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!

Pyramid Peak, Elk Mt Range: 14,013 ft

Pyramid Peak is a 14,018 foot peak in the Northeast Ridge of the Elk Mountains.  The summit is called Pyramid peak because it resembles a ragged square pyramid and is visible from a valley north of Aspen along the canyon of Maroon Creek. This peak has an elevation gain of 4,500 feet and begins at the Maroon Lake trailhead.

The peak has steep slopes, loose rock, and exposed ledges, putting it in the Class 4 "technical" peak category. The round-trip length from trailhead to the summit and back is 8 miles.

The exposure of Pyramid Peak is rated as 4/6, meaning that there is a more serious exposure that could result in serious injury if you fall. Moving past many areas will require some scrambling or short technical moves.

Good Luck on your Hiking Adventures!

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.

Snowmass Mountain, Elk Range: 14,092 feet

Snowmass Mountain is a summit along the East Slope in the Elk Mountains off the Snowmass Creek trailhead. Snowmass is a Class 3 with Moderate Exposure along the immediate route, avoidable with some slow hiking or scrambling. It is located within the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of the White River National Forest.

The elevation of Snowmass Mountain is 14,092 feet, and the elevation gain is 5,800 feet. The trailhead is easy-access at Snowmass Creek and is part paved and part dirt. The round trip hike to the summit and back to the trailhead is 21.5 miles and is a nearly year-round alpine snow-climb ascent.

Note: this hike is usually done as an over-nighter.

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.

Mt Yale, Sawatch Range: 14,196 feet

Mount Yale is a summit along the Southwest Slopes of the Sawatch Mountain Range. Mt. Yale is a Class 2 with Mild Exposure, climbing must be a bit more careful and concentrated close to the route and there are fewer route options.
Class 2 means 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 9.5 miles. The total elevation gain is 4,300 feet and the summit elevation is 14,196 feet, and the main trailhead is a paved road called Denny Creek Trailhead.

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.

Living Journey's Summit Hike and Half-Marathon, July 30

Join us on the hike to the top of Mt. Crested Butte to raise money to provide support, education and awareness to those living with cancer. Money raised from the hike helps recipients pay medical bills and alleviate the stress of daily living expenses during their cancer treatments. The Summit Hike is hosted by Living Journeys, a non-profit organization that provides counseling services and financial assistance to Gunnison County residents giving with cancer. There are a wide variety of fitness levels for all ages. The more challenging hike is 11.5 miles round trip, but there is also a chair lift that can be ridden for 2000 vertical feet in 15 minutes, and then participants can hike for 2 miles round trip.

New this year, the Summit Hike will have a Mountain Half Marathon. The approximately 13 mile race will start at the base at 8am and will follow the jeep road uphill for approximately 4.5 miles, there will then be a 4 mile section of rolling cross country track followed by the finish back down the jeep road.