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I have a buddy coming to town at the end of May and looking to do a backpacking trip over the course of 3 or 4 days - I've been planning for Chicago Basin and hitting Eoulus, Windom, Sunlight + others.

I know there will be a decent amount of snow in that area still at the end of May and planning for any other unforeseen circumstances - What are some of your favorite multi day/multi mountain trips with camp sites off the beaten path?

I wouldn't say that the Blanca group is exactly off the beaten path, but once we got up that horrible Lake Como "road" it is beautiful at Lake Como. And last year there were very few people up there, even in July.
Hoping the same thing applies this year at South Colony Lakes & Willow Lakes.
Camping near tree line on the trail to Wetterhorn was also very nice. Lets of people camped at the 4WD trailhead. Very few/none a couple of miles up the trail.

Sean Nunn

nunns wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:03 am Camping near tree line on the trail to Wetterhorn was also very nice. Lets of people camped at the 4WD trailhead. Very few/none a couple of miles up the trail.

It's highly unlikely that the road will be open in May though. Of course you could walk from the closure.

Big Dominguez-Little Dominguez would make a nice loop. There are lots of petroglyphs and waterfalls and late May is the best time to go.

Scott P wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:09 am

nunns wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:03 am Camping near tree line on the trail to Wetterhorn was also very nice. Lets of people camped at the 4WD trailhead. Very few/none a couple of miles up the trail.

It's highly unlikely that the road will be open in May though. Of course you could walk from the closure.

Probably right. I was thinking the OP was just asking a general question for future reference.

Sean Nunn

There may well be a fair bit of snow still in Chicago Basin (and everywhere above 12k) end of May. Not saying don't do it, just be prepared. Loops 4-5 days:

Aspen Snowmass: head down snowmass Creek to Snowmass lake, up over one of the passes in the 4 pass loop amd head to geneva lake, geneva lake head either on an established trail to a jeep road to a new TH, or take a faint social trail just above treeline and drop down to regain silver creek trail south of meadow mountain on your way to avalanche lake. Continue to Capitol Lake, head north and east over the saddle between daly and haystack. Rejoin the snowmass trail 2 miles from the car. It would be pushing to do it with the peaks as well in that time frame.

Stewart Creek TH. Could do a loop up Stewart Creek to San Luis, North to baldy and Stewart Peak, South to an unnamed 13er, east on the CDT, can camp in Diablo Canyon to hike up Phoenix peak. Could also head up Hodo canon to get Organ from the east. No idea if the trail head will be open to cars end of May.

If your buddy has a car you could do a car to car along the gore range trail. Peaks up there are climbable, if you know what you're doing. Indian Peaks Wilderness near RMNP is beautiful, but tons of snow in May still. The Sangres will be the most snow free, probably. If you're okay with valley views and a narrow range there's a lot of options for seldom used trails.