Also see my California 14ers page and Mt. Whitney report, the Colorado 14ers FAQ, and everything on Longs Peak, which I have climbed more than 40 times.

Colorado has 58 mountains over 14,000 feet (4,266 meters) in height but only 53 are noted as ’14ers’. To qualify as a 14er the peak must be 300 feet higher than the saddle of an adjacent peak. A notable exception is North Maroon Peak so 54 has become the ‘official’ number. I have climbed all of them.

There are six distinct ranges that holds these 14’ers plus hundreds of lesser peaks. All this makes Colorado one of the best climbing areas in the world. Many are very easy to get to with many within driving distance of Denver and other Front Range cities. Some require overnight backpacking trips and are well worth the effort. Please read my FAQs for some common questions and answers plus suggestions for a first 14er.

Late June through mid September are the most popular months with thousands of people on the hills. Some mountains can have hundreds of climbers on a sunny weekend day. But don’t let the crowds keep you away. These mountains are big and there are many routes so if you want to avoid the crowds don’t take the “standard” route. In fact the secondary routes are often much more interesting and rewarding!

While it may seem simple to load up the car and go “climb a 14’er”, it can be deadly. Every year people die on these mountains. Thunderstorms with lightning, sudden snow squalls, high winds can turn a great day into a nightmare; so be careful and always consult the NFS and the latest weather and avalanche danger before going up.

There are many great web sites out there about Colorado’s 14’ers with excellent maps, route information, trip reports and photos. My favorite site dedicated to 14ers is Bill Middlebrook’s www.14ers.com. The ‘bible’ of guide books remains Gerry Roach’s Colorado Fourteeners. Even though it was updated in 1999 it is a must have for every 14er climber.

Colorado also offers a great series of Hut trips via 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. Check this link for my 2004 trip to the Fowler-Hillard Hut.

The following table lists all 58 of the 14ers I have climbed. These have links to pages about that particular climb with a short essay, videos and pictures. Longs Peak is special to me since it is close to my home and I used it for training almost every week before my Himalayan climbs. I have summited it 40 times. Currently it has the most extensive coverage. The 👍 indicates one of my favorite 14ers thus far. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did climbing the peaks! But get out there when you can!

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** Popularity is based on the number of summits from over 4000 climbers who log their climbs on 14ers.com. See the entire table with this link.

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*Climbing Class Ratings

Class 1:

Trail hiking. Mostly groomed trails that are easy to find in the summer and relatively smooth. Walk upright without use of hands for balance. It can be a little steep at times. Mount Elbert, the highest 14er, is Class 1 on the standard route.

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Class 2:

Simple off-trail hiking. Some scrambling may be required on the route with an occasional use of the hands for balance. Downclimbing is straightforward. Mt. Massive is a class 2 route with some scrambling required near the summit using hands for balance.

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Class 3:

This is actual “climbing” since you scramble a lot frequently using your hands. Handholds are easy to find. You can downclimb facing out from the rock. Longs Peak’s Keyhole route is rated class 3 but like most routes it is easy class 1 most of the time with the upper sections becoming more difficult thus making the route a class 3.

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Class 4:

Simple climbing, with exposure. You must look for handholds and test them that they will hold you before using. You use your upper body muscles. A rope is often used for downclimbing (rappelling). Falls may well be fatal. The North Maroon Peak is class 4 with the traverse from South to North rated low class 5 on the upclimb on the North Bell. See my video of climbing this section.

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Class 5:

True technical climbing normally using ropes, carabineers, anchors (protection), harness, etc. Climbers often belay one another. In the winter you use an ice axe and crampons. Long’s Keyhole route is rated “technical” in the winter beyond the keyhole since an axe and crampons are used. There are sub-ratings for class 5 ranging from 5.0 for “easy” climbs with frequent hand and foot holds to 5.13 that is has smooth and vertical rock on an overhang. There are an almost unlimited number of class 5 routes on Colorado 14ers plus other non-14er climbs such as the Flatirons and Monastery near Estes Park.

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