Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Mount Elbert

Mount ElbertPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
10.2 mi
round trip
4,684 ft
climb
14,439 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Mount Elbert open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name Mount Elbert, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mount Elbert is a 10.16-mile out-and-back hike to the summit of Colorado's highest peak, 14,439-foot Mount Elbert, on the North/Northeast Ridge. The route starts at the Mount Elbert Trailhead in the Leadville Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, managed by the Forest Service. The climb rises 4,684 feet from the trailhead, which sits at about 10,038 feet, to the summit. The hike is rated expert, and the round-trip distance and elevation gain make it a serious day. The trail is a programmatic route generated from OpenStreetMap and OpenRouteService foot-hiking routing, so it is a planned path rather than a single named trail. Elbert Creek Campground is just 0.1 mile from the trailhead, and Halfmoon West Campground is about 0.9 mile away. The Colorado Trail (Segment 11) and Halfmoon Road, both about 0.4 mile off, offer mountain biking close by. Willow Creek, roughly 3.6 miles away, is a paddling option.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Elbert Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Two Mile Brewing

    Bar

    On your way back · 9 mi
  • If it rainsLongled, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Temple Israel

    Museum

    In town

    Historic frontier synagogue building

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Longled, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Colorado Trail Seg. 10 Hagerman Pass Road to Halfmoon CreekPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Colorado Trail Seg. 10 Hagerman Pass Road to Halfmoon Creek

Next door

22 mi · Hard

Black Cloud TrailPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Black Cloud Trail

~6 min drive

1.36-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 521 ft elevation gain.

Mount BlaurockPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Blaurock

~11 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Blaurock (13,593 ft) from Willis Gulch Trailhead.

North Fork Lake CreekPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Fork Lake Creek

~12 min drive

7.77-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,109 ft gain and 12,439 ft max elevation.

Mount Massive Southwest SlopesPhoto: Gaep13 at en.wikipedia), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Massive Southwest Slopes

~5 min drive

Shorter route up Mount Massive (14,421 ft) from the North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead, which needs a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.

Twin LakesPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Twin Lakes

~8 min drive

1.68-mile out-and-back trail to Twin Lakes in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

Rinker PeakPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rinker Peak

~11 min drive

Route to the summit of Rinker Peak (13,730 ft) from Willis Gulch Trailhead.

MOUNTAIN BOYPhoto: Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

MOUNTAIN BOY

~14 min drive

Mountain Boy is a 2.42-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,921 feet of elevation gain.

Rock CreekPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rock Creek

~8 min drive

6.22-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 578 ft elevation gain.

BodfishPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Bodfish

~13 min drive

2.76-mile loop in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

Route details

Distance
10.2 mi round trip
Climbing
About 4,684 ft
Starts at
Mount Elbert Trailhead (North/Northeast Ridge) (about 10,056 ft)
Summit
14,434 ft
Difficulty
Expert

Other routes up Mount Elbert

Questions about this route

How long is the Mount Elbert on Mount Elbert?

About 10.2 mi round trip from Mount Elbert Trailhead (North/Northeast Ridge) (about 10,056 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Mount Elbert?

About 4,684 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mount Elbert?

It is rated expert.

Where does the Mount Elbert start?

Mount Elbert Trailhead (North/Northeast Ridge) (about 10,056 ft).

How many routes go up Mount Elbert?

3: Black Cloud Trail, North Mt. Elbert and Mount Elbert.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Elbert

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

© openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors