Mount Elbert: Hiking Colorado’s Highest 14er
Did you know that the summit of Mount Elbert is the highest point in Colorado? If you’re a fan of hiking Colorado’s 14ers but have only tried a couple so far, Mount Elbert is a great hike to consider. Continue reading to learn about my experience hiking to the top of this 14,439 ft. peak. This post includes links to different trail options and tips for hiking in Colorado.
Mount Elbert is located in San Isabel National Forest, 12.1 miles southwest of the City of Leadville. If staying in Leadville, you can reach the trailhead parking lot for Mount Elbert in roughly 30 minutes. Camping near the trailhead is also an option.
Just one of the incredible viewpoints from the summit of Mount Elbert.
Getting to the Trailhead
We drove from our house west of Denver to the trailhead, leaving at about 5 am. By the time we arrived at the trailhead, the parking lot was already full. We found parking just past the parking lot and began our hike around 7:30 am. People will often advise that you start hiking much earlier than we did. We were very fortunate to have clear weather the entire day, but storms are known to come in the afternoon.
Dogs Can Come on a Leash
One of the reasons we chose this hike was because you are allowed to bring dogs on a leash. Our dog, Bear loves being on the trail and can handle strenuous hikes. We saw plenty of other hikers with their dogs; some were even being carried in special packs.
View of the Twin Lakes from North Mount Elbert Trail
Trail Options
Another reason we chose to hike Mount Elbert was that the distance and difficulty rating seemed doable for our second 14er. There are a few different trails leading up to the summit. We chose the popular, North Mount Elbert Trail, but here are the links to view the trail options on alltrails.com:
The North Mount Elbert trail is 10.3 miles out and back. This seemed like a better option to us than the nearby 14er, Mount Massive with a trail totaling 12.8 miles. Mount Massive is still on my list of mountains to summit, but having only hiked one 14er previously, we decided to go with Mount Elbert. Both trails are rated as hard on alltrails.com.
Weather and Terrain
I hiked the trail during mid-September and did not encounter any ice or snow. September ended up being a wonderful time to hike because the Aspen trees were beginning to change colors. Even above the treeline, we could look down at the valleys filled with gold and orange Aspen trees.
Going Up
One of the things I appreciated about this hike was that there was no scrambling, although poles were still a huge help! It’s a good idea to keep in mind that you will be in for a pretty long climb once you leave the forest. The views are far and beautiful above the treeline, with great photo opportunities of the Twin Lakes.
I encountered one false summit but it turned out to be only about 0.25 from the actual summit. A couple of other hikers told me that they felt like they encountered more false summits, but if you track distance, you will not have to worry too much about this. The summit was awesome because I could see all of the neighboring 14ers and know that you’re standing at the highest point in Colorado!
Headed Down
The hike down felt steep. My boots had a good grip, but I still had a difficult time getting down and I slid a few times. I felt much more in control of my feet once I got back into the forest. I also ran extremely low on water due to my dog drinking more than I was expecting.
Bear did a great job on the hike. He had way more energy than I did!
Tips for Hiking
I have still never experienced hiking a 14er to be easy, even though I already live above 5,000 ft. I always try and mentally prepare by telling myself that I’m going to spend the whole day hiking. That way, I can picture myself more leisurely strolling through the forest, instead of wondering when I’ll be done.
Fellow joggers may agree, it also helps me to take the total mileage of the trial into account and then track how far I’ve gone by miles. If you know the distance of a mile, it’s easier to picture how much farther you have to go. I use the AllTrails app for tracking my distance. There are plenty of apps you can use for this like Map My Run or you can track on a watch like Garmin.
Twin Lakes from North Mount Elbert Trail
Make Sure You Bring
Don’t make my mistake! Just go ahead and bring more water than you think you will drink. This was mostly because my dog ended up drinking more than I was expecting, but you will not want to run low on water. I’m also a big supporter of bringing lots of food. Anytime I’m feeling weak a protein bar can usually make me feel refreshed and able to continue. Please remember to be careful about trash to not let anything blow away.
Sun protection is extremely important when hiking at high altitude. I recommend hiking with polarized sunglasses and a lightweight hooded shirt with long sleeves. Another mistake I made on my hike was forgetting to put sunblock on my hands. My hands and fingers were red for a week!
If hiking with a dog, you will want to bring a tight-seal container for your doggy bags. I have found I need waste bags and a couple of gallon ziplock bags to contain wate in my pack.
Feel free to comment with any other items to bring or tips for hikers.
A Hike Worth Your Time
The entire Mount Elbert hike was beautiful and the view from the top was breathtaking! Although it was a difficult hike, the terrain was not too steep or scary. You’ll have to pay close attention to the weather just like any other high-altitude hike. If you are physically fit and bring water and supplies, hiking Mount Elbert can be an enjoyable and memorable experience. I hope this motivates you to make the trek up Mount Elbert!
