Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The hike
The walk starts at the North Mount Elbert Trailhead on Halfmoon Road, about 5 miles of dirt road from County Road 11, south-west of Leadville. The route follows the Colorado Trail south through forest for about 1.5 miles, then the North Mount Elbert Trail branches off and climbs west through the trees. Above treeline it switchbacks up onto the north-east ridge, which steepens between about 13,400 and 13,800 feet, then eases past a false summit to the top, at 14,433 feet. Return the same way.
It is 9.8 miles (15.7 km) round trip with 4,290 feet (1,308 m) of climbing; allow about 9 hours. The grade is Strenuous: a long, relentless climb to over 14,000 feet, with steep, rocky ground high on the ridge.
The upper ridge is open, with no shelter from lightning. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer: start well before dawn, be off the summit by late morning, and turn back if clouds build, however close the top looks. False summits make the climb seem shorter than it is. Headache and nausea are signs of altitude sickness; the cure is to go down. In autumn and winter, expect snow and ice on the ridge.
After the 2026 Willow Fire, Halfmoon Road and this trail reopened on August 20, 2026, while nearby Mount Massive stayed closed; check the Forest Service's current closure order before you go.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The highest summit in Colorado and the whole Rocky Mountains, at 4,401 m
- Starts by Halfmoon Creek near Leadville, at the end of a dirt road
- False summits on the upper ridge; turn back if storms build, as there is no shelter
Summits on the way
- Mount Elbert 14,439 ft (4,401 m)
Getting there
Start: North Mount Elbert Trailhead · Free parking. 39.15182, -106.41211
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Colorado Rockies: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
