Square State Colorado

Do Black People Hike in Colorado

One of the outdoors tropes that really gets on my nerves is that Black people don’t hike, are afraid of the outdoors or are completely ill-equipped to manage being out in nature. We’ve seen this on Survivor, The World’s Toughest Race Eco-Challenge Fiji-a show that I was obsessed with during lockdowns and even The Amazing Race.

Here’s the thing, Black people do hike. You might not believe it, because you haven’t seen it but it’s true. We’re out here. And I thought I would share what it was like to begin hiking as a kid and what it has been to hike as an adult while addressing concerns that people should have about recreating in the outdoors. And, to be very clear, this is regular hiking not the bougie, glamping experience that a lot of influencers share.

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Is Hiking Safe in Colorado?

In general, hiking is a safe activity to participate in Colorado. There are tons of hikers actively enjoying the woods on a daily basis and it would be very difficult to find trails close to Denver and busy mountain towns that don’t have a lot of foot traffic on them. There’s of course the inherent risk of injury that can happen when participating in any activity in the outdoors such as falling, breaking a bone or just the random stuff that can happen.

But, I’ve been hiking ever since I was 13 years old and have had a consistently positive experience in the outdoors. But, what I often find missing in content around hiking and the outdoors here in Colorado is a very important piece of information-is hiking safe for Black and Brown people. Basically, if you’re showing up in an outdoor space where it’s unexpected to see Black and Brown hikers…what will happen.

Is Hiking Safe in Colorado for Black Hikers

In general, I want to say “yes” that Black and Brown hikers are able to experience the outdoors and enjoy hiking. But, I do want to share that I DO take some extra precautions because it can take just one time for shit to hit the fan. Many of these preparations are in alignment with regular safe hiking practices regardless of race. I also want to share that I’m also mindful of my safety as a woman exploring the outdoors.

• I hike trails that are fairly well-traversed.

• If I’m hiking in an area that is unknown to me, it’s very likely that I’m hiking with friends or in a group.

• I always share when I start my hike and when I anticipate finishing a hike. This is helpful in the event that I’m injured.

• Yes, I carry protection on me. Wild life or people can create problems. I haven’t had an issue but it takes just one time…so, I stay prepared.

• Then there’s the 10 Hiking Essentials that every hiker should carry on their person.

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That One Scary Hiking Experience

I also want to share a scary experience that I had hiking with a group. I was significantly slower than the group so I ended up becoming separated from them. This happens. But, it was in an area that was new to me. Also, the forest in that part of the state felt like it was part of the set of a scary movie.

I should mention that typically with groups they will slow down and make sure to meet up with the slowest hiker. In this case, they did slow down and left signs…that I missed. It was a pretty long trail. Think a 12 mile loop. Every once in awhile someone would pass me until there was awhile when they didn’t.

Then there were two older teenagers with arrows that were on the trail. No, they didn’t shoot the arrows at me. But, I vowed then and there that I would never hike during hunting season on my own or without checking when hunting season is in the different parts of the state. What if they were psychopaths and decided to shoot arrows at me? I always trust my intuition and unfortunately, those boys did make me think twice about being in a forest by myself with them just roaming around.

Now when I hike with groups, before we begin our hike we agree on safety protocols in the event that someone(s) get separated from the larger group.

Emergency Transmitter

If you’re planning on doing a lot of hiking on your own, then I highly recommend having an emergency transmitter on your person (in addition to the 10 essentials) I’ve included an example below of what I’m talking about.

Join Hiking Communities

Fortunately, there are a number of hiking communities that Black hikers can join so that they can be a part of the greater hiking community, learn about the different trails that people are enjoying and who to connect with and most importantly who to avoid as well while on the trail.

• Outdoor Afro-Continues to be one of my all-time favorite outdoors communities. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

• Black Girls Hike (Vibe Tribe Adventures)

• Trails and Ales-Not a POC specific community, but a great group of hiking enthusiasts who are always heading for the trails (MeetUp.com)

• Women’s Wilderness’ Trailblazers Program

Colorado Outdoors Influencers of Color

I thought it would be nice to learn about some of the amazing people who are sharing their adventures outdoors, focusing on expanding the narrative of who is actually enjoying the great outdoors.

• Taishya Adams-The former head of Outdoor Afro Denver, she is involved in a number of amazing initiatives and someone to keep an eye out for.

• Patricia Cameron-Is the founder of Blackpackers and also was the first African-American woman to hike the Colorado Trail solo. She’s a badass. Listen to the following Square State Colorado podcast episode where I interview her and she shares why she does what she does.

• Nelson Holland-You can find Nelson sharing his hiking adventures via TikTok @fatblackandgettinit as he explores the state on foot throughout the year. I love that we’re getting the male perspective on what it’s like to experience Colorado’s outdoor spaces.

• Charnelle Parker McMullen Bushman-If you haven’t followed @kweenwork on TikTok and Instagram-do now. She wears a bold red lip, bold colors and has an incredible vibe as she explores the outdoors and reflects on the intersection of access, equity and policy here in Colorado and beyond.

Outdoor Afro and Other Organizations

By the way, Outdoor Afro has chapters across the United States and overseas. If you’re looking for similar groups in your hometown or state, definitely Google them, check Meetup.com and reach out to Girl Trek, Black Girls Hike and more. If you have ally friends from other communities they also likely have similar groups such as Latino Outdoors.

Transportation Accessibility

One huge issue that I do have with hiking in Colorado is that if you would like to experience some of the more scenic trails in the mountains-it may be difficult to reach those trails without transportation. There was a long period when I didn’t have access to a car and Bustang was around at that time. Fortunately, things are slowly but surely getting better. Here are a few modes of transportation you can use to get you to your favorite new trail.

• Car pool-People will often car pool together to a favorite trail. Always give your driver gas money and treats-they love it.

• Colorado Car Share–Full disclosure-I’m currently on the Board of Colorado Car Share and I love this organization! It’s a non-profit with the goal of creating accessible car usage so that people don’t have to rely on owning a car. I haven’t owned a car for years and I absolutely love this program. If you’re in Denver or Boulder-check it out.

• Bustang or Pegasus-I am a HUGE fan of this service and I regularly take Bustang or Pegasus to the mountains. Typically I hop off at Frisco and continue on to Breckenridge. If you use this option make sure to think about your schedule so that you don’t miss the bus home. The Frisco Transit Station was recently remodeled and has a indoor/outdoor fireplace. It’s a great place to wait for a bus.

• Schedule a Tour-If you’re visiting from out of state and are UNFAMILIAR with the outdoors-this is the option for you. Do not go randomly hiking in the mountains without and experienced guide. I’ve included a link to the tour company that I recommend.

• Rent a Car Using Discover Cars-If you would like to drive (for whatever reason) Discover Cars allows you to compare prices before saying “yes” to your rental.

Hiking in Colorado is Fun

Overall, I’ve had incredibly positive experiences hiking in Colorado. Including participating in Outward Bound as a teenager. My mom was always applying for scholarships for me and I won one for Outward Bound I backpacked for several weeks in the Rocky Mountains with 5 other teens and 2 counselors. To this day, it’s one of the coolest experiences that I’ve had in the outdoors.

But, my favorite thing to do is to hike with Outdoor Afro every single time I get an opportunity to go hiking with this group. They’re so much fun and just so patient. However, I do think it’s important to talk about what could go wrong as well. Be prepared, stay vigilant and be safe.

This Feels Like A Lot

Yes, it does. But, I can truly say that after the first couple of times preparing for a hike, going on a hike and returning home SAFELY will become second-nature to you.

Coloradans will often joke about how tourists will FAFO when they go hiking because we can see how ill-prepared they are for the activity. I don’t want that to be you.

FAQs

• What should I bring-You should review the hiking 10 Essentials Guide by REI that I’ve linked to. I’ve also linked to some products below.
  • Water filter-I really like this one because you just fill it up and the press down with the top part of the filter. SUPER easy.

• Backpack-Coloradans love their gear and having a comfortable nice sized backpack to carry your essentials and other items is a key part of hiking.

• Food and Water-I am not a light packer. Food and water is where I tend to overpack when I go on a hike. I’m always hungrier than I expected by the end of a hike and there’s always someone who didn’t bring enough to eat. ALWAYS. What do I bring? Here are some examples
  • I bring plenty to drink and a water purifier-I get REALLY thirsty on a long hike and I don’t want to watch the amount that I have to drink during a hike or drink up someone else’s supply
  • Proteins-Nuts, peanut butter, trail mix, dried meats
  • Dried mushrooms and fruit
  • A salad-I love veggies, what can I say!
  • Something salty-usually chips
  • A hearty entree item:
    • Sandwich
    • Rice/beans and veggies bowl

• High Altitude Activity-Consult with your doctor about how to recognize and manage altitude sickness in the event that you think you may experience it. I’m from Colorado and the last time I hiked I had one day where I got hit with altitude sickness. It can happen to anyone. Even long-term residents.

• Shoes-I wear hiking shoes but I did grow up hiking in tennis shoes. Hiking shoes or boots are better for your feet and overall support. If you don’t want to tear up nice tennis shoes-don’t wear them hiking.

• Clothing-I bring layers because the temperatures can change pretty quickly if it’s windy, a front moves through while hiking or depending on how high up we are. If you’re hiking in Colorado you’re basically doing high altitude hiking.

• Shelter-I included a link to an inexpensive tent, but I will admit that typically I haven’t carried a backpack with me if I KNOW that I can build shelter (of a sort)

• Don’t Rely on Your Phone-This is a huge mistake that I notice a lot of people making. There are a couple of reasons why you need to think about this.
  • You might not have cell phone service where you’re hiking
  • Your phone may die and you’re likely not going to be hiking with an external battery.
  • Yes, you can use All Trails -Just remember that your phone can die during your trek.

• Bring Money-I almost always end up going out to eat after a long hike.

• Have a charger for your phone in your car-Once you’re done with your hike, you’ll likely need to recharge your phone on the drive back home.

• Don’t overpack your backpack-If your bag is too heavy at your house, it’s too heavy for the trail. Period.

• Will You See Wild Animals? It’s absolutely possible. I’ve seen moose, deer, elk and smaller animals. However, there are snakes, bears and mountain lions in Colorado. You should read up on what to do to AVOID seeing those animals and what to do if you DO see those animals.

• Share the following information with someone who IS NOT hiking with you:
  • What trail you’re on
  • When you’re starting your trek
  • When you’re expected to finish your trek
  • WHO you’re going with
  • When you ACTUALLY finish
  • When you’re returning home after eating out (I almost always end up hanging out with the people that I’ve hiked with)