Colorado 14ers: All 58 Peaks
Colorado has 58 mountain peaks that exceed 14,000 feet — more than any other state. They range from the gentle 6-mile Quandary Peak hike to the technical Knife Edge of Capitol Peak. Here's every one, sortable by elevation, difficulty, and region, with honest notes on which to climb first.
🟢 Beginner picks
The 14ers to start with — short, non-technical, well-marked.
- Mount Elbert — 9.5 mi, class 1
- Huron Peak — 6.5 mi, class 2
- Grays Peak — 8 mi, class 1
- Torreys Peak — 8.5 mi, class 2
- Mount Evans — 10.5 mi, class 2
⛰️ Highest peaks
The tallest mountains in Colorado.
- Mount Elbert — 14,440 ft
- Mount Massive — 14,428 ft
- Mount Harvard — 14,421 ft
- Blanca Peak — 14,345 ft
- La Plata Peak — 14,336 ft
⚠️ Hardest peaks
Class 4 technical scrambling. Don't start here.
- Mount Wilson — class 4
- Sunlight Peak — class 4
- Maroon Peak — class 4
- North Maroon Peak — class 4
- Pyramid Peak — class 4
- Capitol Peak — class 4
All 58 Colorado 14ers
| Rank▼ | Peak | Elevation▼ | Range | Class | Miles | Elev gain | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mount ElbertBeginner-friendly Highest peak in Colorado. Long but non-technical. | 14,440 ft | Sawatch | Class 1 | 9.5 | 4,500′ | Leadville |
| #2 | Mount Massive Second-highest. Long traverse along the summit ridge. | 14,428 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 13.6 | 4,500′ | Leadville |
| #3 | Mount Harvard | 14,421 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 14 | 4,600′ | Buena Vista |
| #4 | Blanca Peak Long. 4WD road can cut significant mileage. | 14,345 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 2 | 16.5 | 6,600′ | Blanca |
| #5 | La Plata Peak | 14,336 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 9.25 | 4,500′ | Twin Lakes |
| #6 | Uncompahgre PeakBeginner-friendly Most-summited San Juan 14er. 4WD road access. | 14,309 ft | San Juan | Class 2 | 7.5 | 3,000′ | Lake City |
| #7 | Crestone Peak | 14,294 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 3 | 13 | 5,500′ | Westcliffe |
| #8 | Mount LincolnBeginner-friendly Part of Decalibron loop with Cameron, Democrat, Bross. | 14,293 ft | Mosquito | Class 2 | 7 | 3,700′ | Alma |
| #12 | Castle Peak | 14,279 ft | Elk | Class 2 | 14 | 4,600′ | Aspen |
| #9 | Grays PeakBeginner-friendly Best 14er for first-timers. Trailhead is 60 minutes from Denver. | 14,275 ft | Front Range | Class 1 | 8 | 3,000′ | Bakerville |
| #13 | Quandary PeakBeginner-friendly Best beginner 14er near Breckenridge. Reservations required summer weekends. | 14,271 ft | Tenmile | Class 1 | 6.75 | 3,450′ | Breckenridge |
| #10 | Mount Antero 4WD road shortens the hike significantly. | 14,269 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 16 | 5,200′ | Nathrop |
| #11 | Torreys PeakBeginner-friendly | 14,267 ft | Front Range | Class 2 | 8.5 | 3,500′ | Bakerville |
| #14 | Mount EvansBeginner-friendly Paved road to within feet of the summit (not the same as hiking). | 14,264 ft | Front Range | Class 2 | 10.5 | 3,800′ | Idaho Springs |
| #15 | Longs Peak Hardest standard-route 14er. Keyhole route requires scrambling. | 14,259 ft | Front Range | Class 3 | 15 | 5,100′ | Estes Park |
| #16 | Mount Wilson Technical class 4 scrambling at the top. | 14,252 ft | San Juan | Class 4 | 16 | 5,100′ | Telluride |
| #16 | Mount CameronBeginner-friendly On the Decalibron loop; not officially ranked due to prominence. | 14,238 ft | Mosquito | Class 2 | 7 | 3,700′ | Alma |
| #17 | Mount Shavano | 14,229 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 9 | 4,500′ | Salida |
| #19 | Mount Belford | 14,203 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 8 | 4,500′ | Granite |
| #20 | Mount Princeton | 14,197 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 6.5 | 5,400′ | Buena Vista |
| #23 | Crestone Needle | 14,197 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 3 | 12 | 5,100′ | Westcliffe |
| #21 | Mount Yale | 14,196 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 9.5 | 4,300′ | Buena Vista |
| #22 | Mount BrossBeginner-friendly Decalibron loop. Summit is technically on private land — usually closed. | 14,172 ft | Mosquito | Class 2 | 7.5 | 3,700′ | Alma |
| #24 | Kit Carson Peak | 14,165 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 3 | 14 | 6,000′ | Crestone |
| #28 | El Diente Peak | 14,164 ft | San Juan | Class 3 | 12 | 4,900′ | Telluride |
| #24 | Maroon Peak Deadly Bells. Loose rock and class 4 scrambling. | 14,163 ft | Elk | Class 4 | 11.5 | 4,800′ | Aspen |
| #26 | Tabeguache Peak | 14,155 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 10 | 5,500′ | Salida |
| #25 | Mount DemocratBeginner-friendly | 14,155 ft | Mosquito | Class 2 | 7.5 | 3,700′ | Alma |
| #27 | Mount Oxford | 14,153 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 11 | 5,800′ | Granite |
| #29 | Mount Sneffels Iconic Telluride view. V-notch scramble at the top. | 14,150 ft | San Juan | Class 3 | 6.75 | 2,900′ | Ouray |
| #29 | Capitol Peak Knife Edge. Most technical 14er. | 14,130 ft | Elk | Class 4 | 17 | 5,300′ | Aspen |
| #31 | Pikes Peak Barr Trail is long but non-technical. Cog rail and road also reach summit. | 14,115 ft | Front Range | Class 1 | 26 | 7,400′ | Manitou Springs |
| #32 | Snowmass Mountain Long backcountry approach. | 14,098 ft | Elk | Class 3 | 22 | 5,800′ | Aspen |
| #30 | Windom Peak Chicago Basin trio. Easiest of the three. | 14,093 ft | San Juan | Class 2 | 17 | 5,800′ | Silverton |
| #32 | Mount Eolus Chicago Basin trio. Train approach via Durango & Silverton railroad. | 14,083 ft | San Juan | Class 3 | 17 | 5,800′ | Silverton |
| #33 | Challenger Point | 14,081 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 2 | 12 | 5,500′ | Crestone |
| #35 | Mount Columbia | 14,077 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 11.5 | 4,200′ | Buena Vista |
| #36 | Missouri Mountain | 14,074 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 10.5 | 4,500′ | Granite |
| #37 | Humboldt Peak | 14,064 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 2 | 11 | 4,300′ | Westcliffe |
| #38 | Mount BierstadtBeginner-friendly Most-summited 14er. Short, scenic, easy to access. | 14,060 ft | Front Range | Class 2 | 7 | 2,850′ | Georgetown |
| #41 | Conundrum Peak Not officially ranked due to prominence. | 14,060 ft | Elk | Class 2 | 14 | 4,900′ | Aspen |
| #39 | Sunlight Peak Chicago Basin trio. Notorious class 4 summit block. | 14,059 ft | San Juan | Class 4 | 17 | 5,800′ | Silverton |
| #40 | Handies PeakBeginner-friendly Easiest San Juan 14er. | 14,048 ft | San Juan | Class 1 | 5.75 | 2,500′ | Lake City |
| #41 | Culebra Peak Private peak; ~$150 access fee, reservations required. | 14,047 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 2 | 5 | 2,700′ | San Luis |
| #45 | Mount Lindsey Closed for years due to private land access dispute. | 14,042 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 2 | 8.25 | 3,500′ | Gardner |
| #44 | Ellingwood Point | 14,042 ft | Sangre de Cristo | Class 2 | 17 | 6,800′ | Blanca |
| #46 | North Eolus | 14,039 ft | San Juan | Class 3 | 17 | 5,800′ | Silverton |
| #47 | Mount ShermanBeginner-friendly Shortest 14er. Great first-timer pick if access is open. | 14,036 ft | Mosquito | Class 2 | 5.25 | 2,400′ | Fairplay |
| #48 | Redcloud Peak | 14,034 ft | San Juan | Class 2 | 9 | 3,700′ | Lake City |
| #49 | Pyramid Peak Loose, exposed scrambling. One of the harder 14ers. | 14,025 ft | Elk | Class 4 | 8.25 | 4,500′ | Aspen |
| #49 | Wilson Peak The Coors beer can mountain. | 14,017 ft | San Juan | Class 3 | 10 | 4,000′ | Telluride |
| #50 | Wetterhorn Peak | 14,015 ft | San Juan | Class 3 | 7 | 3,300′ | Lake City |
| #52 | San Luis Peak Most remote 14er. | 14,014 ft | San Juan | Class 2 | 13.5 | 3,600′ | Creede |
| #50 | North Maroon Peak Deadly Bells. Loose rock and class 4. | 14,014 ft | Elk | Class 4 | 9.25 | 4,500′ | Aspen |
| #51 | Huron PeakBeginner-friendly One of the friendliest 14ers — short, scenic, and class 2. | 14,010 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 6.5 | 3,500′ | Winfield |
| #53 | Mount of the Holy Cross Long approach with elevation loss to the saddle. | 14,005 ft | Sawatch | Class 2 | 12 | 5,600′ | Minturn |
| #54 | Sunshine Peak | 14,001 ft | San Juan | Class 2 | 15 | 5,200′ | Lake City |
By Mountain Range
Elk Range
7 peaks
- Castle Peak (14,279 ft)
- Conundrum Peak (14,060 ft)
- Maroon Peak (14,163 ft)
- North Maroon Peak (14,014 ft)
- Pyramid Peak (14,025 ft)
- Snowmass Mountain (14,098 ft)
- +1 more
Front Range Range
6 peaks
- Grays Peak (14,275 ft)
- Torreys Peak (14,267 ft)
- Mount Evans (14,264 ft)
- Longs Peak (14,259 ft)
- Pikes Peak (14,115 ft)
- Mount Bierstadt (14,060 ft)
Mosquito Range
5 peaks
- Mount Lincoln (14,293 ft)
- Mount Cameron (14,238 ft)
- Mount Bross (14,172 ft)
- Mount Democrat (14,155 ft)
- Mount Sherman (14,036 ft)
San Juan Range
14 peaks
- Uncompahgre Peak (14,309 ft)
- Mount Wilson (14,252 ft)
- El Diente Peak (14,164 ft)
- Mount Sneffels (14,150 ft)
- Wilson Peak (14,017 ft)
- Wetterhorn Peak (14,015 ft)
- +8 more
Sangre de Cristo Range
9 peaks
- Blanca Peak (14,345 ft)
- Crestone Peak (14,294 ft)
- Crestone Needle (14,197 ft)
- Kit Carson Peak (14,165 ft)
- Mount Lindsey (14,042 ft)
- Humboldt Peak (14,064 ft)
- +3 more
Sawatch Range
15 peaks
- Mount Elbert (14,440 ft)
- Mount Massive (14,428 ft)
- Mount Harvard (14,421 ft)
- La Plata Peak (14,336 ft)
- Mount Antero (14,269 ft)
- Mount Shavano (14,229 ft)
- +9 more
Tenmile Range
1 peaks
- Quandary Peak (14,271 ft)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many 14ers are there in Colorado?
Colorado has either 53 or 58 14,000-foot peaks depending on which definition you use. The strict definition (300 feet of topographic prominence from a saddle) gives 53 "officially ranked" 14ers. The traditional CMC list includes 5 additional peaks that don't meet the prominence rule but are commonly considered separate summits, for a total of 58.
Which is the easiest Colorado 14er?
Mount Sherman is the shortest at 5.25 miles round trip and 2,400 feet of elevation gain, but trailhead access can be unreliable. Quandary Peak (6.75 mi, 3,450 ft) is the most popular first 14er for its proximity to Breckenridge. Grays Peak (8 mi, 3,000 ft) is one hour from Denver and is the classic beginner pick.
Which is the hardest Colorado 14er?
Capitol Peak is the most technical — its standard route includes the Knife Edge, a 100-foot section of class 4 scrambling above 1,500 feet of exposure. Little Bear Peak is rated equally difficult and is considered the most dangerous due to rockfall. Maroon and North Maroon Peaks (the "Deadly Bells") have killed more climbers than any other Colorado 14ers due to loose rock.
When is the best time to climb 14ers?
Mid-July through mid-September. The high country has melted out, afternoon storms are predictable, and overnight temperatures stay above freezing. Start before dawn (most experienced climbers leave the trailhead between 4 and 6 AM) and aim to be off the summit by noon to avoid lightning. Late-September climbs are possible but risk early snowstorms.
Do you need permits to climb a 14er?
Most 14ers don't require permits. Exceptions: Quandary Peak requires a parking reservation in summer; Mount Evans requires a paid entry pass; Culebra Peak is on private land and requires a paid access fee (~$150) and reservation; Pikes Peak has a fee for the summit road but the Barr Trail is free.
Can I climb a 14er without altitude experience?
Many people do, but it's not advisable. Plan to sleep at 8,000+ feet the night before, drink heavily, and watch for symptoms of altitude sickness during your climb. If you start feeling severe headache, nausea, or shortness of breath at rest, turn around and descend.
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