Which which 14ers

Make sure you have essential gear for your climb. Plan to start early, keep an eye on the weather, and be back to treeline ahead of afternoon storms.

To make you more comfortable and increase your chances for a successful summit, spend the night in Leadville or Twin Lakes to acclimatize, and spend the night after to celebrate and rest up. Blog Events Translate.

Sign up for eNews. All five of these mountains offer a great mountain experience within a 2-hour drive Denver. Consider a few alternatives that are a bit further away — they are often worth it!

Mount of the Holy Cross is a spectacular fourteener that offers two great routes. The standard scramble includes a great opportunity for an overnight at Holy Cross creek before summiting the next day. Halo Ridge is more difficult but includes the best view of the peak from across the valley. Mount Massive has more area above 14, feet than any other mountain in the lower 48 states. It is the second tallest fourteener in Coloorado as well, just across the valley from the tallest, Mount Elbert.

The standard route up its southeast slopes is great for either a day trip or an overnight adventure, with plenty of other 14ers like Mount Elbert nearby. There are great dispersed camping sites along the forest road that leads to the trailhead, useful for turning a day trip into and overnight camping adventure.

Humboldt is a more challenging peak, with a long approach hike up to the south colony lakes. However this is a true wilderness adventure, with many miles separating you from civilization, and a pure mountain basin to enjoy. The views from the summit of the Crestone Traverse is one of the finest in all of Colorado. If you go, bring a 4WD vehicle to make it all the way up to the upper trailhead. Huron Peak is known for having some of the best views of any of the fourteeners, better than any of the best 14ers near Denver.

For the best experience consider a September ascent to catch the aspen when they are changing colors. For extra fun, you can visit one of a number of old historic mining towns in the area around the trailhead, including Winfield. Hiking a fourteener is a unique experience with some special hazards and risks.

The right gear will make it much easier to make it to the summit, and help you stay safe along the way. Here are some of the key gear necessities to bring with you while visiting the best 14ers near Denver. First, start with a solid pair of hiking boots. I recommend boots with ankle protection, as trips and sprains are relatively common on these rocky trails and scrambling sections. Hiking shoes or approach shoes will also work, but I do not suggest using normal tennis shoes, as they have less traction and support for long hikes.

You should have two liters of water minimum per person to stay hydrated on your hike. A first aid kit is good for treating small cuts, scrapes, sunburn, or dealing with altitude sickness.

Other key essentials include sunscreen and sunglasses to manage the intense radiation at this altitude and something to start a fire with if you get stuck in the backcountry longer than expected.

A good knife or multi-tool rounds out this packing list for the best 14ers near Denver. The Front Range experiences notoriously fickle weather conditions, changing constantly and posing significant risks to hikers at high altitudes. Snow is possible year-round at 14, feet, so you need to be ready for anything in terms of weather conditions.

To avoid a mile round-trip backpacking trip, you can get a ticket with the Silverton Railroad and get dropped off at Needleton. With considerable exposure and rockfall risk, be wary! Click here for the Route Guide. Ellingwood Point is named after Albert Russell Ellingwood , who made dozens of first ascents in Colorado. Only slightly easier than its neighbor Blanca Peak, trying to summit both these peaks in a day is a significant challenge, to say the least.

Start early! Blanca Peak is the undisputed queen of the southern Colorado Rockies — This is not an easy peak, the most difficult Class 2 route. It earns its high place among the Colorado 14ers ranked by difficulty.

On some routes there is also significant exposure and vertical drop-offs. Most third class climbing is relatively simple, and usually the rock is stable. To prepare for this level of climbing, spend time on Class 2 peaks and visit an indoor climbing gym.

Here are the Class 3 Colorado 14ers ranked by difficulty. Sneffels makes a great first Class 3 peak to climb. Route-find carefully! Named because of its similarity to the Matterhorn in the Alps, the Southeast Ridge is a great route to ascend this famous 14er. Wilson Peak is known for its exposure and great Class 3 climbing. When reviewing the Colorado 14ers ranked by difficulty, it deserves a spot near the top.

North Eolus is secondary summit of Mt. Eolus, another Chicago Basin peak deep in the San Juans. Click here for route guide info. Eolus, the third Chicago Basin summit, is a good Class 3 peak to practice your route-finding on its rocky-ledge-strewn slopes.

The North Slopes Route works best when there is still snow in the north slope gully. Take two days and conquer this beauty after camping at Southern Colony Lakes. Considered one of the most beautiful mountains in Colorado, the Maroon Bells are also among the most deadly.

Wear a helmet and be prepared! Just a mile from its neighbor Crestone Peak, the Needle is a shorter route with less elevation gain, but more difficult Class 3 climbing. Be careful to descend down the correct gully on your return — many people have died after entering the wrong couloir and cliffing out. When we think about the Colorado 14ers ranked by difficulty, it deserves a high place! Snowmass has a well-earned place as the most difficult Class 3 Peak. It combines an arduous, mile hike, technical snow climbing, and a Class 3 exposed scramble to the summit.

Take on this mountain early in the summer while snow still covers the scree-filled basin below the summit. Click here for the route guide. The six Class 4 peaks are not to be trifled with.

Steep, vertical climbing and loose, rotten rock plague the routes on these peaks. Many have died trying to climb these six 14ers. Here are the Class 4 Colorado 14ers ranked by difficulty. With a relatively short route and elevation gain, North Maroon Peak is the choice of many to introduce themselves to Class 4 peaks. It and the rest of these peaks earned a high place among the Colorado 14ers ranked by difficulty. Pyramid Peak offers gorgeous views of the Maroon Bells across the top.

However, the standard route to the top is difficult, dangerous, and not for the faint of heart. Like El Diente Peak, you can climb Mt. Wilson from the Rock of Ages or Navajo Basin trailheads. The route here can be confusing. The summit block itself requires a highly exposed series of class 4 climbs to reach the top. Stay safe! Click here for route guide information. Its shortest approach from the South Colony Lakes Trailhead.

A mile-long ridge separates the summits from Little Bear to Blanca Peak the 4th highest in the state. This traverse is one of the more beautiful routes in Colorado, and yet one of the more challenging with most of the traverse at class 3 and 4, with some areas approaching even class 5.

Start at Lake Como Road, making a mile loop to complete. Will this be the year you add another or your first 14er to your hiking resume?! Jessica is a writer and photographer based in Denver, CO. She spends her time traveling the world and exploring this beautiful state.

She has a passion for well-written stories, gorgeous photography, and bringing these two together. When she is not working in the city you can find her in the mountains hiking, backpacking, or biking. Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel. Menu Skip to right header navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Skip to footer.

How many 14ers are in Colorado? Autumn sunrise from high up on Mt. The trail to Grays and Torreys Peaks. Photo by Jason. Views from the summit of Pikes Peak. Photo by John Fowler. Views of Mt. Bierstadt from Guanella Pass. Photo by Michael Kirsh. The hike to Quandary Peak. Photo by detroitstylz. Mosquito Range 14ers Mt.

Lincoln — 14, feet 8th Class 2 Mt. Cameron — 14, feet 17th Class 2 Mt. Bross — 14, feet 23rd Class 2 Mt. Democrat — 14, feet 30th Class 2 Mt. Sherman — 14, feet 49th Class 2 The Mosquito Range runs north-south for about 40 miles in central Colorado.

Lincoln as part of the DeCaLiBron loop.