I need advice from Colorado hikers. I am trying to plan a two day/ one night backpacking trip in Colorado for July 5th and 6th. I need suggestions on locations to backpack and camp. Ideally at a location that is no more then a 3 hour drive from Denver and involves summiting a 14er. We also would need to do either and out and back or a loop because we would only have one car.

There would be two of us on the hike. I have about 200 miles experience on the AT including a week in the Presidentials and my friend has experience doing 14ers in Colorado, but day hikes only.

I would also appreciate tips on camping in Colorado (as opposed to the AT) and how to deal with those afternoon thunderstorms.

Thanks in advance!