Capitol Peak Route
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.3 mi
- round trip
- 956 ft
- climb
- 12,503 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Capitol Peak Route open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Capitol Peak Route is a 1.3-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, within the Aspen Ranger District of White River National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route rises from about 11,550 feet to 12,503 feet, a gain of 956 feet, on a moderate climb. The route is short and compact, so it fits easily into a day in the area. Capitol Creek lies less than a mile away, and Avalanche Lake is about 1.7 miles off. For an overnight stay, Avalanche Campground is roughly 8 miles away, and the Carbondale Area climbing area is about 5 miles away.
Go with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 43 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters11 mi away
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Capitol Creek
~2 min drive
17.85-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,260 ft elevation gain.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Capitol Ditch Trail
~6 min drive
5.43-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's White River National Forest with 298 ft gain.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Williams Lake
~7 min drive
1.48-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 416 ft gain.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Capitol Peak: Approach to 12,100 ft
~8 min drive
Approach to Capitol Peak (14,137 ft) from Capitol Creek, mapped to about 12,100 ft. The summit is about 2,100 ft higher, off the mapped line.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Nickelson Creek
~7 min drive
15.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,267 ft elevation gain.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lower Capital Trail
~8 min drive
5.28-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,394 ft gain/loss.
Photo: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Hardscrabble Lake
~8 min drive
0.17-mile out-and-back trail to Hardscrabble Lake in Colorado.
Photo: The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company from Long Beach, California, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Hagerman Peak
~10 min drive
Route to the summit of Hagerman Peak (13,816 ft) from Geneva Lake Trailhead (Lead King Basin).
Photo: GSEC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)North Fork Crystal River
~10 min drive
16.58-mile out-and-back trail on North Fork Crystal River in Colorado.
Photo: snowpeak, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)North Lost
~12 min drive
3.48-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 1,393 ft gain.
