warmth, breathability, and resisting odors. For those like me who find wool to be itchy, the Patagonia Capilene Midweight Crew Shirt (Women’s | Men’s) and Patagonia Capilene Midweight Base Layer Bottoms (Women’s | Men’s) are good non-wool options.
• Camp Shoes/Water Shoes: Bring along one pair of shoes in addition to your hiking boots to serve as both camp shoes and water shoes for potential water crossings along the trail. I love my Teva Hurricane Drift Sandals (Women’s | Men’s) as camp/water shoes. Crocs are a surprisingly great option too. Both of these styles are ideal dual-purpose shoes for backpacking because they are lightweight and made of non-absorbent materials. Non-absorbent shoes are important because after a water crossing, the shoes won’t be heavy with water weight and they won’t be wet when you put them on at camp.
• Sleeping Socks: Since socks can get damp and smelly while hiking, we like to reserve a pair of socks to wear just at night.
• Warm Beanie: Mornings and nights are cold at high elevations, even in the summer. Patches of snow were still on the ground during our July Lone Eagle Peak backpacking trip! A beanie is a small weight addition that provides a lot of extra warmth.

Camp Kitchen

• Meals: Bring plenty of food along for your trip. Backpacking is a workout! You’re going to need the calories. For meals, Backpacker’s Pantry Freeze Dried Meals (Amazon | REI) and Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals (Amazon | REI) are our go-to’s. The dehydrated meals are lightweight, tasty, and convenient. The packaging is designed so that you add boiling water directly to the bag, making clean-up a breeze. For this Lone Eagle Peak hike, we highly recommend bringing Backpacker’s Pantry meals in particular because the artwork on some of the packaging is inspired by Lone Eagle Peak and Mirror Lake! Taking a photo at Lone Eagle Peak while eating a Backpacker’s Pantry meal with Lone Eagle Peak artwork may be cheesy, but irresistible – it must be done!  
• Snacks: Be sure to pack plenty of snacks in easily accessible locations in your backpack so you can eat on the go. We’ve been on an RXBAR (Amazon) kick lately for backpacking snacks. RXBARs are protein bars made from natural ingredients. They are filling and actually taste good!
• Bear Canister: Bear canisters are required for camping along the Lone Eagle Peak trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. We used a Backpacker’s Cache Bear Canister, which is a rigid plastic food container that can also serve as a stool. Bear storage regulations for Indian Peaks Wilderness are available on the Forest Service website. Be sure to check their guidelines to make sure your bear storage is acceptable.  
• Cookware: We’ve used the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cooking Set (Amazon | REI) for years for all of our camp cooking. For backpacking, we only bring the pot, pot lid, and one cup from the set in order to minimize weight.  If you plan to only use freeze-dried meals and add water directly to the meal pouch, a Jetboil Flash Stove (Amazon | REI) is a more lightweight and quick option for boiling water.
• Stove: The MSR PocketRocket Ultralight Backpacking Stove (Amazon | REI) has served us well for many years.
• Fuel: A 3-season Isobutane or Isobutane/Propane blend will work for most hikes, but if you are going for a winter trip, make sure to get an all-season blend fuel (Amazon | REI).
• Lighter/Matches
• Utensils: We use the TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon (Amazon | REI) for our backpacking trips. This spoon is light-weight and long enough to scrape every last bit of nosh out of the bottom of a Backpacker’s Pantry meal bag.

Health and Safety Items

• Printed Out Map: You will likely not have cell service along the hike to Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak so don’t count on being able to search for information while on the trail. Be sure to print out a trail map and a map with campsite locations on it (or you can save photos of these on your phone). The campsites can be very difficult to find so having a map is helpful. The Crater Lake Designated Campsite Map can be found on the Indian Peaks Wilderness Overnight Permit Page on Recreation.gov.
• Printed Out Backpacking Permit: Permits are required for overnight stays.
• Headlamp: We’re fans of the Petzl Tikka Headlamp (Amazon | REI). We like headlamps that have the red light option for stargazing!
• Trowel and Toilet Paper: The Deuce Backcountry Trowel (Amazon | REI) is a handy lightweight shovel for doing your business in the woods. Be sure to bring a baggie for packing out your used toilet paper as well. 
• Toiletries: Glasses/contact lenses, hand sanitizer for putting contact lenses in, medications, etc.
• First Aid 
• Knife
• Hydration Bladder: Hydration bladders make it easy to drink water on the go. I find that I don’t drink as much as I should when using a bottle so I prefer hydration bladders. We really like Osprey Hydration Bladders (Amazon | REI) since they’re easy to open and close, easy to clean, and have a quick disconnect for the hose so you can remove the bladder for refilling and still keep the hose attached to your pack.
• Water Filter: We recommend the Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System (Amazon | REI). It’s inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to use.
• Sunscreen and Lip Balm with SPF: Do not forget this! The sun is intense in the mountains. Be sure to pack a small bottle of sunscreen rather than a full-size bottle so you only have to carry the amount you need. For lip balm, we’re fans of Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 since it is completely sealed and won’t melt all over your gear.
• Lightweight, Breathable Hat: A hat serves many purposes on the trail – it helps provide extra sun protection, shades the eyes from the sun, and hides greasy backpacker hair! I like to wear a running hat on the trail since they’re very lightweight, washable, and packable.
• Bug Spray: We recommend bringing bug spray along. As far as bug spray options go, DEET can be applied to your skin, but it should be kept off of your hiking gear as DEET can damage plastic and certain synthetics. Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent (Amazon | REI) is an alternative to DEET that won’t damage your gear. We typically use the Picaridin. We also recommend pretreating your gear before your trip with an insect repellent option called Sawyer Permethrin Spray (Amazon | REI). Be sure to plan ahead when using Permethrin so the items you spray have plenty of time to dry before use. We usually pretreat with Permethrin and when we do, we often don’t need to use bug spray while on the trail. For our Lone Eagle trip, we didn’t have time to pretreat AND accidentally left our bug spray in the car and I was eaten alive! Don’t make our mistakes.

Luxury Items to Consider Packing

• DSLR/Mirrorless Camera: Lone Eagle Peak and the reflections in Mirror Lake and Crater Lake are absolutely stunning, and you’ll treasure the photos of your hike for a lifetime. Cell phone cameras are compact, lightweight, and convenient for backpacking, though if you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera and you can handle carrying the extra weight, you may want to consider bringing it on your backpacking trip.
• Power Bank for Electronics: To put it bluntly, it would suck to have your phone/camera run out of juice on this beautiful trek. If you know your phone/camera will last for the entirety of the hike, then you don’t need an extra power source. Put your phone in airplane mode to help save battery; we didn’t have any cell service along the trail anyways. (For reference, our phones lasted the entirety of our one night backpacking trip without the use of a power bank.)
• Trekking Poles: Trekking poles help with stability, especially when hiking through water crossings and on rocky or snowy portions of trail. They also help reduce the impact on knees while hiking downhill. For this Lone Eagle Peak trip, Jordan and I each carried one trekking pole instead of two, which was convenient for having a hand available for taking photos or grabbing snacks. We both been using Alpine Summit Trekking Poles for years and love them. They are a great bang for your buck. Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles are also well known for being a great value, however, I found that the padding on the Cascade Mountain Tech wrist straps prevented me from tightening the straps enough to fit snuggly around my hands. Alpine Summit poles didn’t have that issue and were overall very similar to the Cascade Mountain Tech poles.  
• Bandanna or Buff (Amazon | REI)
• Pillow: For our Lone Eagle Peak backpacking trip, Jordan and I both used Nemo Fillo Elite Pillows (Amazon | REI). Sometimes I use rolled up clothes as a pillow on backpacking trips. If a pillow will help you get a better night’s sleep, the extra weight (~3 oz) of the pillow may be worth it to you. 
• Sleeping Bag Liner: Sleeping bag liners help enhance the warmth of your sleeping bag and keep your bag clean so you don’t have to wash it as often. Washing a sleeping bag can cause wear and tear so we typically use liners while camping and wash those instead. If you are a warm enough sleeper without the liner, it may not be worth the extra weight. To our pack weight, Jordan and I did not bring our liners on this backpacking trip to Lone Eagle Peak.
• Sunglasses: If you know you’ll wear sunglasses, bring them. Jordan and I only wore hats for this trip.
• Gloves: Nights and mornings are cold at altitude. If you’re using trekking poles, your hands will be exposed so gloves may be worth the weight. North Face Etip gloves (Women’s | Men’s) are great for being able to keep your gloves on while taking pics on a cell phone camera.  We didn’t bring gloves for Lone Eagle Peak and were fine without them.
• Wipes: If you’d like to freshen up during your hike, bring along Sea to Summit Wilderness wipes (Amazon | REI). Remember to bring a baggie to pack out your used wipes. Jordan and I went wipeless on our one nighter trip. Stink and all, we still love each other.
• America the Beautiful Annual National Parks Pass: An America the Beautiful Annual Pass provides entrance to all U.S. National Parks as well as additional recreation areas for a year. If you have a pass, many trailhead parking areas will honor it. The Monarch Lake Trailhead and Long Lake Trailhead parking area areas will honor it. Keep in mind that the Long Lake Trailhead parking area requires a reservation through recreation.gov. (For clarity, the pass isn’t an item you would actually carry with you on the trail. Instead, display it in your car as a substitute for paying trailhead parking fees where applicable.)

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For more information to help you plan your backpacking trip, check out our Lone Eagle Peak planning guide. For more Colorado hiking inspiration, visit our Colorado Travel Guide.

Related Posts:

• How to Plan Your Backpacking Trip to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak in 10 Simple Steps
• The Ultimate Gear List for Backpacking Colorado’s Four Pass Loop
• 4 Day Itinerary for Backpacking the Four Pass Loop

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