The 14ers. This mega-classic, ultra-popular challenge permeates every aspect of Colorado culture. Includes all Colorado peaks over 14,000 ft high with at least 300 ft of prominence... with 2 "sentimental" exceptions (El Diente and North Maroon Peak). A true showcase of Colorado's diverse mountains, encompassing the highest peaks in the Sawatch, Elk, San Juan, Sangre de Cristo, Mosquito, Ten Mile, and Front Ranges. The wide range of difficulty of these peaks lets you start out slowly with easier hikes to gain experience before tackling the harder peaks.
Highest peak
Mount Elbert
14,440 ft / 4,401 m
Most prominent peak
Mount Elbert
9,093 ft / 2,771 m prom
Most summited peak
Mount Elbert
287 summits
Most difficult peak
Mount Elbert
Class 1
Difficulty breakdown
Class 1/2 11 peaks
Class 3/4 5 peaks
Highlights
- Climb the iconic Class 3 Keyhole route of Longs Peak, the majestic centerpiece peak of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Stand on the highest peak in Colorado, Mt Elbert. Then stand on all of the surrounding 14ers of the Sawatch Range and look back at Elbert and see other hikers looking back at you.
- Head to the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado to experience what many consider the most spectacular mountains in the state. Get off the Durango steam train mid-route and head to the remote Chicago Basin to climb the elusive trio of Sunlight, Windom, and Eolus. Start preparing now for the leap-of-faith summit block move on Sunlight.
- Peer down on the sprawling Great Sand Dunes National Park from the jagged heights of the Crestones in the Sangre de Cristos. Attempt the famous Crestone Traverse if you've got the skills.
- When you're ready to dial up the challenge, visit the incredible Elk Range near Aspen to climb exhilarating peaks like the deadly Maroon Bells, Pyramid, and Capitol Peak with its Knife Edge traverse.
- Jog up and back on the 13-mile Barr Trail on Pikes Peak in the annual Pikes Peak Marathon... or just take it slow. Just don't drive!
Latest summits
"Made the trip with a friend from town. Luckily she brought running spikes and poles. Managed to get to the top in 1:56, which we are pretty proud of considering this was my second ascent and her first. Super windy close to the top but a lot calmer on the actual summit. We were glad we started around 6. It started getting busy as we were headed back down." — amybowen09 • Jun 27, 2019
"Plan was to summit Monday but weather said to go Saturday. Flew into Denver at 11pm Friday drove through a snow storm to the TH and started hiking 3 hours later. Had bad stomach issues right away assuming because of the altitude and it sent me down before attaining the windy summit.
" — Happyjoecappy • Apr 27, 2019
"Started from the Missouri Gulch Trail Head at approximately 0730. Temperatures where in the high 20's to low 30's. Above tree line there was a dusting of snow and ice making rocks slippery. I donned my old school 1940s circa crampons and continued climbing. Skies where full of clouds but ferry little precipitation through out the day. The snow that did fly was painful as winds where out of the west at about 70MPH. Aside from all that it was a good day completing two 14ers in 8hrs round trip. " — jouv236 • Oct 7, 2018
"Started out from basecamp at the Horn fork basin at 0645hrs. Excellent weather. Extreme wind for 75% of the hike. However beautiful views in all directions. Total time to summit from base camp was exactly 2 hours. " — jouv236 • Sep 23, 2018
"Hiked in at about 0700hrs from the trail head at the end of county route 365 followed the Horn Fork Basin trail and set up camp at the first camp site directly across from the Mount Columbia trail. Weather was fantastic. Clear blue skies perfect temperatures. Returned to Base camp that evening to have dinner. Slept till 0530hrs then woke for breakfast and made the hike up to Mount Columbia on the 23rd of September. Once again a day of amazingly clear skies." — jouv236 • Sep 22, 2018