What are the five unranked named Colorado 14ers?

The current five named but unranked peaks are Mount Cameron, El Diente Peak, Challenger Point, North Eolus and Conundrum Peak.

Why does the Colorado Mountain Club use 54 14ers?

The Colorado Mountain Club officially recognizes 54 fourteeners for completer status. Its list includes its traditional prominence-based set plus North Maroon Peak and El Diente Peak and excludes Challenger Point.

What is a good first Class 3 Colorado 14er?

Wetterhorn Peak is widely used as an introductory Class 3 progression peak because the scrambling is concentrated, the rock is generally solid and the route builds gradually into the exposed final section.

Do all Colorado 14ers require permits?

No statewide permit applies to all Colorado 14ers. Access varies by mountain. Some peaks involve park timed entry, private-land waivers or reservations, road reservations, wilderness travel logistics or trailhead parking systems.

Last updated October 11, 2026

Home › United States › Colorado 14ers

58 named peaks · 53 ranked · CMC 54 · current LiDAR elevations · Class 1–4

Colorado 14ers: All 58 Peaks, Ranked by Difficulty

Q: What is the easiest Colorado 14er?

In the current 14ers.com standard-route difficulty ranking, Handies Peak ranks first, followed by Grays Peak, Torreys Peak, Quandary Peak and Mount Elbert.

Q: What is the hardest Colorado 14er?

Capitol Peak ranks hardest in the current 14ers.com standard-route difficulty list. Its Northeast Ridge is Class 4, about 17 miles round trip with roughly 5,300 feet of gain, and includes the exposed Knife Edge.

Colorado has 58 named fourteeners, and the standard routes range from a 5.75-mile Class 1 hike on Handies Peak to Capitol Peak’s 17-mile Class 4 Northeast Ridge. This master list follows the current 14ers.com elevation inventory and standard-route difficulty order, then adds range filters, access flags, common combinations and a checklist that remembers your progress.

Explore All 58 Open My Checklist

58 rows verifiedcurrent LiDAR elevationsroute mileage + gain2026 access board

58named 14ers

53currently ranked

54CMC completer minimum

14,438 ftMount Elbert

#58Capitol · hardest route

By Travis Ludlow · Global Summit Guide · Safety review: Dawson Ludlow

Peak list, routes and access checked September 4, 2026

The direct answer

58 Named Peaks—But the Useful Question Is What Kind of 14er Comes Next.

Use 58 for the broad current named-summit list. Use 53 for the current prominence-ranked 14ers.com list. The Colorado Mountain Club recognizes a 54-peak minimum for official completer status.

For standard-route difficulty, the current 14ers.com order begins with Handies, Grays, Torreys, Quandary and Mount Elbert. It ends with Crestone Needle, Sunlight, Pyramid, North Maroon, Little Bear and Capitol. That progression matters more than elevation alone: Mount Elbert is Colorado’s highest summit, yet its normal route is only #5 in the difficulty order.

The page uses one elevation standard throughout: the current values displayed by 14ers.com, including Mount Elbert at 14,438 ft, not the legacy 14,440-foot figure still found in older guides.

Easiest standard routeHandies · #1

Highest peakElbert · 14,438 ft

First Class 3 tierWindom · #39

Progression favoriteWetterhorn · #46

Hardest standard routeCapitol · #58

Largest range countSawatch · 15

Difficulty order is route-specific. This ranking follows the current 14ers.com standard-route list, which groups routes by class and orders them by overall difficulty using the normal route, gain and distance. Snow, alternate lines, poor route-finding and seasonal conditions can move the real day well beyond the listed grade.

Three list conventions

58, 53 and 54 Are Different Rules—not Conflicting Mountains

The dedicated count page handles the history in depth. For planning, choose one list convention and keep it consistent.

Named Peaks

The broad current list used for browsing and this checklist. It includes five named summits that do not meet the current 300-foot prominence threshold.

Current Ranked Peaks

14ers.com’s current prominence-based set. The five named/unranked peaks are Mount Cameron, El Diente, Challenger Point, North Eolus and Conundrum.

CMC Completer Minimum

The Colorado Mountain Club recognizes 54. In current-list terms, its tradition effectively adds El Diente to the current ranked set while excluding Challenger Point.

Read the full 58 vs 53 vs 54 explanation →

Interactive statewide range explorer

Seven Range Groups, Seven Different 14er Experiences

The graphic is schematic rather than navigational. Select a range to filter the database and see its character.

Start here

Choose a Range

The Sawatch contains the most named 14ers and the largest concentration of Class 1–2 routes. The Elks contain far fewer peaks but dominate the hardest end of the list. Select a range on the map to filter the database below.

Largest countSawatch · 15

Broadest difficultySan Juan · Class 1–4

Hardest concentrationElk Mountains

Closest to DenverFront Range

The real statewide progression

From Trail Hiking to Class 4 Terrain

The current 14ers.com difficulty list provides a useful six-stage progression across all 58 standard routes.

1–8

Class 1

Handies through Pikes. Established hiking routes where altitude, weather and endurance dominate.

9–33

Class 2

Bross through Holy Cross. Rough trail, talus, longer days and more varied route-finding.

34–38

Difficult Class 2

Conundrum through Blanca. Bigger commitment before technical scrambling begins.

39–42

Easy Class 3

Windom, Sneffels, Lindsey and Kit Carson. The bridge from hiking into hands-on terrain.

43–52

Class 3

El Diente through Snowmass. Exposure, route-finding and scrambling become central.

53–58

Class 4

Crestone Needle through Capitol. Severe fall consequence and advanced movement skills.

Wetterhorn is #46, not the first Class 3 peak in the ranking. It remains a strong deliberate progression choice because the Class 3 section is concentrated and generally solid. “First by rank” and “best first learning objective” are not always the same thing.

The master database

All 58 Colorado 14ers Ranked by Standard-Route Difficulty

Search, filter or sort. The default order is the current 14ers.com standard-route difficulty ranking from Handies #1 to Capitol #58.

Difficulty ↓	Peak	Elevation	Range	Standard route	Class	Distance	Gain	Access	Common combo
1	Handies PeakRanked	14,058 ft	San Juan Mountains	Southwest Slopes	Class 1	5.75 mi	2,500 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Solo
2	Grays PeakRanked	14,275 ft	Front Range	North Slopes	Class 1	7.5 mi	3,000 ft	High-clearance / 4WD TH	Grays + Torreys
3	Torreys PeakRanked	14,272 ft	Front Range	South Slopes	Class 1	7.75 mi	3,000 ft	High-clearance / 4WD TH	Grays + Torreys
4	Quandary PeakRanked	14,272 ft	Tenmile Range	East Ridge	Class 1	6.75 mi	3,450 ft	Managed popular TH	Solo
5	Mount ElbertRanked	14,438 ft	Sawatch Range	Northeast Ridge	Class 1	9.75 mi	4,500 ft	2WD dirt	Solo
6	San Luis PeakRanked	14,023 ft	San Juan Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Class 1	13.5 mi	3,600 ft	Rough 2WD / remote	Solo
7	Mount ShermanRanked	14,043 ft	Mosquito Range	Southwest Ridge	Class 1	5.25 mi	2,100 ft	Rough 2WD	Solo
8	Pikes PeakRanked	14,109 ft	Front Range	East Slopes	Class 1	24 mi	7,600 ft	Paved / long trail	Solo
9	Mount BrossRanked	14,178 ft	Mosquito Range	West Slopes	Class 2	3.25 mi	2,250 ft	Summit officially closed	DeCaLiBron
10	Mount CameronNamed / unranked	14,248 ft	Mosquito Range	West Ridge	Class 2	4.75 mi	2,250 ft	Kite Lake / private parcels	DeCaLiBron
11	Mount LincolnRanked	14,293 ft	Mosquito Range	West Ridge	Class 2	6 mi	2,600 ft	Kite Lake / private parcels	DeCaLiBron
12	Mount BierstadtRanked	14,066 ft	Front Range	West Slopes	Class 2	7.25 mi	2,850 ft	Paved pass	Solo; Sawtooth is advanced
13	Mount DemocratRanked	14,154 ft	Mosquito Range	East Slope	Class 2	4 mi	2,150 ft	Kite Lake / private parcels	DeCaLiBron
14	Huron PeakRanked	14,006 ft	Sawatch Range	Northwest Slopes	Class 2	7 mi	3,500 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Solo
15	Culebra PeakRanked	14,053 ft	Sangre de Cristo	Northwest Ridge	Class 2	5 mi	2,750 ft	Private ranch reservation	Culebra + Red Mountain 13er
16	Mount PrincetonRanked	14,200 ft	Sawatch Range	East Slopes	Class 2	6.5 mi	3,200 ft	High-clearance option	Solo
17	Redcloud PeakRanked	14,037 ft	San Juan Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Class 2	9 mi	3,700 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Redcloud + Sunshine
18	Mount Blue SkyRanked	14,268 ft	Front Range	West Ridge from Summit Lake	Class 2	5.5 mi	2,000 ft	Vehicle reservation / seasonal road	Solo; Sawtooth link is advanced
19	Mount BelfordRanked	14,202 ft	Sawatch Range	Northwest Ridge	Class 2	8 mi	4,500 ft	2WD dirt	Belford + Oxford
20	Uncompahgre PeakRanked	14,318 ft	San Juan Mountains	South Ridge	Class 2	7.5 mi	3,000 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Usually solo
21	Mount ShavanoRanked	14,230 ft	Sawatch Range	East Slopes	Class 2	10 mi	4,500 ft	Rough 2WD	Shavano + Tabeguache
22	Humboldt PeakRanked	14,068 ft	Sangre de Cristo	West Ridge	Class 2	10.5 mi	4,300 ft	4WD option / long approach	Usually solo
23	Mount ColumbiaRanked	14,075 ft	Sawatch Range	West Slopes	Class 2	12 mi	4,250 ft	2WD dirt	Harvard + Columbia
24	Mount YaleRanked	14,200 ft	Sawatch Range	Southwest Slopes	Class 2	9.5 mi	4,300 ft	Paved / 2WD	Solo
25	La Plata PeakRanked	14,344 ft	Sawatch Range	Northwest Ridge	Class 2	9.25 mi	4,400 ft	Paved / 2WD	Solo
26	Sunshine PeakRanked	14,004 ft	San Juan Mountains	Via Redcloud Peak	Class 2	12.25 mi	4,800 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Redcloud + Sunshine
27	Missouri MountainRanked	14,071 ft	Sawatch Range	Northwest Ridge	Class 2	10.5 mi	4,500 ft	2WD dirt	Usually solo
28	Mount MassiveRanked	14,427 ft	Sawatch Range	East Slopes	Class 2	13.75 mi	4,500 ft	2WD dirt	Solo
29	Mount AnteroRanked	14,271 ft	Sawatch Range	West Slopes	Class 2	15.5 mi	5,200 ft	4WD road	Solo
30	Mount HarvardRanked	14,424 ft	Sawatch Range	South Slopes	Class 2	13.75 mi	4,600 ft	2WD dirt	Harvard + Columbia
31	Tabeguache PeakRanked	14,158 ft	Sawatch Range	Via Mount Shavano	Class 2	12 mi	5,600 ft	Rough 2WD	Shavano + Tabeguache
32	Mount OxfordRanked	14,158 ft	Sawatch Range	Via Mount Belford	Class 2	11 mi	5,900 ft	2WD dirt	Belford + Oxford
33	Mount of the Holy CrossRanked	14,007 ft	Sawatch Range	North Ridge	Class 2	11.25 mi	5,600 ft	2WD dirt	Solo
34	Conundrum PeakNamed / unranked	14,037 ft	Elk Mountains	South Ridge	Difficult Class 2	13.5 mi	4,400 ft	4WD road	Castle + Conundrum
35	Castle PeakRanked	14,274 ft	Elk Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Difficult Class 2	13.5 mi	4,600 ft	4WD road	Castle + Conundrum
36	Ellingwood PointRanked	14,057 ft	Sangre de Cristo	South Face	Difficult Class 2	17 mi	6,200 ft	Difficult 4WD / Lake Como	Blanca + Ellingwood
37	Challenger PointNamed / unranked	14,086 ft	Sangre de Cristo	North Slope	Difficult Class 2	13.5 mi	5,400 ft	Rough 2WD	Challenger + Kit Carson
38	Blanca PeakRanked	14,350 ft	Sangre de Cristo	Northwest Ridge	Difficult Class 2	17 mi	6,500 ft	Difficult 4WD / Lake Como	Blanca + Ellingwood
39	Windom PeakRanked	14,089 ft	San Juan Mountains	West Ridge	Easy Class 3	6 mi	3,000 ft	Train / backpack	Chicago Basin multi-peak trip
40	Mount SneffelsRanked	14,155 ft	San Juan Mountains	South Slopes	Easy Class 3	6 mi	2,900 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Solo
41	Mount LindseyRanked	14,055 ft	Sangre de Cristo	Northwest Gully	Easy Class 3	8.25 mi	3,500 ft	Waiver + rough 4WD	Solo
42	Kit Carson PeakRanked	14,167 ft	Sangre de Cristo	Via Challenger Point	Easy Class 3	15 mi	6,250 ft	Rough 2WD / long approach	Challenger + Kit Carson
43	El Diente PeakNamed / unranked	14,175 ft	San Juan Mountains	South Slopes	Class 3	12 mi	4,400 ft	2WD / backpack	El Diente–Wilson traverse: expert
44	Mount WilsonRanked	14,256 ft	San Juan Mountains	Southwest Slopes	Class 3	12.5 mi	4,400 ft	2WD / backpack	El Diente–Wilson traverse: expert
45	North EolusNamed / unranked	14,042 ft	San Juan Mountains	South Ridge	Class 3	0.2 mi	250 ft	Train / backpack	Eolus + North Eolus
46	Wetterhorn PeakRanked	14,021 ft	San Juan Mountains	Southeast Ridge	Class 3	7 mi	3,300 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Solo
47	Mount EolusRanked	14,087 ft	San Juan Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Class 3	6 mi	3,100 ft	Train / backpack	Eolus + North Eolus
48	Longs PeakRanked	14,259 ft	Front Range	Keyhole Route	Class 3	14.5 mi	5,100 ft	RMNP timed-entry rules	Solo
49	Wilson PeakRanked	14,021 ft	San Juan Mountains	Southwest Ridge	Class 3	10 mi	3,900 ft	High-clearance / 4WD	Usually solo
50	Crestone PeakRanked	14,299 ft	Sangre de Cristo	South Face	Class 3	14 mi	6,200 ft	4WD option / long approach	Crestone traverse: expert
51	Maroon PeakRanked	14,163 ft	Elk Mountains	South Ridge	Class 3	12 mi	4,800 ft	Maroon Lake reservation system	Bells traverse: expert
52	Snowmass MountainRanked	14,105 ft	Elk Mountains	East Slopes	Class 3	22 mi	5,800 ft	2WD + backpack	Solo / backpack
53	Crestone NeedleRanked	14,196 ft	Sangre de Cristo	South Face	Class 4	11.5 mi	4,700 ft	4WD option / long approach	Crestone traverse: expert
54	Sunlight PeakRanked	14,061 ft	San Juan Mountains	South Face	Class 4	6 mi	3,000 ft	Train / backpack	Chicago Basin multi-peak trip
55	Pyramid PeakRanked	14,029 ft	Elk Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Class 4	8.25 mi	4,500 ft	Maroon Lake reservation system	Solo
56	North Maroon PeakRanked	14,022 ft	Elk Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Class 4	9.25 mi	4,600 ft	Maroon Lake reservation system	Bells traverse: expert
57	Little Bear PeakRanked	14,041 ft	Sangre de Cristo	West Ridge and Hourglass	Class 4	14 mi	6,200 ft	Difficult 4WD / Lake Como	Little Bear–Blanca traverse: expert
58	Capitol PeakRanked	14,138 ft	Elk Mountains	Northeast Ridge	Class 4	17 mi	5,300 ft	Rough 2WD + backpack	Solo / backpack

Showing 58 peaks.Elevation standard: current 14ers.com LiDAR list · route rank/gain/distance: current 14ers.com difficulty list.

Current-elevation correction: older lists often show Elbert 14,440 ft, Massive 14,428 ft and Harvard 14,421 ft. This table follows the current 14ers.com display: 14,438 / 14,427 / 14,424.

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Choose the list you’re completing

58 named includes all five lower-prominence named summits. 53 ranked follows the current 14ers.com prominence list. CMC 54 follows the club’s completer tradition; in this checklist that is the current ranked set plus El Diente.

Checked September 4, 2026

2026 Access Board: The Mountain Can Be Easy While the Logistics Are Not

These are the statewide exceptions most likely to change a trip plan. Recheck the land manager or access provider immediately before departure.

Longs Peak · RMNP

Timed Entry Applies 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Rocky Mountain National Park requires 2026 timed entry from May 22 through October 12 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for park areas including Longs Peak. Very early Keyhole starts are often before that window, but later entry still needs the current park rule checked.

Mount Blue Sky

Vehicle Reservations + Seasonal Road

Vehicle reservations are required for the Mount Blue Sky corridor. CDOT says the summit section closes for the season at 8 a.m. September 8, 2026; the lower road to Summit Lake remains weather-dependent afterward.

Mount Lindsey

Open With Mandatory Waiver

14ers.com lists the standard routes as open under a required landowner liability waiver. The upper mountain is private property, and the approach road becomes rough enough that 4WD matters near the trailhead.

Culebra Peak

Private Ranch · 2026 Season Closed Now

Cielo Vista Ranch requires advance reservations and a $150 fee. Its 2026 climbing season runs January through July; there is no climbing August through December because of hunting season.

Mount Bross

True Summit Officially Closed

14ers.com’s current route pages state that Bross’s true summit remains officially closed because the many landowners have not granted formal permission. Respect the legal bypass and private-property boundaries.

Chicago Basin

2026 Train Logistics Changed

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s 2026 wilderness-access guidance says there are no southbound Needleton drop-offs. Windom, Sunlight, Eolus and North Eolus plans should be built around the current train schedule rather than old trip reports.

#58 · Capitol Peak

A 14er List Is Not One Difficulty Level.

Capitol’s 17-mile Northeast Ridge and exposed Class 4 Knife Edge are why completing easy hiking 14ers does not automatically prepare someone for the end of the Colorado list.

Photo: Greg Willis · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Efficiency without forcing dangerous traverses

Common 14er Combinations

Some combinations are normal peakbagging days. Others are expert traverses and should never be treated as simple list efficiency.

Common

Grays + Torreys

Two Front Range summits with a shared approach and straightforward connecting saddle.

Common

Redcloud + Sunshine

Sunshine’s standard difficulty ranking is explicitly based on reaching it via Redcloud.

Common

Belford + Oxford

Oxford’s standard route is via Belford, making the pair part of the normal Missouri Gulch planning system.

Common

Shavano + Tabeguache

Tabeguache’s standard ranking assumes the common continuation from Shavano.

Common

Castle + Conundrum

Closely linked Elk summits, though they still sit in the difficult-Class-2 end of the list.

Trip cluster

Chicago Basin

Windom, Sunlight, Mount Eolus and North Eolus are often organized as one backpacking/train-access trip rather than one day.

Private-land caution

DeCaLiBron

Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross form the famous loop, but Bross’s true summit remains officially closed. Legal access must control the plan.

Expert only

Crestone Traverse

Crestone Peak–Needle is not an efficiency shortcut; it is advanced exposed terrain beyond the standard routes.

Expert only

Maroon Bells / Little Bear–Blanca

These traverses belong to advanced mountaineering progression, not a checklist optimization strategy.

Statewide planning rhythm

Colorado 14er Season Is a Moving Window, Not a Fixed Date

The route class is summer terrain. Snow can convert an easy route into a mountaineering objective.

MayWinter/spring snow, avalanche and traction skills often required.

JuneRapid transition; lingering snow and wet crossings vary by range.

JulyBroad summer opening; monsoon lightning timing becomes central.

AugustPrime dry-route month, but thunderstorms and access rules still matter.

SeptemberOften excellent early; shorter daylight and first snow increase later.

October+Shoulder/winter conditions; summer class ratings may no longer describe the route.

Start-time rules should come from the forecast, not a slogan. Colorado’s summer convection often favors early starts, but cloud development, overnight storms, freezing level, wind and route length determine the actual margin.

Five low-end routes, five different lessons

Strong First Colorado 14ers

#1 difficulty

Handies Peak

5.75 mi / 2,500 ft gain / Class 1. The easiest route in the current ranking, but American Basin access can require a capable vehicle.

#2 difficulty

Grays Peak

7.5 mi / 3,000 ft / Class 1. Straightforward route with an obvious Torreys progression; the upper trailhead road is its main logistics filter.

#4 difficulty

Quandary Peak

6.75 mi / 3,450 ft / Class 1. Compact, heavily used and close to Breckenridge—good for learning altitude pacing without adding scrambling.

#5 difficulty

Mount Elbert

9.75 mi / 4,500 ft / Class 1. The state high point proves a nontechnical trail can still be a substantial endurance and altitude day.

Bierstadt remains a strong first-14er choice even though it ranks #12 rather than top five. The approach is simple and accessible, but its Class 2 summit terrain makes it a slightly better second-step objective than a pure Class 1 introduction.

The last six

The Hardest End of the Colorado 14er List

The Class 4 tier is not simply “more tiring.” Exposure, fall consequence, rock quality and route-finding change the activity.

#53

Crestone Needle

11.5 mi / 4,700 ft. Route-finding on steep terrain and consequential scrambling mark the transition into the final tier.

#54

Sunlight Peak

6 mi / 3,000 ft from the Chicago Basin context. The exposed summit block is only part of a larger wilderness-access trip.

#55

Pyramid Peak

8.25 mi / 4,500 ft. Elk Mountain rock, route-finding and exposure make the moderate mileage misleading.

#56–58

North Maroon · Little Bear · Capitol

The list finishes with loose Elk terrain, Little Bear’s Hourglass and Capitol’s Knife Edge. These should follow deliberate scrambling and route-finding progression, not simply a large number of easier summits.

#46 · Wetterhorn Peak

A Better Progression Is Built by Skill, Not by Peak Count.

Wetterhorn is a useful example: it is not the first Class 3 mountain in the numerical list, but its compact, generally solid scramble has long made it a deliberate introduction to exposed Class 3 movement.

Wetterhorn Peak · public domain · Wikimedia Commons

One source standard for each question

How to Read the Data

The page avoids mixing old elevations, current prominence rules and route classes from different generations.

Peak inventory

14ers.com Current 58-Peak List

Used for the current named list, 53-ranked status, range grouping and displayed LiDAR elevations.

Open current peak list →

Difficulty order

14ers.com Routes by Difficulty

Used for the 1–58 standard-route difficulty order, route names, class tiers, mileage and elevation gain.

Open difficulty list →

Completer standard

Colorado Mountain Club

Used for the current 54-peak minimum and the club’s own traditional list definition.

Open CMC completers →

Road context

14ers.com Trailhead Ratings

Useful for understanding the difference between paved access, rough 2WD roads and technical 4WD trailheads.

Open road ratings →

Current source wins over familiar legacy numbers. That is why this page now shows Mount Elbert at 14,438 ft, North Maroon as ranked and Challenger Point as named/unranked. If those source conventions change again, the page should update the standard explicitly rather than mixing old and new rows.

Continue Colorado planning

Choose, Progress, Prepare

List rules

How Many 14ers Are in Colorado?

The dedicated 58/53/54 count explanation and current named/unranked inventory.

Understand the list → Selection

Best Mountains to Climb in Colorado

Choose by experience and trip goal rather than completion order.

Compare Colorado peaks → State high point

Mount Elbert Guide

Altitude, access and route planning for Colorado’s highest summit.

Plan Mount Elbert → Expert end

Capitol Peak Guide

Understand why the last peak in the difficulty ranking belongs late in a progression.

Study Capitol → Skills

Mountain Difficulty Ratings

Translate Class 1–4 into movement, exposure, route-finding and readiness.

Understand difficulty → Plan

My Climb

Move a selected summit into weather, access, gear and trip planning.

Open My Climb →

Direct answers

Colorado 14ers FAQ

How many 14ers are in Colorado?

Colorado has 58 named fourteeners on the broad current 14ers.com list. Fifty-three are currently ranked under the 300-foot prominence convention. The Colorado Mountain Club recognizes a 54-peak minimum for completer status.

What is the easiest Colorado 14er?

Handies Peak ranks first in the current 14ers.com standard-route difficulty list. Its Southwest Slopes route is Class 1, about 5.75 miles round trip with roughly 2,500 feet of gain.

What is the hardest Colorado 14er?

Capitol Peak ranks #58, hardest, in the current standard-route difficulty list. The Northeast Ridge is Class 4, roughly 17 miles with about 5,300 feet of gain and includes the exposed Knife Edge.

What are the five named but unranked Colorado 14ers?

Mount Cameron, El Diente Peak, Challenger Point, North Eolus and Conundrum Peak.

Why does CMC use 54 instead of 53 or 58?

The Colorado Mountain Club keeps its own historic completer tradition and officially recognizes 54 summits. The club says its list includes its traditional ranked set plus North Maroon and El Diente while excluding Challenger Point.

What is a strong first Class 3 Colorado 14er?

Wetterhorn Peak is widely used as an introductory Class 3 objective because the scramble builds gradually and the upper rock is generally solid. The exposure is real, so it should follow deliberate Class 2 and scrambling preparation.

Do I need permits for Colorado 14ers?

There is no single statewide 14er permit. Requirements vary: Longs sits in RMNP’s timed-entry system, Culebra is private and reservation-only, Lindsey requires a landowner waiver, Mount Blue Sky uses vehicle reservations, and other peaks can involve wilderness, trailhead or shuttle rules.

What months are best for Colorado 14ers?

July through early September is the broadest summer-route window for many peaks, but snowpack, monsoon storms, access roads and the specific range can shift the practical season. Early and late season may require snow and avalanche skills.

The statewide rule

Don’t Collect 58 Elevations. Build 58 Better Decisions.

Colorado’s 14ers work best as a progression: learn altitude and weather on Class 1 routes, become efficient on Class 2 terrain, deliberately add scrambling and route-finding, then earn the judgment required for the Class 4 end of the list. The checklist is useful only if the skills grow with the summit count.

Explore the Database Open My Checklist

Quick Answer · Standard Summer Routes

Colorado 14ers Ranked: The Easiest and Hardest Summits

The standard-route difficulty ranking starts with Handies Peak and ends with Capitol Peak. Difficulty depends on the route, not just the mountain’s elevation.

Five Easiest Routes

#1 Handies Peak Class 1

#2 Grays Peak Class 1

#3 Torreys Peak Class 1

#4 Quandary Peak Class 1

#5 Mount Elbert Class 1

Easiest by standard-route ranking does not necessarily mean shortest drive, safest conditions or best first summit.

Six Hardest Routes

#53 Crestone Needle Class 4

#54 Sunlight Peak Class 4

#55 Pyramid Peak Class 4

#56 North Maroon Peak Class 4

#57 Little Bear Peak Class 4

#58 Capitol Peak Class 4

Class 4 terrain can involve severe exposure and consequential falls. Snow or alternate routes may increase the difficulty.

Based on the standard-route ranking used in the full 58-peak database below. Rankings are route-specific and do not predict real-time mountain conditions.

US peaks · Colorado · Peak guides

Mountains in Colorado

Full climbing guides for every major peak in this region — routes, permits, difficulty and season.

OverviewBest mountains in Colorado →OverviewAll US mountain ranges →

Blanca Peakclimbing guide Capitol Peakclimbing guide Crestone Needleclimbing guide Crestone Peakclimbing guide Longs Peakclimbing guide Maroon Peakclimbing guide Mount Elberthiking guide Mount Harvardhiking guide Mount Massivehiking guide Mount Princetonclimbing guide Mount Sneffelsclimbing guide Pikes Peakhiking guide

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About Global Summit Guide

Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.

Travis LudlowFounder & Head of Research · Master's in Business

Dawson LudlowClimbing & Mountaineering Lead

Walker LudlowClimber & Contributor

Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).

What We Don't Know Yet

Mountain information changes quickly. This box explains the limits of what this page can responsibly promise.

Visa, passport, vaccination, border, insurance, and local transportation rules may change before your trip.
Route conditions, snowpack, closures, and weather can change quickly after this page is updated.
Permit rules, fees, quotas, and reservation windows may change between review cycles.
Operator availability, pricing, guide ratios, and cancellation terms can change by season.
Your fitness, altitude response, risk tolerance, and experience level may change what is safe or realistic.

Confidence: Medium

Verify current conditions with official land managers, guide services, local forecasts, and current route reports before booking or climbing.

Safety, medical & liability disclaimer

Mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, glacier travel, and high-altitude activity are inherently dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. The information on Global Summit Guide is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional instruction, qualified guiding, proper equipment, or your own judgment and experience.

Route conditions, weather, snowpack, permits, regulations, and hazards change constantly and may differ from what is described here. Details may be incomplete, out of date, or contain errors. Always verify current information with local authorities, certified guides, and official sources before making any decision in the mountains.

Nothing on this site is medical, legal, or financial advice. Our fitness, acclimatization, altitude, and nutrition content is general in nature; consult a qualified physician before beginning any strenuous exercise program or exposing yourself to high altitude.

You are solely responsible for your own safety and decisions. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Global Summit Guide and its team accept no liability for any loss, injury, damage, or expense arising from use of, or reliance on, this information. By using this site you acknowledge these risks and accept these terms.

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Use current permit, weather, route, and operator information before booking or climbing.