Trails & Peaks
Fourteeners Near Buena Vista
Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, Mount Harvard, and Mount Columbia rise from the Collegiate Peaks just west of the Arkansas River Valley.
The Collegiate Peaks
Big Mountains Right Outside Town
Buena Vista sits at the foot of one of the most impressive concentrations of high peaks in Colorado. The Sawatch Range rises abruptly west of the Arkansas River Valley, with several summits topping 14,000 feet.
Four of the best-known fourteeners near Buena Vista are Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, Mount Harvard, and Mount Columbia. Their standard routes range from long mountain hikes to rough Class 2 terrain requiring careful footing and route finding.
These are not casual walks. Even the more straightforward routes involve thousands of feet of climbing, high elevation, rapidly changing weather, and long stretches above treeline.
Four Mountains
Fourteeners Around Buena Vista
Each mountain has a different character. Route length, road access, terrain, and difficulty can vary considerably even though all four are reached from the same side of the Arkansas River Valley.
14,200 Feet
Mount Princeton
Mount Princeton dominates the skyline southwest of Buena Vista and rises directly above the Chalk Creek Valley.
The standard East Slopes route is Class 2. Starting from the lower two-wheel-drive trailhead makes it a much longer day, while capable vehicles can shorten the approach by climbing partway up Mount Princeton Road.
Standard route: East Slopes
Difficulty: Class 2
From lower trailhead: about 13.25 miles round trip
Elevation gain: about 5,400 feet
14,200 Feet
Mount Yale
Mount Yale is reached from the Cottonwood Pass corridor west of Buena Vista and is one of the most accessible major peaks in the area.
The standard Southwest Slopes route begins at Denny Creek and follows a well-established trail for much of the climb before reaching rougher Class 2 terrain near the summit.
Standard route: Southwest Slopes
Difficulty: Class 2
Round trip: about 9.5 miles
Elevation gain: about 4,300 feet
14,424 Feet
Mount Harvard
Mount Harvard is the highest of the Collegiate Peaks fourteeners immediately surrounding Buena Vista and one of the highest mountains in Colorado.
The standard South Slopes route begins at the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead northwest of town. It is a long day with substantial mileage and sustained elevation gain.
Standard route: South Slopes
Difficulty: Class 2
Round trip: about 13.75 miles
Elevation gain: about 4,600 feet
14,075 Feet
Mount Columbia
Mount Columbia rises immediately southeast of Mount Harvard and is commonly accessed from the same North Cottonwood Creek trailhead.
Its standard West Slopes route is Class 2 but involves steeper, rougher terrain than a simple trail hike. Loose rock and route finding make it a mountain that deserves more respect than its elevation ranking might suggest.
Standard route: West Slopes
Difficulty: Class 2
Round trip: about 12 miles
Elevation gain: about 4,250 feet
Planning Your Climb
Which Fourteener Should You Hike?
There is no truly easy fourteener, but the routes around Buena Vista offer several very different mountain days.
Mount Yale
The most straightforward choice of these four for hikers looking for a traditional trail-based fourteener day. The standard route is still long, steep, and entirely at high elevation.
Mount Princeton
A good choice if the mountain itself is the attraction. Princeton towers over the valley, but the unusual access road and rocky upper route give it a different feel from Yale.
Mount Harvard
Best suited to hikers ready for a longer wilderness day. The approach through North Cottonwood Creek leads deep into the Collegiate Peaks before the final climb toward Harvard.
Mount Columbia
A rugged alternative from the North Cottonwood side. The standard route involves significant climbing and loose mountain terrain, despite Columbia being the lowest of these four summits.
Getting There
Major Fourteener Trailheads
Buena Vista provides access to several major Sawatch Range trailheads, but road conditions and parking situations vary considerably.
Denny Creek
The primary trailhead for Mount Yale's Southwest Slopes route. Access is from County Road 306, the paved road leading west from Buena Vista toward Cottonwood Pass.
North Cottonwood Creek
The main starting point for standard routes on Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia. The trailhead is northwest of Buena Vista at the end of the North Cottonwood road system.
Mount Princeton Road
Access for Mount Princeton is very different. The lower trailhead is accessible to ordinary vehicles, while the narrow road above it becomes a rough four-wheel-drive route with limited parking.
High Country Safety
Start Early and Watch the Sky
Colorado's high mountains can produce fast-moving thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, cold temperatures, and lightning even when the morning begins under clear skies.
Fourteener hikers commonly start before sunrise so they can complete exposed sections of the route before afternoon weather develops. Check the mountain forecast before leaving and be willing to turn around if conditions deteriorate.
- Start early
- Carry plenty of water and food
- Bring warm and waterproof layers
- Download your route before leaving town
- Expect little or no cell service
- Turn around when weather begins building
- Stay on established routes and durable surfaces
Not Looking for 14,000 Feet?
There Is Plenty of Hiking Below the Summits
You do not need to climb a fourteener to experience the mountains around Buena Vista. Cottonwood Pass, North Cottonwood Creek, the Midland Trail system, Fourmile Recreation Area, and nearby alpine lakes provide options ranging from short walks to full-day hikes.