Easiest colorado 14ers These hikes are perfect for a first attempt at hiking a 14er! Know the route well. They have trails, are fairly short, and the hiking is about as easy as you're going to find on a Colorado 14er. Bierstadt to Quandary Peak. Bierstadt to Mt. What are the easiest 14ers? The easiest 14ers are ones with a trail most or all of the way to the summit and are fairly short in distance, compared to others. The San Juan Mountains near Lake City hide one of Colorado’s easiest 14ers. The sawtooth ridge is the utmost badass fun route of all these winter 14ers but undeniably not a beginner route. Jan 9, 2025 · Handies Peak. Mount Sherman is another very easy 14er. S. Democrat, Lincoln, Cameron Apr 12, 2024 · Fourteeners, sometimes abbreviated as 14er, are mountains that rise over 14,000 feet above sea level. With only 2,500 feet of elevation gain over 5. The easiest 14er near Denver is Grays Peak, but it is much busier due to its location. Jun 4, 2024 · Mt. If you’re well acquainted with winter 14ers, hit up the Sawtooth Ridge and cross over to Evans for a ~15 mile day. It’s only about 60-90 minutes away from the Front Range, with a paved road and designated parking. Jul 9, 2023 · Learn how to hike the easiest 14ers in Colorado, from Mt. Each route is assigned a difficulty rating with Class 1 being the easiest because they have a defined trail all the way to the summit. Feb 2, 2020 · The easiest 14er to climb in Colorado is Handies Peak – but only if you can drive all the way to the upper trailhead. 75 miles round trip, Handies Peak offers a well-maintained Class 1 trail with absolutely no scrambling required. Find out what a 14er is, where to stay, and how to prepare for your first summit. Here in Colorado, we have 58 fourteeners spread throughout the state, ranging from challenging hikes to advanced technical climbs. The 5 easiest 14ers in Colorado are Grays Peak, Torreys Peak, Quandary Peak, Mount Bierstadt and Handies Peak. Feb 29, 2020 · The easiest 14ers in Colorado, based on climbing class, distance, and elevation gain, include Handies Peak, Grays Peak, Quandary Peak, and Mount Elbert. Apr 20, 2024 · If you’re a climber who’s always dreamed of scaling 14,000-ft peaks in the alpine wonderland of Colorado, check out these easiest 14ers in the state. While Culebra Peak and Castle Peak are the easiest 14ers in the Sangres and Elk Mountains, they are a bit more advanced and best for more experienced hikers. Just because they’re labeled “easy” doesn’t mean these climbs are insignificant — summiting any 14er is a challenging task and a momentous accomplishment! Take a look to see which mountain you’d like to climb first. Sep 6, 2021 · Asking which peaks are the easiest 14ers in Colorado is a bit of an oxymoron; mountains that rise to over 14,000ft tall are by nature difficult to climb. According to the Colorado Geological Survey, the state has 58 peaks that exceed 14,000 feet in elevation. Below is a list of the standard Colorado 14er routes organized by difficulty. To dig a bit deeper, visit these pages: 14ers Grouped by Difficulty. Over 70% of the 58 named peaks are rated as Class 1 or 2 (of 5). Aug 25, 2016 · Easiest 14er in Colorado Close To Denver. Mar 14, 2024 · Easiest Colorado 14ers Quandary Peak . com. The Easiest Colorado 14ers by Difficulty. Since the list is arranged by class rating, you may notice some routes with greater overall effort (e. 4. Jul 12, 2023 · Colorado has the most fourteeners of any state in the U. Mount Sherman and Handies Peak are also common answers. Fourteeners are classified by difficulty but since we are talking about your first one I will only cover two classes. edu Apr 5, 2025 · This guide to the easiest 14ers in Colorado highlights beginner-friendly peaks with low mileage, steady trails, and stunning views, from Mt. Distance: 6. Bierstadt is not only widely considered the easiest 14er in Colorado to hike, but it’s also one of the easiest 14ers to get to from the Denver metro area. The routes are first grouped by their class rating and then sorted by the overall difficulty/effort required within each class. Otherwise, the route becomes much longer. A Class 1 hike means you can walk upright along a defined trail. Colorado is home to 53 14ers (or 58 depending on how you measure it) and every one of them boasts some pretty significant elevation gain which Jan 1, 2020 · A: Among Colorado’s 14ers, Grays Peak is often considered the easiest to climb due to its proximity to Denver, Class 1 ranking (requiring only hiking), and a well-maintained trail. Being just 1 hour and 20 minutes from downtown Denver, Mount Bierstadt makes for the perfect day trip hiking adventure. While there is no such thing as an “easy” fourteener, the DU Newsroom has compiled a list of fourteeners to satisfy a thirst for adventure. Sherman, with route information, tips, and photos. Don’t underestimate this route though, it’s full on sketch. g Nov 24, 2024 · Still, many Colorado 14ers aren't technically difficult and can be conquered by any reasonably fit, persistent, and prudent hiker. The closest 14er to Denver and also one of the easiest 14ers in Colorado is Mount Bierstadt. Easiest to Access Oct 4, 2021 · Coloradan Magazine 1202 University Avenue, 459 UCB Boulder, CO 80309-0459 303-492-8484 editor@colorado. 6 miles roundtrip; Elevation Gain: 3,326 ft; Difficulty: Hard; Trailhead start: Quandary Peak Trailhead; Quandary Peak is the most popular easy Colorado 14er, and for good reason! The trail is rocky and steep, but unlike many other beginner 14ers, this one does not require any technical scrambling. Check out the complete guidebook of 14er routes here on 14ers. nfpmk mpwu bzixff tuig baorq catbnz vkc ldlbdq vhvc izctga