Trails & Peaks
Fourteeners Near Leadville
Climb Colorado's highest mountain, tackle the massive ridgeline of Mount Massive, or head east of town for a shorter route up Mount Sherman.
Colorado's High Country
Three Fourteeners Within Easy Reach of Leadville
Leadville sits between two mountain ranges filled with some of Colorado's highest terrain.
To the west, the Sawatch Range rises abruptly above the upper Arkansas River Valley. Mount Elbert reaches 14,438 feet, making it the highest summit in Colorado. Just north of it, Mount Massive reaches 14,427 feet and stretches across a long, imposing ridgeline.
East of town, the Mosquito Range offers a very different mountain day. Mount Sherman can be climbed from Iowa Gulch on the Leadville side, starting near 12,000 feet and requiring considerably less mileage and elevation gain than Elbert or Massive.
All three are serious high-elevation hikes. Even routes rated Class 1 involve altitude, exposed terrain, rapidly changing weather, and long stretches with little shelter.
The Big Three
Leadville Fourteeners at a Glance
14,438 Feet
Mount Elbert
Colorado's highest summit and the highest point in the entire Rocky Mountain chain. The Northeast Ridge is a Class 1 route, but still climbs roughly 4,500 vertical feet.
14,427 Feet
Mount Massive
A huge Sawatch Range mountain north of Elbert. The standard East Slopes route is longer and rougher, covering nearly 14 miles round trip.
14,043 Feet
Mount Sherman
East of Leadville in the Mosquito Range, Sherman offers a much shorter summer route from Iowa Gulch with approximately 2,150 feet of climbing.
Choose a Mountain
Three Very Different Summit Days
Elevation alone does not tell you how difficult a fourteener will be. Mileage, elevation gain, terrain, weather exposure, and route conditions vary considerably between these three mountains.
Colorado's Highest Peak
Mount Elbert
Mount Elbert rises southwest of Leadville to 14,438 feet, making it the highest mountain in Colorado.
The Northeast Ridge is the standard route from the Leadville side. It begins near Halfmoon Creek and follows a well-established trail through forest before climbing above treeline onto Elbert's broad northeast ridge.
The route is technically Class 1, but the numbers are substantial. You will climb about 4,500 vertical feet over a round trip of roughly 9.75 miles.
Standard route: Northeast Ridge
Difficulty: Class 1
Round trip: about 9.75 miles
Elevation gain: about 4,500 feet
A Long Mountain Day
Mount Massive
Mount Massive rises immediately north of Mount Elbert and reaches 14,427 feet.
The mountain lives up to its name. Instead of a single sharp summit, Massive stretches across a long high ridge with several points above 14,000 feet.
The standard East Slopes route begins from the Halfmoon Creek side of the mountain. It is rated Class 2 and is considerably longer than the standard route on Elbert.
Standard route: East Slopes
Difficulty: Class 2
Round trip: about 13.75 miles
Elevation gain: about 4,500 feet
From the Leadville Side
Mount Sherman
Mount Sherman rises east of Leadville in the Mosquito Range and provides a completely different fourteener experience from Elbert and Massive.
The West Slopes route begins high in Iowa Gulch, reached from the east side of Leadville. In summer, the upper trailhead sits around 12,000 feet, dramatically reducing the amount of climbing required.
The route is Class 1, but portions are steep and loose. Old mining structures and the remains of Leadville's mining landscape surround much of the approach.
Leadville route: West Slopes from Iowa Gulch
Difficulty: Class 1
Round trip: about 4.5 miles
Elevation gain: about 2,150 feet
14,438 Feet
Stand on the Roof of Colorado
Mount Elbert is the obvious centerpiece of fourteener hiking around Leadville.
Despite being Colorado's highest mountain, its standard Northeast Ridge does not require technical climbing. The difficulty comes from the sustained ascent, high elevation, distance, and weather exposure.
The trail climbs more than 4,000 feet from the Halfmoon Creek area before reaching Elbert's broad summit.
On a clear day, the view extends across the Sawatch Range, the upper Arkansas River Valley, Twin Lakes, the Mosquito Range, and mountains stretching far across central Colorado.
Planning Your Climb
Which Leadville Fourteener Should You Hike?
None of these mountains is easy, but they offer very different levels of commitment.
Mount Elbert
The natural choice if you want to climb Colorado's highest mountain. The Northeast Ridge is technically straightforward, but nearly 10 miles and 4,500 feet of climbing make it a full mountain day.
Mount Massive
Best for hikers prepared for more distance and rougher terrain. Massive is a long, sustained outing with considerably more mileage than Elbert's standard route.
Mount Sherman
The shortest option from Leadville during summer. Starting high in Iowa Gulch cuts the mileage and vertical gain considerably, although altitude, loose terrain, wind, and mountain weather still matter.
Two Mountain Ranges
Sawatch to the West, Mosquito to the East
Leadville sits in a broad high valley between two very different mountain ranges.
Mount Elbert and Mount Massive belong to the Sawatch Range west of town. These mountains rise thousands of feet above forested valleys and contain some of the highest terrain in Colorado.
Mount Sherman lies across the valley in the Mosquito Range. The landscape is more open and heavily marked by Leadville's mining history, with old roads, mine ruins, and high basins extending toward the Continental Divide.
That makes it possible to experience two very different kinds of Colorado fourteener terrain while staying in Leadville.
Getting There
Fourteener Trailheads Near Leadville
Trailhead roads and parking conditions can change from year to year. Check current information before leaving town.
Mount Elbert North Trailhead
The Northeast Ridge begins from the Halfmoon Creek area southwest of Leadville.
Access leaves US 24 south of town and follows County Road 11 toward Halfmoon Creek.
Mount Massive Trailhead
Mount Massive's standard East Slopes route also begins along Halfmoon Creek Road, making the same corridor the primary access point for both of Leadville's giant Sawatch Range peaks.
Iowa Gulch
Mount Sherman's West Slopes route begins east of Leadville in Iowa Gulch.
The summer approach is roughly seven road miles from US 24 in Leadville and reaches an unmarked parking area near 12,000 feet.
Already Above 10,000 Feet
Leadville Is High Before the Hike Even Starts
One advantage of staying in Leadville is that you are already sleeping at very high elevation before heading toward a fourteener.
That does not eliminate altitude problems. Visitors arriving from lower elevations can feel the effects of Leadville's elevation before beginning a hike, and climbing rapidly above 12,000 or 13,000 feet adds additional stress.
Give yourself time to adjust, drink water, eat normally, and pay attention to how you feel. A summit is never worth pushing through serious symptoms of altitude illness.
High Country Safety
Start Early and Watch the Weather
Colorado's highest peaks are exposed to rapidly changing weather. Thunderstorms, lightning, hail, strong wind, and sudden temperature drops can arrive even after a clear morning.
Start Before the Storms
Fourteener hikers commonly begin before sunrise so they can complete exposed portions of the route before afternoon thunderstorms develop.
Bring Mountain Layers
Carry warm clothing and rain protection even on a warm summer day in Leadville. Conditions above treeline can be dramatically colder and windier than the valley.
Know When to Turn Around
If clouds begin building, lightning is visible, or conditions are deteriorating, descend. The summit will still be there another day.
Before You Go
Check Current Conditions
Snow can remain on Leadville's high peaks well into summer, and an early fall storm can quickly return winter conditions to the summits.
Route Conditions
Check recent reports before your climb. Snowfields, ice, washed-out trail sections, and changing road conditions can alter what would otherwise be a straightforward summer route.
Check current 14er conditions →Trailhead Access
Dirt roads around Halfmoon Creek and Iowa Gulch can change with weather, runoff, maintenance, and winter closures. Do not assume your vehicle can reach the same starting point shown in an older route description.
Download the Route
Cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains. Save your map and route information before leaving Leadville.
Not Looking for 14,000 Feet?
There Is Plenty to Hike Below the Summits
Leadville has mountain scenery without requiring a fourteener. Turquoise Lake, the Colorado Trail, Hagerman Pass, and surrounding forest roads and trails provide plenty of ways to explore the high country at a more relaxed pace.