Capitol Peak, Elk Mountains: 14,130 feet

Capitol Peak is west of Aspen, within the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and is a 14,130 foot peak in the Northeastern Ridge of the Elk Mountains. Capitol Peak is one of the most difficult of the Colorado 14ers to climb, rating a Class 4 with a level 5 Exposure, meaning that it is dangerous and requires careful, technical moves to navigate the trail; a fall would likely be fatal, and there are big and sheer drops.

Capitol Peak has an elevation gain of 5,300 feet, and a final elevation of 14,130 feet. The peak can be accessed through the Capitol Creek trailhead, which is a rough 2WD road, although 4WD is needed in early summer because of the steep hills.
The ridge here is considered a "knife-edge ridge" and is mostly completed as an over-night mountaineering experience with camping at Capitol Lake!

Maroon Bells Peaks, Elk Mountain Range: 14,156 and 14,014 feet

The Maroon Bells are two peaks in the Elk Mountains, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak. Their peaks are 14,156 and 14,014 feet, and they are 1/3 mile apart and 12 miles southwest of Aspen. Both peaks have an elevation gain of 4,500-4,800 feet, and both are accessed by the Maroon Lake trailhead.

The different between Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak is the difficulty of the climbs. Maroon Peak has a difficulty of Class 3 and a 4/6 exposure, meaning a pretty serious exposure that could result in serious injury if you fell,hiking past the area will require some scrambling or short technical moves.

North Maroon Peak has a difficulty of Class 4, rope is often used on Class 4 routes because falls can be fatal; the terrain is often steep and dangerous, although some routes can be done without rope because the terrain is stable. The exposure of this peak is the same as the Maroon Peak.

Castle Peak, Elk Mountain Range: 14,265 feet

Castle Peak is the highest peak in the Elk Mountains at 14,265 feet, and the 12th highest peak in Colorado. It is on the Northeast Ridge of the Elk Mountains and is classified as a difficult level 2, and is an ideal beginner 14er that has an exciting and breathtaking summit ridge.

The exposure is a 3/6, meaning that there is a moderate level of exposure on the immediate route and some slow hiking or scrambling may be necessary on the trail. The length of the trail to the summit and back is 13 miles if you start at the main trailhead, 6.5 miles if you start hiking from 11,200 feet, although you must have a 4WD vehicle to park this high up on the mountain.

The elevation gain is 4,600' if you start at the main trailhead, 3,100 feet if you start at 11,200 feet. The Castle Creek trailhead is found by following Castle Creek Road out of Aspen. The trailhead follows a 2WD paved access to 9,750 feet, a rough 2WD access to 9,900 feet, a 4WD access to 12,800 feet by following Castle Creek up past the Montezuma Mine and into a basin north of Castle Peak.

Missouri Mountain, Sawatch Range: 14,067 ft.

Missouri Mountain is a peak with a 14,067 foot elevation with its trailhead at the Missouri Gulch, and it is part of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Missouri Mountain is a Class 2 with Moderate Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated on the immediate route that can be avoidable with slow hiking or scrambling.

The round trip length to the summit and back is 10.5 miles.
The total elevation gain is 4,500 feet and the summit elevation is 14,067 feet, and the main trailhead is the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, a 2WD dirt road. This road is closed 4 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet during winter.

Mount Columbia, Sawatch Range: 14,073 feet

Mount Columbia is a summit along the West Slopes from the North Cottonwood Creek trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Columbia is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated very close to the route with fewer route options. Class 2 is a more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail. 

The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 11.5 miles. Access to the trailhead is moderately difficult, a rough 2WD dirt road, that may require 4WD in early summer. The road is also closed 3 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet in the winter.

The elevation gain of the peak from the trailhead to the peak is 4,250 feet, and the round-trip length of the trail is 11.5 miles.

Mt Oxford, Sawatch Range:14,153 feet

Mount Oxford is a summit connected to Mount Belford with its trailhead at the Missouri Gulch, and it is part of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Oxford is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated close to the route with fewer route options and some off-trail hiking.

The round trip length to the summit and back is 11 miles.

The total elevation gain is 5,800 feet and the summit elevation is 14,153 feet, and the main trailhead is the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, a 2WD dirt road. This road is closed 4 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet during winter.

Mt Belford, Sawatch Range: 14,197 feet

Mount Belford is a summit along the Northwest Ridge from the Missouri Gulch trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Belford is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure that is not along the immediate route, but in the area. Class 2 is a bit more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail.
The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 8 miles.

Mount Princeton is an Intermediate Skiing decent, it is rated:
D4 (slopes around 30 degrees, similar to an easier "Expert" run at a resort);
R2 (slightly more inherent danger than average backcountry ski routes);
Grade II (how long it takes to complete in average conditions- half a day).

The total elevation gain is 4,500 feet and the summit elevation is 14,197 feet, and the main trailhead is the Missouri Gulch Trailhead, a 2WD dirt road.
This road is closed 4 miles below the trailhead, at 9,200 feet during winter.

Mount Princeton, Sawatch Range: 14,197 feet

Mount Princeton is a summit along the East Slopes from the Mt. Princeton Road trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Princeton is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, exposure measures how careful and concentrated your climbing must be, very close to the route with fewer route options.
Class 2 means more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail.

Mount Princeton is an Advanced Skiing decent, it is rated:
D7 (slopes around 40 degrees, few terrain obstacles such as trees and cliffs);
R2 (slightly more inherent danger than average backcountry ski routes);
Grade II (how long it takes to complete in average conditions- half a day).

The total elevation gain is 5,400 feet and the summit elevation is 14,197 feet, and the main trailhead is near the town of Nathrop near the Mt. Princeton Road.

The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 13 miles if you start at the main trailhead (8,900'), 6.25 miles if you start near 11,000' on the road.

Huron Peak, Sawatch Range:14,003 ft.

Huron Peak is a summit along the North Ridge from the Clear Creek trailhead of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Huron Peak is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be more careful and concentrated very close to the route with fewer route options. Class 2 is a bit more difficult hiking than class 1, and some hiking may be off the trail.

The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 6.75 miles, 11 miles if you hike up the entire road from Winfield. Access to the trailhead is moderately difficult, and closed near 9,200 feet in the winter.

The total elevation gain is 3,500 feet and the summit elevation is 14,003 feet. The trailhead is near Winfield at Clear Creek and begins at 10,560 feet.

Mt. Elbert, Sawatch Range: 14,433 feet

Mount Elbert is a summit along the Northeast Ridge route of the Sawatch Mountain Range. It's considered a Class 1 with Mild Exposure, not along the immediate route, but in the area. Class 1 means easy hiking, usually on a trail.
The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 9 miles.

The total elevation gain is 4,700 feet and the summit elevation is 14,433 feet. The trailhead is near Leadville at North Elbert and begins at an elevation of 10,040 feet.

Colorado 14ers

14er- a mountain with an elevation above 14,000 feet.
Colorado contains 54 14ers, or 77% of the 14ers on the mainland United States, making it the highest state in the US.

In the next series of blogs, I will be talking about different 14ers in Colorado's Elk Mountain Range and surrounding areas and ranking them based on their difficulty.