Region
Most climbed route
Harvard Columbia Combo via N. Cottonwood Creek TH
15.2 mi • 6,057 ft gain • Class 2
Highlights
- Mount Harvard is a Colorado 14er and also the fourth highest mountain in the contiguous United States.
- Named in 1869 by members of the first Harvard Mining School class while on expedition with professor Josiah Dwight Whitney, the namesake of Mount Whitney. The same group named the peak next to Harvard Mount Yale, and estimated that it was over 14,000 feet in height.
- Harvard and Yale were the first 14,000 foot mountains in the Sawatch Range to be named after universities. Later, nearby mountains were named for Princeton, Columbia, and Oxford, leading to the name "Collegiate Peaks" for this part of the Sawatch Range.
- Harvard is often climbed in combination with Mount Columbia.
Routes
12 summits • 15.2 mi • 6,057 ft gain • 11 hr 15 min • Class 2
1 summit • 13.7 mi • 4,586 ft gain • 9 hr 6 min
1 summit • 15.6 mi • 5,553 ft gain • 16 hr 56 min
1 summit • 16.3 mi • 5,666 ft gain • 9 hr 11 min
Latest summits
"Oh man! This was an epic! After a poor night of sleep (and a 7k ft gain day 2 days prior), we decided to do the Harvard/Columbia traverse. We were slow moving in the morning due to the lack of sleep, but we started early enough that we were arriving at Harvard around the same time as the rest of the world. After a short break, we continued on to Columbia. At first, it wasn't too bad, but then we came to the part where you have to descend to/below 12,800 ft. The descent was steep and unpleasant, but what came next was the worst - the talus filed from hell! We were already exhausted, but had to cross, then climb this ridiculously large talus field. It was the slowest and most dejected that either of us felt on the whole trip, but we kept moving. Eventually, we reached the summit of Columbia about 13 hours after we started (lol). We were joined by another group that was lucky enough to be camped below and had family waiting with dinner. Our time at the summit with them was pleasant, but we had to push on. The descent of Columbia was also slow. The upper part of the trail was super steep and we were sliding quite a bit. Luckily, CFI (Colorado Fourteeners Initiative) has be..." — Kevin • Sep 6, 2020
"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
"Mountain 1 of 2 for the day. Around a 15 or 16 mile round trip. We made it all the way to the trailhead in a 2WD passenger car. The last little bit near the parking lot was the worst. The hike up was beautiful and the valley bellow Mount Harvard was amazing! Near the summit we encountered a Mountain Goat that was quite interested in us and followed behind us staying only a few feet away for quite some time. They are large creatures with sharp and dangerous looking horns that are quite capable of harming or even killing people. I have heard horror stories from other people I have known that climbed this mountain and they said the goats on this mountain are particularly territorial and sometimes ram or attack people. We spent a considerable amount of time backing our way up the mountain not taking our eyes off him. After he had followed too close for comfort for quite some time I decided to take out our hiking poles to help keep some distance between us. He apparently has had this happen before and took off up the mountain the second I had them out. We named him Steven the Goat. There is a slight section of class 3 in the final 20 feet or so from the top. From the summit you get ama..." — IanWright • Aug 26, 2015
"A beautiful hike up and a fantastic view from the top. We did meet Steven the Goat - cute from afar but rather intimidating until Ian pulled out the hiking poles. Don't make eye contact..." — DaniB • Aug 26, 2015