{"id":80377,"date":"2019-09-16T11:22:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T18:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=80377"},"modified":"2020-11-20T08:33:57","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T16:33:57","slug":"best-14ers-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/best-14ers-in-colorado","title":{"rendered":"Best 14ers in Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hiking 14,000-foot peaks, or 14ers, takes on a special significance in Colorado. Reaching the summit isn\u2019t simply a weekend endeavor, it\u2019s a rite of passage for locals and visitors alike.\u00a0They\u2019re also often physically and mentally demanding, so it\u2019s important to <a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/14er-mountain-climb-goal-training.html\">make sure you\u2019re prepared appropriately<\/a>. Of Colorado\u2019s 54 peaks and 140-plus routes, here are our favorites for their scenery, views, proximity to Denver and, of course, the unforgettable experience they offer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com\/huron-peak.htm\">Huron Peak<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/a><b><\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> 27 miles northwest of Buena Vista<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Distance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6.4-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intermediate<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">14er newbies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Huron Peak delivers a challenge similar to the relatively mellow ascents of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dayhikesneardenver.com\/mt-bierstadt-trail-on-guanella-pass\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mount Bierstadt<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and Grays and Torreys Peaks, minus the Front Range crowds.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nestled in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/recarea\/psicc\/recarea\/?recid=80755\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> of the San Isabel National Forest, the mountain ekes out 14er status by just 3 feet. It\u2019s also a non-technical summit, meaning it doesn\u2019t require glacier travel, vertical climbing skills or specialized equipment, making it a popular choice for first-time 14er baggers. But be ready for a steady, calf-burning climb to the top. The route starts in the forest before opening up to a large field with views of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitpost.org\/the-three-apostles-sawatchs-best\/793953\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Three Apostles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, three prominent 13,000-foot peaks <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">that look like they belong in the Tetons rather than <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the Sawatch Range. The commanding summit vista makes it impossible to resist <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">taking a selfie with the Apostles as your backdrop. Leadville and Buena Vista, both around an hour from the trailhead, make good post-hike pit stops if you\u2019re craving a bite.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_80442\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-80442\" class=\"wp-image-80442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Mount_Huron_web.jpg?resize=1000%2C600\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-80442\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the way to Mount Huron. (Photo credit: Hiking Project contributor Mike Langenkamp)<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com\/mount-elbert.htm\">Mount Elbert<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location: <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">16 miles south of Leadville<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Distance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">8.9-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intermediate\/Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Bragging rights<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is the tallest 14er in Colorado and the highest peak in the entire Rocky Mountain Range. But don\u2019t be intimidated by its height. Despite the impressive stats, the peak is generally considered to be one of the easiest 14ers to summit, and the standard Northeast Ridge route is a non-technical ascent, typically doable with a basic level of fitness and proper planning. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(The east ridge, or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">South Mountain Elbert route<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, is more difficult but also less crowded.) <\/span><a href=\"\/c\/trekking-poles\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trekking poles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will come in handy for the small creek crossings, and y<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ou\u2019ll want to be on the trail by 6am to help avoid afternoon storms. It\u2019s a 2.5-hour drive from Denver, so plan to wake up early or camp <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">next to the trailhead at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/recarea\/psicc\/recarea\/?recid=12469\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elbert Creek Campground<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The first quarter of the hike is on forested trail, but once you reach 13,500 feet, you\u2019ll be able to look south and see Box Lake and the sharp spine of the Northeast Ridge. Be prepared for not one, not two, but three false summits before you reach the \u201cRoof of the Rockies\u201d and the stellar views of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/photos\/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.+Massive\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mount Massive<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/photos\/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.+Harvard\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Mount Harvard<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Twin Lakes and the Continental Divide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/route.php?route=torr5&amp;peak=Grays+Peak+and+Torreys+Peak\"><b>Grays and Torreys<\/b> Peaks<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location: <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">10 miles southwest of Georgetown<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Distance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">8.3-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intermediate\/Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Double dipping<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There\u2019s no such thing as an easy 14er, much less two. But if you want to double dip, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grays and Torreys Peaks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, located just off I-70 about 75 minutes from Denver, are definitely doable in one day. <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/stewardship\/find-your-fourteener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They\u2019re also incredibly popular<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Midweek trail traffic is the norm in summer, so you\u2019ll want a predawn start, especially if you hope to nab parking near the trailhead. (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parking in the lower lot adds 6 miles round trip to your hike.) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You\u2019ll reach 14,270-foot Grays Peak,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the highest point on the Continental Divide, first. Then it\u2019s less than a mile to traverse the saddle to Torreys Peak <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">which looks out over I-70 and Summit County ski resorts like Breckenridge and <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/snowsports\/arapahoe-basin-the-coolest-ski-area-you-havent-been-to-yet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arapahoe Basin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Then it\u2019s back down the saddle for a beer and a burger in Dillon\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dambrewery.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dillon Dam Brewery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> before you head back to Denver.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><!-- END Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_80471\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-80471\" class=\"wp-image-80471\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Greys_peak_web.jpg?resize=1000%2C564\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"564\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-80471\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grays Peak as seen from Torreys Peak. (Photo credit: Hiking Project contributor Mike Langenkamp)<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/fsinternet\/cs\/detail\/%21ut\/p\/z0\/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjo8zijQwgwNHCwN_DI8zPyBcqYKBfkO2oCABZcx5g\/?position=Not%20Yet%20Determined.Html&amp;pname=Arapaho&amp;ss=110210&amp;navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&amp;pnavid=null&amp;navid=170000000000000&amp;ttype=detail&amp;cid=fsm91_058388\">Mount Evans<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Location: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">40 miles southeast of Georgetown<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Distance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2.4 miles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Difficulty: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intermediate\/Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sunrise views<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the six Front Range 14ers, Mt. Evans is less than two hours from Denver, which means you can tag the summit and be back in the city in time for a late brunch. Plus, it\u2019s worth an early start just to catch the pastel sunrise reflecting off Summit Lake. (Though you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">can <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cheat and drive most of the way to the top.) Mountain Evans Ridge Trail #51 is the most popular footpath to the peak and summits 13,842-foot Mt. Spalding along the way. Keep an eye out for the resident bighorn sheep and summer wildflowers. If you want to truly test your mettle, try cycling to the top. It\u2019s a classic Colorado hill climb that gains 6,500 feet of elevation in 27.5 miles. (The secret to success: Pack layers for the chilly descent.) There\u2019s often a crowd of tourists in the parking lot near the peak, so whether you hike or bike, you can always try to hitch a ride back down if you\u2019re feeling wiped out.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_80495\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-80495\" class=\"wp-image-80495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Mount_Evans_web.jpg?resize=1000%2C733\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"733\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-80495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Navigating a scree field on Mount Evans. (Photo credit: Hiking Project contributor Sarah Baker)<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/php14ers\/tripreport.php?trip=10921\">DeCaliBron<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location: <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">38 miles south of Copper Mountain<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Distance: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">7.0-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Difficulty:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Intermediate\/Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bang for your buck<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conquering four 14ers in a single day sounds like a Herculean feat. But combining Mount Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross (better known as DeCaliBron) is achievable for many hikers. The route isn\u2019t all that long or technical, but spending most of your day above 13,000 feet means you\u2019re sure to <\/span><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/altitude-sickness.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">feel the altitude<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Stock up on water and snacks in nearby Breckenridge. You\u2019ll need them. Mt. Democrat may be the shortest of the four peaks at 14,148 feet, but it\u2019s the most strenuous to climb. At the top, you\u2019ll be surrounded by a sea of peaks that, on a clear day, extend all the way to the Elk Mountains near Aspen. The hike to the summit of Mt. Cameron is easier, and from the peak you\u2019ll traverse some lunar-like terrain to Mt. Lincoln, the highest point of the trek and the eighth-highest mountain in the state. From the top it\u2019s possible to take in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.fed.us\/wildflowers\/regions\/Rocky_Mountain\/PikesPeak\/index.shtml\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pikes Peak<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the south, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/recarea\/whiteriver\/recarea\/?recid=82346\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Maroon Bells<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the west, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mount of the Holy Cross<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the north and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/route.php?route=torr5&amp;peak=Grays+Peak+and+Torreys+Peak\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grays and Torreys Peaks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to the east in a single 360-degree spin. The route then passes just below the privately owned peak of Mount Bross, so no one will blame you for counting it towards your total. Toast to your summit with brisket and bourbon at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/breckenridgedistillery.com\/restaurant\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Breckenridge Distillery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><br \/>\n<!-- END Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/photos\/peakmain.php?peak=Mt.+Sneffels\">Mount Sneffels<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Location<\/b>: 10 miles from Ouray<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 5-mile loop<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: T<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">rue wilderness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leashed<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Affectionately known as the Queen of the San Juans due to its prominence and its panoramic views of Telluride, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/fsinternet\/cs\/recarea?ss=110308&amp;navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&amp;cid=FSE_003738&amp;navid=110240000000000&amp;pnavid=110000000000000&amp;position=generalinfo&amp;recid=32558&amp;ttype=recarea&amp;pname=Blue%20Lakes%20Trail%20\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blue Lakes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and Wilson Mountains, this 14,150-foot peak is also conveniently close to the historic mining town of Ouray. Still, you\u2019ll need 4WD to reach the 11,300-foot lower trailhead in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/recarea\/gmug\/recarea\/?recid=80858\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Yankee Boy Basin, one of Colorado\u2019s best wildflower-viewing areas, particularly in midsummer. And it only gets harder from there. It\u2019s a steep <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/difficultyratings.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 3 hike<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, meaning it requires plenty of exposed scrambling. Bring a helmet, and in April, May and early June, you\u2019ll most likely need <a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/how-to-use-crampons.html\">crampons<\/a> and <a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/how-to-use-an-ice-axe-for-mountaineering.html\">ice axes<\/a>. Your reward is a view that stretches all the way down into Utah\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/cany\/index.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Canyonlands<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on a clear day. Start early so you have plenty of time for a post-summit soak in Ouray\u2019s recently renovated <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ourayhotsprings.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">hot springs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and beers on <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/ouraybrewery.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ouray Brewery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2019s rooftop patio.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_80499\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-80499\" class=\"wp-image-80499\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Mount_Sneffels_web.jpg?resize=1000%2C667\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-80499\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from Mount Sneffels. (Photo credit: Hiking Project contributor Michael Smith)<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.14ers.com\/photos\/peakmain.php?peak=Longs+Peak\">Longs Peak<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Location<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 11 miles south of Estes Park\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Length<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: 14.2-mile out and back<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Difficulty Rating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Difficult<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Best For<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Quintessential front ranger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dogs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No dogs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Only 90 minutes from Denver,14,259-foot Longs Peak is popular with the city\u2019s weekend warriors, but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">don\u2019t make the mistake of choosing it as <\/span><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/14er-mountain-climb-goal-training.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">your first 14er<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This bucket list peak in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/romo\/index.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rocky Mountain National Park<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a true challenge that deserves respect. You\u2019ll want to build up your endurance at altitude, as the climb takes anywhere from 10 to 15 hours roundtrip and requires some serious scrambling and route finding.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just past the Boulder Field near the Chasm Lake overlook, you\u2019ll find <\/span><a href=\"\/blog\/climb\/famous-u-s-summits-longs-peak-colorado\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the Keyhole<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a huge notch in Longs Peak\u2019s North Ridge that marks the start of the Keyhole Route, a classic mountaineering trek that requires a helmet and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> involves scrambling up <\/span><a href=\"\/learn\/expert-advice\/climbing-bouldering-rating.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 3 terrain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Many consider the Homestretch, the final 0.2 miles of steep, exposed granite, to be the toughest bit. Others say the hike back down is just as daunting. But everyone agrees the views of Glacier Gorge, Black Lake and Powell Peak are well worth the physical and mental exertion. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you want to split the trek into two days, Boulder Field has eight, reservations-only campsites around 2 miles from the summit, but you\u2019ll need to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/romo\/planyourvisit\/wilderness-camping.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">book<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> at least 30 days in advance.\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<!-- BEGIN Hiking Project --><br \/>\n<!-- END Hiking Project --><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hiking 14,000-foot peaks, or 14ers, takes on a special significance in Colorado. Reaching the summit isn\u2019t simply a weekend endeavor, it\u2019s a rite of passage for locals and visitors alike.\u00a0They\u2019re also often physically and mentally demanding, so it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re prepared appropriately. Of Colorado\u2019s 54 peaks and 140-plus routes, here are our [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":80510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[388],"tags":[87,583,707,1108,12],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-80377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-colorado","tag-front-range","tag-hiking","tag-mountains","tag-travel"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/travel\/best-14ers-in-colorado","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Best 14ers in Colorado","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/best-14ers-in-colorado","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/best-14ers-in-colorado"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Longs_Peak_hero.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Longs_Peak_hero.jpg?fit=1500%2C960"},"articleSection":"Travel","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["colorado","front range","hiking","mountains","travel"],"dateCreated":"2019-09-16T18:22:35Z","datePublished":"2019-09-16T18:22:35Z","dateModified":"2020-11-20T16:33:57Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Best 14ers in Colorado\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/travel\\\/best-14ers-in-colorado\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/travel\\\/best-14ers-in-colorado\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Longs_Peak_hero.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/09\\\/Longs_Peak_hero.jpg?fit=1500%2C960\"},\"articleSection\":\"Travel\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Michelle Flandreau\"}],\"creator\":[\"Michelle Flandreau\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"colorado\",\"front range\",\"hiking\",\"mountains\",\"travel\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2019-09-16T18:22:35Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-09-16T18:22:35Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-11-20T16:33:57Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/Longs_Peak_hero.jpg?fit=1500%2C960","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80377"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164780,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80377\/revisions\/164780"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80377"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=80377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}