Mount Elbert is the highest point in Colorado and the tallest peak in the entire Rocky Mountains, rising to 14,440 feet in the Sawatch Range about 12 miles southwest of Leadville. It is also the second-highest summit in the contiguous United States, and because its main trails are steady walk-ups with no technical climbing, it is one of the most popular fourteeners for first-time high-altitude hikers.

The mountain sits in the San Isabel National Forest in Lake County and is named for Samuel Hitt Elbert, a territorial governor of Colorado. H.W. Stuckle of the Hayden Survey made the first recorded ascent in 1874. Its neighbor to the north, Mount Massive, is only slightly shorter, and the two peaks have long shared a friendly rivalry. The view from the top takes in Twin Lakes, Turquoise Lake, the Arkansas River valley and dozens of other peaks.

Most hikers use the North Mount Elbert Trail, about 4.6 miles one way with roughly 4,500 feet of elevation gain. It starts near the Elbert Creek Campground off Halfmoon Road (Forest Service Road 110), a dirt road south of Leadville at about 10,000 feet. The South Mount Elbert Trail from the Twin Lakes side is about 5.5 miles one way with about 4,600 feet of gain, and the Black Cloud route is the longest and hardest option. Whichever way you go, the upper mountain is above tree line and fully exposed to the weather.

Fall snow has arrived on the high peaks, and the main summer hiking season on Mount Elbert is winding down. Halfmoon Road is not maintained in winter, and the Elbert Creek Campground is generally open May through September. Winter ascents are serious mountaineering trips that call for avalanche awareness and proper gear. Contact the Leadville Ranger District or visit fs.usda.gov for current conditions.