Category: Colorado

How To Stay Safe and Survive During a Riot in Colorado

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Colorado, RIOTSLeave a comment

If you live in Colorado, or anywhere that has seen rising tensions and civil unrest, you need to understand one thing: hope is not a plan. When a riot breaks out—whether it’s due to political turmoil, racial tensions, or widespread panic—you must already be ten steps ahead. As someone who’s trained in survival and self-defense for over 15 years, I’m going to give you hard-earned advice that could mean the difference between getting home safe or becoming a statistic.

Let’s break it down into what matters: how to stay safe during a riot, defend yourself if needed, and even improvise weapons if you’re caught with nothing but your wits and your environment.

8 Self-Defense Skills Every Prepper Must Master During a Riot

  1. Situational Awareness

Your first and best defense isn’t a weapon—it’s your mind. Situational awareness means reading a crowd, noticing exits, spotting threats early, and trusting your gut. During a riot, never put in headphones, never stare at your phone. You should always be scanning, assessing, and planning a route out.

  1. De-escalation and Verbal Judo

You don’t want to fight in a riot unless you absolutely have to. Learn to talk people down, mirror their body language subtly, and maintain non-threatening posture. If you can talk your way out of a fight, you’ve already won. Riot situations are chaotic—don’t add fuel to the fire.

  1. Escaping Grabs and Holds

Crowds can get physical fast. Learn how to break wrist grabs, choke holds, and bear hugs. Use your hips and leverage, not brute strength. Techniques like the “C clamp” on the wrist or “shrimping” away from a bear hug can give you just enough space to escape and reposition.

  1. Blunt Force Defense

Learn to wield everyday objects as blunt weapons. A flashlight, walking stick, umbrella, or even a full water bottle can be used defensively. Your goal isn’t to fight like it’s a movie—it’s to strike, stun, and flee. Aim for the nose, throat, or kneecaps.

  1. Knife Defense and Retention

If you carry a blade for self-defense, you better know how to use it and keep it. Practice drawing and deploying your knife quickly, and more importantly, know how to stop someone from taking it. Use tight body control and guard your dominant side when moving through crowds.

  1. Improvised Shielding

Trash can lids, backpacks, and even car doors can be used to shield against thrown bottles, rocks, or blunt weapons. Carry your pack in front when things get hairy—it’s extra padding for your vitals and can act as a push-shield through crowds.

  1. Mob Movement and Escape Routes

Move with the flow of a crowd, never against it. Fighting it will wear you out fast. Your aim is to drift to the edges and duck into an alley, store, or underground passage. Practice spotting side exits and fire doors. Know Colorado’s downtown layouts if you live in places like Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs.

  1. Striking with Purpose

If escape is not an option and force is necessary, don’t throw wild punches. Aim for disabling strikes. A palm heel to the chin, elbow to the temple, or knee to the thigh can drop someone fast. Remember: defend, disable, disengage, and disappear.

3 DIY Survival Skills to Build Improvised Weapons

In a crisis, your ability to improvise may be your only advantage. Here are three quick DIY weapon-building skills every serious prepper should know:

1. PVC Pipe Baton

Grab a 1″ thick PVC pipe from a hardware store (or scavenge one from an abandoned property). Fill it with sand or small rocks for weight, cap both ends with duct tape or rubber stoppers, and you’ve got a homemade baton. Tape the grip end for better handling. Blunt, durable, and totally legal to carry in most states if you call it a walking stick.

2. Sock Sap (Blackjack)

Find a sturdy sock and fill it with quarters, rocks, or small metal parts. Tie it off and you’ve got a sap—a flexible, concealable striking tool that’s effective at close range. It’s not meant to kill—it’s meant to discourage and disable.

3. Makeshift Spear or Pike

Duct tape a kitchen knife, broken bottle, or even sharpened metal object to a broomstick, curtain rod, or branch. You’ve now got a spear-like weapon that keeps attackers at a distance. This is ideal for home defense during extended unrest when your doors or windows may be compromised.

Mindset: The Prepper’s Edge

You can have all the tools, all the training, and still panic if your mindset isn’t right. Panic is the enemy. Your goal in a riot is not to play hero. Your goal is to get home alive.

Here’s the mental protocol I run through in every emergency:

  1. Assess – What’s happening? Where is the threat?
  2. Plan – What’s my nearest safe route or cover?
  3. Act – Move with intent. Don’t hesitate.
  4. Adapt – If the plan fails, switch immediately. No freezing.

Practice these scenarios in your mind often. Walk through local areas you visit frequently and note exit points, choke points, and places to hide. Knowing your environment is as critical as any tool on your belt.

Riot Survival Kit: Essentials to Carry in Colorado

Always keep a compact go-bag in your car or backpack. Here’s what should be inside if you live in a volatile area:

  • N95 mask (for smoke or pepper spray)
  • Goggles (to shield your eyes from debris or chemicals)
  • Flashlight (blunt and bright—can double as a baton)
  • Multitool
  • Water bottle
  • Compact first aid kit
  • Leather gloves (to grab hot or broken surfaces)
  • Map of your local area (GPS may go down)
  • Energy bar or compact food

Add a bandana, whistle, and cash—because ATMs and credit cards may not work when cities shut down.

Final Word: Train Now, Thank Yourself Later

Don’t wait until the sirens wail. Learn the skills. Drill them. Practice with friends or in self-defense classes. Colorado is beautiful, but even beauty can turn chaotic in the right storm. Whether you’re in Aurora, Pueblo, or Fort Collins, remember this:

No one is coming to save you. You are your own first responder.

Prepare now, move smart, and you’ll not only survive—you’ll lead.

Colorado’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Colorado, Colorado Survivalists, Colorado's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Colorado’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster — and How to Survive Them

By someone who’s lived more out of a bug-out bag than most folks live in their own homes…

I’ve driven everything from the salt flats of Bolivia to the frozen mud tracks in Siberia. But there’s something uniquely challenging about Colorado’s roads—especially when the sky turns black, the cell towers go down, and panic is in the air. Beautiful as this state is, it’s got some of the worst roads to navigate in a crisis. Whether you’re dealing with wildfire, blizzard, flood, or mass evacuation, knowing which roads to avoid—and how to drive like your life depends on it—can make all the difference.

Let’s start with Colorado’s danger zones.

Top Colorado Roads to Avoid During a Disaster

  1. I-70 Through the Rockies (especially near Vail Pass and Eisenhower Tunnel)
    When the weather shifts, this artery becomes an icy death trap. Avalanches, blinding snow, or even mass pileups can shut it down within minutes. It’s steep, curvy, and often jammed.
  2. US-550 (The Million Dollar Highway)
    This stretch from Ouray to Silverton offers breathtaking views and terrifying cliff-edge driving. Zero guardrails. One mistake in snow, rain, or panic traffic, and you’re tumbling hundreds of feet.
  3. CO-93 Between Boulder and Golden
    Wind-prone and narrow, this road gets overwhelmed during wildfires or evacuations. The winds here can blow cars sideways.
  4. I-25 Between Colorado Springs and Denver
    Flat, yes—but completely paralyzed during emergencies. One disabled car and you’re gridlocked for hours. It’s also prime territory for sudden hailstorms and tornado threats.
  5. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
    When open, it’s the highest paved road in the U.S. But during a disaster, altitude sickness, unpredictable weather, and exposure make it a gamble not worth taking.
  6. CO-14 Through Poudre Canyon
    Flash floods love this area. Roads erode quickly, and landslides are common. Once blocked, help is miles away.
  7. Highway 36 to Estes Park
    Heavily trafficked by tourists, with limited escape routes. Wildfire or road collapse here turns the whole area into a trap.
  8. Wolf Creek Pass on US-160
    Fog, black ice, and steep grades make this one of the most lethal mountain passes. Tractor-trailers tip here regularly, even on good days.
  9. US-24 Near Leadville
    High elevation means thinner air, unpredictable storms, and increased vehicle stress. Don’t count on your engine loving this one under pressure.
  10. County Roads Near Durango and Telluride
    Scenic but narrow, many are unpaved with sheer drops and no shoulders. GPS often gets it wrong, too.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Could Save Your Life

When disaster hits and you’re behind the wheel, raw experience matters. Here are 15 survival driving skills that have kept me breathing:

  1. Off-Road Recovery
    Know how to rock your vehicle out of mud or snow without digging yourself deeper. Lower tire pressure, dig out clearance, and use floor mats for traction.
  2. Engine Braking on Steep Descents
    Don’t ride your brakes. Use low gear to control speed on declines, especially with heavy loads or towing.
  3. Driving Without GPS
    Memorize the terrain. Print maps. In a disaster, cell service and navigation apps will likely fail.
  4. Navigating Smoke or Fog
    Use low beams, avoid high beams which reflect back, and crack windows to listen for vehicles or danger.
  5. River and Flood Navigation
    Never cross a flooded road you can’t see the bottom of—but if you must, unbuckle, roll windows down, and go slow in low gear to avoid water entering your exhaust.
  6. Driving in Whiteout Conditions
    Stay within tire tracks if visible. Keep eyes on road edges. Slow down. No sudden moves.
  7. Pushing a Disabled Vehicle Alone
    Learn how to use gravity, terrain, or leverage tools like a Hi-Lift jack to move your car when solo.
  8. Handling Panic Traffic
    Avoid main arteries. Know side streets and utility roads. Timing is everything—leave early or don’t leave at all.
  9. Night Driving Without Headlights
    Practice it. Keep a red-light flashlight to preserve night vision. It’s sometimes needed in stealth scenarios.
  10. Hotwiring Older Vehicles (pre-2000s)
    Not for criminal use—but when SHTF, and your car dies, knowing how to jumpstart an old truck can save lives.
  11. Manual Navigation Using Topography
    Read the land. Ridges, valleys, river systems—all help you reorient when your compass is shot or you’re lost.
  12. Fuel Scavenging Etiquette
    Always keep a siphon kit. Know which vehicles have anti-siphon valves and how to work around them.
  13. Reading Vehicle Temp and Warning Signs
    Know when to stop. An overheating engine or failing brakes in the mountains = death sentence.
  14. Driving with One Tire Flat or Busted
    Yes, it’s ugly. But you can limp 2–5 miles if you have to. Cut speed, balance load.
  15. DIY Traction Mods
    Carry sand, kitty litter, or traction boards. Also, you can chain up with rope or even zip ties in a pinch (short-term only).

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

Out of fuel in the Colorado high country? Here’s what I’ve done when my tank hit E in the worst places imaginable:

  1. Alcohol-Based Fire Starter Fuel
    If you’ve got high-proof alcohol or even some antiseptic (over 70% isopropyl), you can mix it with fuel residue in the tank and get just enough volatility to sputter down a hill or to safety. Only use in emergencies. It’s hard on the engine—but better than freezing to death.
  2. Gravity Glide from High Elevation
    Lost fuel at altitude? Put your rig in neutral or low gear and use gravity to coast downhill for miles. You’d be amazed how far a heavy vehicle will roll if you plan your escape route wisely. Don’t forget brakes still need vacuum power—use it wisely.
  3. Scavenge Gas from Lawn Equipment and ATVs
    Cabins, shacks, and garages often have old fuel cans for chainsaws or snowmobiles. It’s dirty fuel—but a coffee filter and a funnel can get you enough clean stuff to make it to town.

Final Thoughts from a Road-Worn Survivor

Driving during a disaster is not just about getting from Point A to B—it’s about keeping calm under pressure, improvising when the odds are against you, and knowing when to ditch the vehicle altogether. Trust your instincts. Carry extra of everything. And never underestimate Colorado’s terrain—she’s got a way of testing your resolve when you least expect it.

I’ve seen wildfires outrun semis, hail the size of fists break windshields, and snow traps that sealed people into their trucks for 48 hours. Respect the land, prep like your life depends on it—because out here, it does.

Colorado Homestead Lifestyle: No Bull, Just Grit and Grind

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Colorado, Colorado Homestead Lifestyle, Colorado SurvivalistsLeave a comment

I’ve been through the bitter winters, the scorching summers, and the endless droughts. I’ve wrestled coyotes, battled blizzards, and hauled water uphill like a mule. And I’m still standing. So listen good: If you want to survive — hell, thrive — on a Colorado homestead, you better learn these skills and be ready to put in the work. No whining, no excuses.

15 Must-Have Homestead Skills for Colorado

  1. Water Management and Conservation
    You don’t get rain every day on these high plains. Learn how to capture, store, and ration water. Rain barrels, cisterns, irrigation channels—master this or kiss your crops goodbye.
  2. Well Drilling and Pump Maintenance
    If you don’t have a reliable well, you’re just waiting for death by dehydration. Know your pump, your plumbing, and how to fix leaks before they turn into a catastrophe.
  3. Fence Building and Repair
    Coyotes, deer, and the occasional neighbor’s ATV will test your fences daily. Build ’em tough with strong posts and barbed wire. Fix ’em fast or you’ll be feeding the wildlife.
  4. Livestock Handling
    Whether it’s chickens, goats, cattle, or pigs, you’ve got to know how to herd, feed, and care for them. Sick or injured livestock means less food on the table.
  5. Gardening in Rocky, Arid Soil
    Colorado soil isn’t some lush earth— it’s rocky, alkaline, and dry. Amend your soil, know your native plants, and plant in raised beds or containers if necessary.
  6. Composting and Soil Building
    Build soil fertility with compost, manure, and mulch. If your dirt’s dead, your garden dies. This skill will keep your land productive through every season.
  7. Food Preservation (Canning, Drying, Freezing)
    You can’t always count on fresh produce. Learn to can, dry, or freeze your harvest. Don’t let a single tomato or ear of corn go to waste.
  8. Woodworking and Basic Carpentry
    When your barn door falls off or your coop collapses under snow, you better know how to fix it with what you have. Nailing boards together isn’t rocket science.
  9. Basic Electrical and Solar Setup
    Power outages aren’t a rare inconvenience—they’re a fact of life. Know how to run basic electrical lines and keep your solar panels humming.
  10. Animal Butchering and Processing
    If you raise animals, you better know how to butcher and process meat. No fancy abattoirs out here—just you, your knives, and a whole lot of grit.
  11. First Aid and Herbal Medicine
    Ambulances don’t race out to the middle of nowhere. Know first aid, wound care, and how to use local herbs for common ailments.
  12. Firearms and Pest Control
    Predators and pests will threaten your livestock and crops. Know how to defend your homestead legally and safely.
  13. Seasonal Planning and Crop Rotation
    Colorado’s short growing season demands planning. Know when to plant, what to rotate, and how to extend your harvest with cold frames or greenhouses.
  14. Trapping and Hunting
    Sometimes the freezer needs filling and the garden isn’t enough. Know how to trap small game and hunt legally to supplement your food stores.
  15. Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance
    If you want to move dirt, clear land, or fix machinery, learn how to operate a tractor or an ATV. When it breaks down, fix it yourself or you’re stranded.

3 DIY Homestead Hacks That’ll Save Your Skin on a Colorado Homestead

1. Solar Water Heater From Old Car Radiators
Don’t pay for fancy gear—use old car radiators painted black, hooked to your water storage. Set them in a south-facing window or roof rack to heat water with sunlight. Cheap, effective, and tough enough to handle our Colorado sun and wind.

2. Plastic Bottle Greenhouse Wall
When the cold hits hard, you need protection. Collect empty plastic bottles, cut the bottoms off, and stack them as insulated walls inside your greenhouse. It traps heat and saves your seedlings from freezing nights without costing a dime.

3. Tire Raised Beds for Rocky Soil
Forget digging into stubborn clay and rocks. Stack old tires to create raised garden beds filled with imported soil and compost. They retain heat, drain well, and keep critters out of your plants. Plus, it’s recycling done right.

Why This Life Isn’t for Everyone

Some city slickers come out here thinking it’s all fresh air and fun. Ha! Try hauling fifty pounds of feed uphill in a blizzard. Try waking up at 4 a.m. to milk a stubborn goat in sub-zero temps. Try fixing a leaky roof with frozen fingers and no hardware store for miles. This life demands you be tougher than the elements, smarter than your mistakes, and hungrier than your hunger pains.

You’ll have neighbors who vanish every winter and friends who back out when the going gets rough. But those of us who stay? We build something real. Something that lasts. We wrangle the land into submission, one fence post and one seedling at a time.

The Colorado Challenge

Colorado isn’t just one place—it’s mountains, plains, deserts, and everything in between. Homesteading here means adapting. Up in the mountains, you fight altitude, snow, and short growing seasons. Out on the plains, you battle wind, drought, and soil that doesn’t want to grow a damn thing.

And don’t get me started on the wildlife. Between bears, mountain lions, coyotes, and an endless parade of rabbits, squirrels, and rodents, you’ll either get smart or you’ll lose your garden, your chickens, or worse.

Get Ready to Work

If you want a “lifestyle” that means sipping coffee while your crops grow themselves, move to the suburbs. But if you want a life where every sunrise means grit, grind, and earning your keep—welcome to the Colorado homestead.

Learn the skills, build the muscle, and carry the scars with pride. Because this land doesn’t owe you a damn thing. It only rewards those who earn it.

Is Colorado’s Drinking Water Safe

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Colorado, Colorado SurvivalistsLeave a comment

Is Colorado’s Drinking Water Safe? An Angry Survivalist’s Guide to Filtering What the Government Won’t

Let me tell you something right now: if you’re relying solely on the government to provide you with clean, safe drinking water in Colorado—or anywhere else, for that matter—you’re one busted pipe or bureaucratic lie away from poisoning yourself and your family. If you’re asking whether Colorado’s drinking water is safe, the short answer is: it depends. The long answer? Not unless you take matters into your own damn hands.

I don’t care how many “Water Quality Reports” they publish or how many toothy officials smile on TV and tell you everything’s “within limits.” Those “limits” are set by people who wouldn’t last two days off-grid, and whose careers depend on keeping you calm, not alive.

Let’s rip off the Band-Aid.

What’s in Colorado’s Water?

Colorado’s water sources might look pristine—mountain springs, glacial runoff, and crystal-clear rivers—but don’t let appearances fool you. The second that meltwater hits human infrastructure, it’s game over. Between agricultural runoff, industrial waste, mining remnants, lead pipes in old buildings, and “acceptable” levels of uranium in certain counties, you’re gambling every time you turn on the tap.

And then there’s the chlorine. Yeah, it’s there to kill pathogens, but drink too much of it and you’re killing your gut flora instead. Want a nice side of PFAS “forever chemicals” with your morning coffee? They’re in there too—especially around military bases and airports, thanks to firefighting foam. And let’s not forget aging water infrastructure that would crumble if you sneezed hard enough.

So, no. Colorado’s water isn’t safe—not in any long-term, trust-your-life-on-it kind of way. You want safety? You make it yourself.

15 Water Filtration Survival Skills Every Prepared Person Needs

When the grid fails, the water stops. When the pipes burst, contamination flows. When the politicians lie, your filter is your last line of defense. Master these 15 skills or be ready to drink poison with the rest of the clueless herd.

1. Boiling Water—The First Line

It’s basic, but effective. Boil your water for at least one full minute (three if you’re above 6,500 feet—hello, Colorado). This kills bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Doesn’t fix chemicals or heavy metals, though. That’s just round one.

2. Gravity-Fed Filtration Systems

Get yourself a quality gravity-fed filter system like a Berkey or build your own using activated charcoal, sand, and gravel. It’s low-tech, long-term, and effective against pathogens and particulates.

3. Solar Still Construction

Dig a pit, put a container in the middle, cover with plastic sheeting, and use the sun to condense clean water. Works in arid areas, and Colorado’s got plenty of sun.

4. DIY Charcoal Filter

Burn hardwood, crush the charcoal, and layer it between cloth, sand, and gravel. Great for removing toxins and improving taste.

5. Identifying Safe Natural Sources

Know your terrain. Fast-moving water from a spring is probably safer than a stagnant pond. But don’t trust any source 100%. Always purify.

6. Solar Disinfection (SODIS)

Fill a clear PET plastic bottle with water and leave it in direct sunlight for 6+ hours. UV rays kill pathogens. Not perfect, but it’s something.

7. Chemical Purification

Stock iodine tablets, chlorine dioxide drops, or household bleach (unscented, 4–6% sodium hypochlorite). Know your ratios. Don’t eyeball it unless you like vomiting.

8. Building a Bio-Sand Filter

Layer sand, gravel, and activated charcoal in a barrel. Add a slow-drip system. Excellent for long-term setups and removing pathogens.

9. Improvised Cloth Filters

Use clean t-shirts or bandanas to pre-filter dirty water. Won’t purify, but removes debris and extends your primary filter’s life.

10. Rainwater Harvesting

Set up rain catchment systems with food-grade barrels. Add mesh screens to keep debris and insects out. This is illegal in some places—because the state thinks it owns your water—so be discreet.

11. Distillation (Fire + Coil Method)

Boil water and run steam through copper tubing into a clean container. Strips out virtually everything, including heavy metals. Requires heat and setup, but gold standard.

12. Assessing Water by Sight & Smell

Learn to identify water that looks and smells wrong. Oil slicks, unnatural colors, dead animals nearby? Hard pass.

13. Using a LifeStraw or Sawyer Filter

These compact filters are a must for any bug-out bag. They won’t remove chemicals, but they’re lifesavers for biological threats.

14. Filter Maintenance and Backflushing

A filter is only as good as its condition. Clean, dry, backflush, and rotate. If you let mold or gunk build up, it’s worse than useless.

15. Caching Emergency Water Supplies

Bury water storage in food-grade containers. Freeze-dried meals won’t matter if you’ve got nothing to rehydrate them with.

3 DIY Survival Drinking Water Hacks

Need water now and don’t have a high-end setup? Get resourceful.

Hack 1: Bleach Bottle Purification

Add 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) of unscented household bleach to one gallon of clear water. Shake well, wait 30 minutes. If it smells slightly of chlorine, it’s good. If not, repeat. Do not overdo it—this isn’t the time to guess.

Hack 2: Plastic Bottle UV Disinfection

Use a clear plastic bottle and fill it with suspect water. Lay it on a reflective surface (like foil or a metal roof) in direct sunlight for 6+ hours. Works best when water is clear. UV does the killing; heat helps.

Hack 3: Tree Transpiration Bag

Tie a clear plastic bag over a leafy branch. The tree transpires clean water vapor, which condenses inside the bag. Drinkable. Slow, but genius. Works in dry, sunny Colorado forests.

Why You Should Never Trust “Safe” Labels Again

Here’s the brutal truth: “safe” is a political word, not a scientific one. Flint, Michigan was “safe.” Camp Lejeune was “safe.” The Animas River spill in Colorado dumped 3 million gallons of toxic sludge into the water system in 2015. That was “monitored.” Spoiler: monitoring doesn’t mean fixing.

Ask any old-timer living near the mining zones of Silverton or Durango if they drink straight from the tap. They’ll laugh in your face—then show you the brown stains in their sinks.

And don’t think bottled water saves you either. Microplastics, chemical leaching from hot transport conditions, and price gouging in emergencies make that a short-term solution, not a strategy.

Bottom Line

If you want to live—really live—through a natural disaster, power grid failure, terrorist attack, EMP, or just a careless city engineer, you need to control your own water.

Colorado is beautiful, rugged, and full of wild, untamed nature. But its infrastructure isn’t built to last, and its water sources are increasingly compromised. You’re either prepared—or you’re prey.

So stop asking if Colorado’s water is safe. Ask if your water plan is.

Because when the taps run dry and the rivers run foul, it’s not going to be the government knocking on your door with a solution.

It’ll be your neighbors.

And they’ll be thirsty.

Hiking in Colorado? These Trails Are Beautiful, But Brutal—Proceed with Caution

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Colorado, Colorado Campgrounds, Colorado natural disasters, Colorado Survivalists, Most Popular Hiking Trails in ColoradoLeave a comment

Hiking in Colorado? These Trails Are Beautiful, But Brutal—Proceed with Caution
By A Survival Prepper Who Packs Smart and Hikes Hard

I love Colorado. I love the smell of pine in the morning, the sound of my boots crunching on alpine gravel, and the way the wind cuts like a blade above treeline. There’s nowhere on Earth quite like it. The Rockies are sacred ground—but they’re also merciless.

I’m a survival prepper, not a doomsayer. I don’t fear the wild—I respect it. And if you’re hiking in Colorado thinking it’s just another Instagram opportunity or a “wellness walk,” you’re flirting with tragedy. The elevation is real. The storms are real. And the consequences? Very real.

Whether you’re chasing 14ers or deep-woods solitude, these 20 trails in Colorado will test your endurance, awareness, and survival mindset. Beautiful? Absolutely. But they’ll chew you up and spit you out if you let your guard down.

Top 20 Most Brutal—and Beautiful—Hikes in Colorado

1. Longs Peak via Keyhole Route – Rocky Mountain National Park

A classic Colorado 14er. Don’t let the popularity fool you—this trail kills people. Exposure, rockfall, ice, and exhaustion take out the overconfident. If you’re not off the summit by noon, you’re playing with lightning.

2. Capitol Peak

The infamous Knife Edge is no joke. One misstep and you’re gone. This is elite-level hiking, bordering on mountaineering. Leave your fear at the trailhead—or don’t bother going.

3. Maroon Bells – South Maroon Peak

They’re not called the “Deadly Bells” for nothing. Rotten rock, unpredictable weather, and poor route-finding lead to frequent fatalities. These are for seasoned peak-baggers only.

4. Mount Elbert

Highest peak in Colorado—sounds like a bucket list item, right? Sure, but the altitude will wreck you if you’re not acclimated. AMS (acute mountain sickness) has turned many back—or worse.

5. Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge

Stunning lakes, waterfalls, and alpine beauty. But it includes steep scrambles and iced-over rock most of the year. People fall here every season.

6. The Decalibron (Mount Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, Bross)

Four peaks in one hike—but you’re high, exposed, and often underestimated. Bross is technically closed, but people still hike it. Winds can knock you clean off your feet.

7. Bear Peak via Fern Canyon – Boulder

Short doesn’t mean safe. This is a brutal vertical grind with loose footing. Combine that with blazing summer sun, and you’re sweating bullets in no time.

8. Mount Bierstadt & Sawtooth Ridge

Bierstadt is beginner-friendly—until you add the Sawtooth Ridge. Then it becomes a risky class 3 scramble with bad weather, worse footing, and real falls.

9. Conundrum Hot Springs – Aspen

A stunning soak at 11,200 feet sounds great until you realize the 17-mile round trip and altitude gain wreck unprepared hikers. And search & rescue doesn’t come cheap.

10. Mount Sneffels – Ouray

It’s as photogenic as it is dangerous. Loose scree fields, sudden shifts in weather, and high elevation make this hike a trap for those who think it’s “just another 14er.”

11. Chicago Basin (Eolus, Sunlight, Windom Peaks)

You want remote? Try a long train ride, a brutal hike in, and then technical summits. Lightning strikes here are frequent and deadly. Rescue access? Minimal.

12. Hanging Lake Trail – Glenwood Canyon

Short and steep, with plenty of tourists pushing their limits. It’s closed often due to fire or rockfall risk—and people ignore closure signs and get hurt.

13. Holy Cross Ridge – Mount of the Holy Cross

This hike is longer and harder than it looks. The descent into the basin before climbing up again is soul-crushing—and summit fever makes people push past safety limits.

14. Mount Wilson & El Diente Traverse

Highly technical, exposed, and remote. Not a casual hike by any stretch. The ridge traverse is infamous for mistakes that end in fatalities.

15. Blanca Peak via Lake Como Road

Even reaching the trailhead is a 4×4 test. The hike itself is steep, remote, and high. Lightning, dehydration, and fatigue are your constant enemies.

16. La Plata Peak

Don’t be fooled by its “easier” 14er reputation. The switchbacks are brutal, and weather rolls in fast. People get caught every year without proper layers.

17. The Incline – Manitou Springs

It’s only a mile… straight up. Over 2,700 stairs gain nearly 2,000 feet. Heatstroke, cardiac events, and falls are frequent. Treat it with the respect of a high-altitude challenge.

18. Black Canyon of the Gunnison – Inner Canyon Routes

This isn’t hiking—it’s route finding in a vertical labyrinth of loose rock and sheer drops. Permits are required for a reason. Many don’t make it back up.

19. Ice Lakes Basin – Silverton

Gorgeous, but you’re at elevation the whole time. Storms explode out of nowhere. There’s a reason they shut this area down after wildfires—trail conditions can change fast.

20. Lost Creek Wilderness Loop

Don’t let the name fool you—it lives up to it. Remote, confusing junctions, and long miles without water. Navigation here will test your prep skills to the max.

Prepper Rules for Colorado Hiking

Colorado hikes are not “choose your own adventure.” They are missions. Plan like your life depends on it—because it absolutely does.

The Colorado Prepper’s Checklist:

  • Map + Compass (GPS dies, signal vanishes)
  • Trekking Poles (especially for loose scree descents)
  • Layered Clothing (Temps drop 30° in minutes)
  • Rain Shell + Gloves + Beanie (Even in July)
  • 3L of Water + Filter (Dehydration hits hard above 10,000 ft)
  • Electrolytes (Altitude + sweat = cramps)
  • High-Calorie Food (Plan for 500+ kcal/hour)
  • Headlamp + Batteries (Darkness hits fast in valleys)
  • Emergency Shelter or Bivy (A dayhike can turn into a night real quick)
  • First Aid Kit + Trauma Supplies
  • Whistle + Signal Mirror (Because yelling doesn’t carry far at 13,000 feet)

Mindset Matters Most

Gear’s important. Fitness helps. But mindset is king.

Here in Colorado, people die every year chasing summits they weren’t ready for. They underestimate the trail. They leave late. They ignore the thunder. Or they go solo without telling anyone. And the mountains? They don’t care.

I’ve helped carry people down who didn’t prepare. I’ve watched SAR helicopters fly in after someone’s last bad decision. I don’t want you to be next.

These trails are epic. But they are earned, not taken. Train hard, hike smart, and don’t let the beauty make you forget the brutal reality.

If you want a printable field version of this or an offline survival PDF, let me know. Stay sharp out there. Colorado rewards the bold—but only if they’re prepared.