Elbert Creek Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville
North Mt. Elbert
Photo: Khoshhat — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)- 7.4 mi
- round trip
- 3,859 ft
- climb
- 14,431 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is North Mt. Elbert open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name North Mt. Elbert, so check the source for the area it covers.
Willow Fire Area Closure
Agency closure covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-39 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel and Annex Area closure
Agency alert covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-19 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
North Mt. Elbert is a hard hike in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, within the Leadville Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 7.4 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 3,859 feet. It starts at the Mt. Elbert Trailhead, which is open year-round, and the high point of the climb reaches 14,431 feet. The trail is a natural-surface route, and bikes are allowed. The low point of the hike sits at 10,575 feet, and the climb is a long, steep one that makes this a serious objective rather than a casual outing. Elbert Creek Campground is about 0.6 miles away, and the Mount Elbert hike is about 0.7 miles away. Halfmoon West Campground is about 1.1 miles away, and Halfmoon Road, a mountain biking route, is about 0.8 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Two Mile Brewing
Bar
On your way back · 9 mi
If it rainsLongled, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHistoric frontier synagogue building
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Longled, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in LeadvilleGo with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 10 mi away
- Arrowhead Point Campground and Cabins23 mi away
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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~1 min drive
22 mi · Hard
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~6 min drive
1.36-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 521 ft elevation gain.
Photo: 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.
Photo: Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Deer Mountain
~12 min drive
Route to the summit of Deer Mountain (13,694 ft) from the trailhead.
Photo: 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.
Photo: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Twin Lakes
~7 min drive
1.68-mile out-and-back trail to Twin Lakes in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
Photo: 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.
Photo: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Mount Elbert
~1 min drive
Standard route to Mount Elbert (14,439 ft) from Mount Elbert Trailhead (North/Northeast Ridge).
Photo: jefftakespictures, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Black Cloud
~9 min drive
6.78-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,747 ft gain and 13,453 ft max elevation
Photo: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Bodfish
~14 min drive
2.76-mile loop in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
Route details
- Distance
- 7.4 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 3,859 ft
- Starts at
- Mt. Elbert Trailhead (about 10,580 ft)
- Summit
- 14,434 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
Getting there
Park at Mt. Elbert Trailhead.
Season
Season: Year-round.
Other routes up Mount Elbert
Questions about this route
How long is the North Mt. Elbert on Mount Elbert?
About 7.4 mi round trip from Mt. Elbert Trailhead (about 10,580 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the North Mt. Elbert?
About 3,859 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the North Mt. Elbert?
It is rated hard.
Where does the North Mt. Elbert start?
Mt. Elbert Trailhead (about 10,580 ft).
When is the best time for the North Mt. Elbert?
Year-round.
How many routes go up Mount Elbert?
3: Black Cloud Trail, North Mt. Elbert and Mount Elbert.
Conditions and forecast on Mount Elbert
Caution at last checkAgency alerts are in effect for this areaUSFS · checked 21 h ago
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.
