I've also done Capitol. The easiest route is mostly Class 1 and a bit of Class 2." San Luis Peak is a very unique 14er, as there are no other 14ers around it for miles. Harvard/Columbia (I haven't done this one as a combo) San Juan Range: No snow on the trail. Import Photo. Mt. Mount Cameron. Longs was my first and I've repeated it several times. General Mountain Information: Quandary Peak Quandary Peak Trail Rating: ★★★ (3/5 Stars) Distance: 6.61 miles RT Elevation Start: 10,898 ft Summit: 14,265 ft Total Elevation Gain: 3,350 ft Estimated Time to Complete: 4-5 Hours (2-3 Hours Up, 1-2 Hours Down) Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean? This ridgeline is famous, and time consuming, so don't take it lightly. 3. CLASS 3. Longs Peak is the only class 3 peak on the list of best 14ers near Denver – it’s the only one in the entire Front Range. Difficulty levels for 14ers vary from Class 1 (clear, well-worn trail) to Class 5 (technical climbing requiring a rope), and even Class 1 peaks have different trail lengths, elevation gains, and exposure levels. Why you may not like it — It’s so easy, you may start to wonder why people think this mountain climbing thing is tough. Hiking. 3. There are two routes up Handies, both fairly easy, as far as 14ers go. What makes it … Split Mountain is a good example of this from the California 14ers. Its neighboring 14ers, Eolus Peak and Sunlight Peak, are class 3 and 4 ascents, respectively, so modest Windom sits alone as the “everyman” mountain in the area. We didn't hit North Eolus. So with so many 14ers to choose from, where do you start? Good rule of thumb is that, for a class 3 hike, descending will require you to face the rock, rather than face outward. Latitude Longitude. PeakVisor Explorer. Explore 14ers Difficult Class II - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. So to help you stay alive, here are a few rules of thumb to follow in the mountains: Climb early. Search by GPS coordinates. By Elevation. One thing I loved about climbing the Chicago Basin 14ers was feeling incredibly deep in the wilderness. Longs Peak – 14,255 feet | 15th | Class 3; Pikes Peak – 14,110 feet | 32nd | Class 1; Mt. The main thing is the grip. Background: 15ish 14ers completed. It was done in August of 2012 by Sean O'Rourke.The current women's speed record was done by Andrea Sansone in seven days, 11 hours and 22 minutes during July and August 2017. Class 2- More difficult hiking that may be off-trail. If you are looking for an easy 14er that's secluded, I would recommend San Luis. If you’ve done other 14ers, this one will feel on the easy side. Pack your helmet since 3 of the 4 peaks require scrambling. Once you reach the top of Grays at 14,270 feet, you’ll see that Torreys’ summit is actually three feet shorter and just a quick traverse away. Longs Peak - 14,255 feet: Class 3. September 6, 2020. … Denali. Harvard is a relatively easy 14er as 14ers go. VIEW FULL MAP. Class 3 shouldn't require any edging or technical climbing so as long as what's under you can hold, you should be good. However, it's important to remember that no 14er climb is "easy." From here, you can hike some of the best 14ers in Colorado: Sunlight Peak (Class 4), Mt Eolus (Class 3), Windom Peak (Class 2), and North Eolus (Class 3). By Prominence. This is one of the closest 14ers to Denver and would make for an easy day trip hike. 6 190 m (prom: 6 141 m) Mount Saint Elias. Why you may not like it – It’s so easy, you may start to wonder why people think this mountain climbing thing is tough. With steep Class 3 and 4 climbing, dramatic exposure to cliffs and drop-offs, and complex route-finding and navigation, these nine peaks are some of the most difficult Colorado 14ers. You don't need technical climbing gear, but some people use ropes for added safety. Preparing to Hike a 14er You may also have to put your hands down occasionally to keep your balance. Bierstadt/Evans (some easy class 3 and an exposed ledge on the "Sawtooth") Sawatch Range: Belford/Oxford (Mostly class 1, some off trail near the summits) Shavano/Tabeguache (Class 1 most of the way up Shavano, some class 2 boulder hopping to Tab.) Accessible by train and then approximately a 6-mile hike one way. Class 3 also includes steep snow. Here are a few quick tips to think about before you go: Aspen 14er Tips. While most of Colorado’s 14ers are an easy hike or scramble, a handful can be quite difficult to climb. Mount Russel is a great example of this. The Ellingwood Ridge route, however, is quite likely the best, and most complicated class 3 route on all of Colorado's 14ers. The current self-supported record with cycling between the trailheads is 9 days, 20 hours and 41 minutes. More difficult terrains, like Class 3 and 4 routes, have more exposure requiring actual climbing, and easier terrains, have well-kept trails and less hand-foot climbing is required, according to 14ers.com class rating system. Latitude. Speed Record The current speed record for climbing all 15 California 14ers listed above is 62 hours and 3 minutes. Though the route is not as easy as others on this list, the combination of Grays and Torreys is the easiest way to tick off two 14ers in a single hike. The classes are based on the types of terrain and hiking; Class 1 being the easiest and Class 3 being the highest level of difficulty that we cover. Experts in the climbing community say, "The hardest route is an easy Class 3, maybe even Class 2+. Rated a Class 1, the distance is 17 miles round-trip for one ambitious day or spread out over several days. Don’t attempt them without plenty of experience and research. Often Class 3 hikes include sections with rugged terrain where you'll need to use your hands to scramble across extreme terrain, such as large rocks, steep slopes, or a combination of both. But if you want to, it's an easy Class 3 scramble with about 200' of elevation gain. Gorgeous views, easy to follow trail, and class 1 (walk-up, no scrambling). Day 4: Back to Civilization. By Prominence. Don’t fall for it. Class: Class 1 Season: July – October (Expect snow outside of… Class ratings: Class 1 – Easy hiking, usually on a good trail. Best introduction to Class 3 routes General Question I did Longs as my first 14er and while I got lucky with good weather and finished it, I felt a bit sketchy about it … Location: The Chicago Basin. Difficulty: Class Rankings. Starting with Grays and its easy switch-backs, you may wonder how you’ll pull off Torreys Peak, as it looms high over you. Class 3 terrain will contain actual scrambling, meaning you have to use your hands and feet to move over rocks. One tiny and avoidable patch of ice. This route will challenge all but the most hardened of mountaineers with its long, snakelike ridge and devious up and down scrambling. Don’t Underestimate these Mountains. • Class 3: Scrambling is to be expected. It’s an imposing route, 12 miles round-trip that requires a daunting 2am start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. San Luis is a great class 1 14er with small crowds and great scenery. Its neighboring 14ers — Sunlight Peak and Eolus Peak — are class 4 and 3 ascents respectively, so modest Windom sits alone as the “everyman” mountain in the area. Check out the variety of Colorado 14ers near Durango below and plan in one of these excursions for your trip. Lindsey: 14,042 ft: Easy Class 3 Latitude N S ° ' '' Longitude E W ° ' '' Teleport. Climbers—beware of loose falling rock. Located about 40 miles west of Denver in the southern Rocky Mountains on the Continental Divide, this adventure is 8.5 miles round trip with 3,600 feet of elevation gain. Angel of Shavano - Class 2 (Easy Snow) Sangre de Cristo Range The Sagres have 10 14ers and 12 classic routes. Bierstadt – 14,060 feet | 40th | Class 2; The 14ers of Colorado’s Front Range perhaps get the most foot traffic out of all the 14ers in the state simply due to their easy access from large cities like Denver and Colorado Springs, plus their routes are some of the easiest to summit. We reached the top in 3 hours, hiking at a steady pace. The other route is pretty with less people, I saw no one the entire time I hiked it, but the other route wins for scenery. Mt. Harvard has a Class rating of 2 and an Exposure rating of 2. Many hikers don’t consider this a true 14er since the saddles between the surrounding mountains aren’t low enough. However, many people do count Mount Cameron as a true 14er. Mount Antero (14,269) – This is a list of the easiest 14ers, not my favorite, and including this one is proof of that. Units of Length m/km ft/mi Сontact us. Skip the crowded Colorado 14ers and hike one of these beautiful 13ers From beginner-friendly to hardcore, these are the Colorado 13ers that should be on your bucket list . While this requires more technical skill, this doesn’t usually require a rope. Be aware of your abilities and know what you're getting into before you start the climb. This is necessary to avoid afternoon lightning danger — and also to snag a parking space. The list of all 14ers of the United States. Regardless if this is a “true” 14er or not, this is a really fun hike to conquer in Colorado. Plan to be out there for about six hours. Class 2. Each 14er is given a Class rating (1-5) and an exposure rating (0-6). Easy Class 3: The fourth tallest point in the Sangre de Cristo Range, this peak has several sub-summits. Even relatively easy Colorado 14ers kill people under the wrong conditions. Get PeakVisor App . Class 2: Easy walk up with views of 30 14ers : 15: 20: Mt. Mount Antero (14,269) — This is a list of the easiest 14ers, not my favorite, and including this one is proof of that. The trail was quite busy. Local Tip: You are required to pack out your poop here, so bring WAG bags. 3 Three of our food writer's go-to pandemic restaurants 4 Hiking with these Colorado goats isn't just adorable, it's also healing 5 9 Denver foods that went viral during the pandemic Longitude. The main challenge here is the elevation. 14ers. Little Bear Peak: 14,037 ft: Class 4: One of the toughest and most dangerous 14ers to scale, this monster stretches 6,000 ft. above the rest of the San Luis Valley. What makes this one a true classic is the access -- most often done by the coal-powered train that runs along the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Mt. 14ers are ranked on the Yosemite Decimal System, which uses "classes" to rank hikes from 1 (easiest) to 5 (most difficult). Good rubber will get you where you need to go. Learn more about climbing Windom Peak. Some are accessible by an easy drive, while others will require a train ride or vehicles made for rough terrain. Yale: 14,204' Sawatch: Class 2: A little remote but with trailhead off paved road. Rock climbing is my new hobby. While some 14ers near Aspen are certainly more straightforward than others, it should go without saying that none of these peaks are necessarily ‘easy.’ Before you head out, it is important to prepare, do your homework, and understand what you are getting yourself into. CLASS 4. 3. We asked the experts, Vacasa’s local Colorado managers, for tips on easy 14ers in Colorado. Reviews (255) Photos (1475) Taylor Duncan reviewed Castle Peak and Conundrum Peak. Beautiful approach : 37: 21: Crestone Needle : 14,201' Sangre de Cristo: Class 3++ Fun rock climbing in the high gullies but can be deadly : 11: 22: Mt. Starting from the American Basin route is definitely recommended though for those doing their first 14ers and for those wanting really pretty views. You can make this hike shorter by driving further if your vehicle can handle it. (Seems like easy Colorado 14ers … Don’t fall for it. If you’re new to this elevation, plan for a very serious hike and study up beforehand. October 10, 2020 - dry conditions.