Mount Audubon
Oddly enough, in the midst of the Indian Peaks, the most familiar peak is named for an ornithologist who never saw it. Named after famed, 19th Century artist/ornithologist John James Audubon, this bulky mountain is the most easily recognizable of the Indian Peaks. But it might seem curious to honor Audubon, who never saw Colorado; and especially as his mountain lies in a part of the Front Range dedicated to the native tribes. But it acquired the name very early on, from botanist Charles Parry’s 1861 Colorado expedition, when he made the first recorded ascent of the mountain. Parry suggested names for most of the Front Range peaks that he climbed, recognizing major naturalists of his generation, including ones familiar to us now as Grays, Torreys, James, and Engelmann. In turn, Parry Peak was named for him. The trail is gradual, well-marked by cairns on the tundra and very popular in the hiking season. It’s a good family hike for kids over 10.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: Mount Audubon
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Nederland |
| Length | 7.4 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 3,033 ft |
| Skill Level | Moderate |
| Duration | 120 minutes up, 100 minutes down |
| Season | Early July to late September |
| Trailhead Elevation | 10,460 ft |
| Top Elevation | 13,223 ft |
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