Region
Highlights
- As the only Colorado 14er in Rocky Mountain National Park, Longs Peak has long been of interest to hikers and climbers.
- It is the most popular fourteener and on a given summer weekend day typically sees hundreds of ascents.
- The easiest route, the Keyhole Route, is non-technical during the summer season.
- The East Face of the mountain is quite steep and is surmounted by a gigantic sheer cliff known as "The Diamond" (so-named because of its shape, approximately that of a cut diamond seen from the side and inverted ).
- Another famous profile belongs to Longs Peak: to the southeast of the summit is a series of rises which, when viewed from the northeast, resembles a beaver climbing the mountain.
- Longs Peak is the highest point in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Routes
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78 summits • 14.9 mi • 4,706 ft gain • 12 hr 15 min
2 summits • 15.9 mi • 4,858 ft gain • 11 hr 53 min
1 summit • 13.6 mi • 4,729 ft gain • 8 hr 53 min
1 summit • 3.0 mi • 1,711 ft gain • 4 hr 32 min
Latest summits
"Longs Peak - Storm Peak - Mt Lady Washington (attempt) - Battle Mountain - Pine Ridge
23.61km with 1,447m gain in 8:30 car-to-car
In Canada, even the mountains are polite. I have never been kicked out from the mountains in such a way: two hail and thunderstorms within just 2 or 3 hours.
1. Longs Peak, 4,360m
Started with a nice weather, summited Longs in under 4 hours. Only to see a storm coming my way. Stayed at the summit not more than 2 minutes: just few photos, one text message and had to hurry down. Almost was done with the traverses and got hit with hail and rain before the keyhole. Rested, had lunch and waited for a weather window at an alpine hut/shelter.
2. Storm Peak, 4,060m
The peak had justified its name, the wind gusts were somewhat up to 80-100km/h. In some places had really hold onto the rock in order not to be blown away. Otherwise, very short and straightforward scramble.
3. Mt Lady Washington, 4,037m - attempt
Waited and watched for the weather at a camp. Just as soon as started toward its west slopes, another bigger storm rolled in. Had to hide in a hole between camp site's stonewall and a boulder for quite some time. All in all, lost 1:30hrs be..." — alexp • Aug 5, 2018
"A warm spring summit of Longs Peak Via the Loft Couloir and down the Keyhole.Overall the snow quality In the Loft was perfect. The backside and the Keyhole route however, were a completely different story. There was also plenty of post holing to be had in the boulder field below the Keyhole.It made for a very long day. My second summit of Longs Peak! " — IanWright • May 16, 2018
"Flew in Wednesday night from Vegas. Got about 1.5 hours of sleep sitting straight up in the car at the trailhead, then started the hike at 1am. The only real issue we had on the way up was exhaustion due to the lack of sleep. We got rained on for the last few miles back to the trailhead. " — Kevin • Aug 31, 2017
"3rd times a charm. After being snowed on at the keyhole in early September 3 years ago and rained out entirely last year, I finally had a great window of weather. Parking lot and first half mile of road was completely full when I arrived at 3am; I guess I started pretty late for this climb. Route after the keyhole is interesting. Ledges are fine, Trough is tedious, Narrows were intense, and the Homestretch was not as difficult as described. The huge flat summit of this peak is so unexpected after the variety in the route on the way up. Got hailed on for awhile on the way down, but otherwise had excellent weather for the entirety of the climb." — edg • Aug 5, 2017
"Storms over denver but clear on Longs. Got started around 4am up the keyhole. summited around 8am then after a short stay headed over to meeker then down the loft route. Back at the car around 2pm right as the storm was hitting. was number 9 on my colorado 14ers list." — Ryan_Wallace • Aug 17, 2015
"Ascended via Keyhole Route in 6 hours, including waiting 30 minutes for traffic to clear before climbing up a very icy Homestretch section to the summit. Descent took 6 hours. Perfectly clear weather from 2:30 am to 2:30 pm." — tlannin • Aug 2, 2014
"3:15 AM start and made the approach to the East face by sunrise. Lots of falling rock particularly down the Lambs slide. An adventurous day topping out just before the storms rolled in. Made it down the upper part of the keyhole before the weather got serious." — Yosemike • Sep 8, 2013
"After a rough night, I didn't have high hopes for the day, but everything really went perfectly. One of the finest scrambles I've climbed. Incredibly, I ran into an old high school class mate at the start of the home stretch (and we're both from Buffalo, NY). Made the climb even better." — Christopher • Jul 19, 2013
"This was my 4th CO 14er, and most-likely my favorite climb I have ever done. When I say that everything went perfect for this climb, I mean everything! From the weather, views, and climbing all the way to the mid-climb backcountry toilet utilization at the boulder field, nothing went wrong! We hit the ground running around 3am at the ranger station trail head, made it to the boulder field by sunrise and entered the Keyhole route. An amazingly fun time navigating the boulder field and the keyhole with class 3 climbing all the way to the final push. Summited around 8am. Excellent views 360 degrees. Saw a couple fluffy marmots, and then descended back to the car. Got back around 1:30pm, just in time for a well deserved meal in Estes Park. Will never forget this climb, a very memorable one for me. " — MooseHiker • Jul 19, 2013
"We took the Keyhole Route. My (now) fiance and a good friend camped in the boulder field on 7/13. Made the summit at about 10am on the 14th, where I proposed. The weather was perfect, the people were awesome and the trip unforgettable." — jschierkolk • Jul 14, 2012
"Started at 2:02 am. We passed 6 of the 8 groups ahead of us and we summited at 7:30 am. There was no wind, it was warm, and it started raining when we got to the parking lot. Perfect day to climb a mountain that has been staring at me for 6 years." — zman86 • Aug 2, 2011
"Climbed with one partner from Washington Park, CO. We encountered a couple bozos in the boulderfield who claimed we led them off into the woods when we started but then passed them and continued to the summit at around 8:30am. Beautiful weather" — stevevets689 • Jul 18, 2007
"Up late Friday night and decided to go climb Longs, what a mistake, called Kyle and had him meet Erich Bochman and I in Loveland. What a long 24 hours. Erich turned back due to back problems and Kyle and I slugged it out to the top." — Delos • Aug 20, 2005
"Hiked with the Berean Church youth group of Lincoln, NE while in college. I had just recovered from mono and had run my second marathon a couple of months before. Had an energetic charge to the top. Called my Dad from the top, ate, and then fell hard to altitude sickness. I was moving a fraction of the pace on the downward. Felt horrific and just wanted to sleep. Snow began to fall in August and the further I got down, predictably, the better I felt. " — runshigleyrun • Aug 12, 2000
"Date is approximate, but I remember this climb so well. Of the ten or so summits I've made up Long's Peak, this was one of a couple to remember for life. Two buddies and I decided, at midnight and after working a long day, to climb up Long's. When we reached the boulder field we happened across a group of friends from high school (we are all Estes Park High grads). We finished the climb together, made the summit well before sunrise, and watched the sun come up and chase the darkness west." — KG • Jul 11, 1990
"Date is approximate, but I was 13 when I first summited Long's Peak. Climbing with a group from the Colorado Mountain School, to include climbing legend Mike Donahue and his so, now a legend himself, Topher we made the summit on a misty day. We took the old cable route up, and came back via the keyhole route." — KG • Jul 10, 1984
Photos
Awards
Challenges
About peakery awards
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