Mount Elbert
A day hike top the top of Colorado’s tallest peak. Although Mount Elbert lacks the protection of wilderness status, it is flanked by wilderness on both sides and retains an essentially pristine and untrammeled quality that makes it an excellent candidate for formal wilderness designation. The peak was named in honor of Samuel Elbert, an early governor of the Colorado Territory. At 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is the loftiest summit in Colorado and is second only to Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada as the tallest peak in the lower forty-eight states. As such, it attracts legions of peak baggers each weekend. For the greatest solitude, plan to visit during the week. This eTrail covers the original Mount Elbert Trail, which climbs along spur ridges to approach the summit from the east.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: Mount Elbert
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Leadville |
| Length | 8.4 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 3,913 ft |
| Skill Level | Moderately strenuous |
| Season | Early July to mid-September |
| Trailhead Elevation | 10,500 ft |
| Top Elevation | 14,433 ft |
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