Ranking the Colorado 14ers by Difficulty

Before ranking the Colorado 14ers here is some background on my journey. I have hiked all 58 of the 14ers in Colorado (as of 2021, closing in on 100 summits of the 14ers), I wanted to rank them and provide some thoughts on the experience and the mountains themselves. I have done my best to make minor tweaks to these rankings over time but before diving into the rankings, I wanted to give a little background on my experience on the 14ers.

General Thoughts on the Colorado 14ers

• Hiking any 14er can have huge variables to them that can change be year: snow level, avalanche damage, conditions/closure of the trailhead and what type of car you have to access the trailhead. Prime examples of this are: Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak and Humboldt Peak, all which access South Colony Lakes TH. If you are not able to drive to the upper TH, you add on an additional 6 miles of hiking and 1,100 feet of ascent. There are numerous examples of this all across the state that change each year due to the previous winter/spring.
• Hiking the 14ers is a great way to explore new parts of Colorado. It’s fine to start in the area that you live in, but eventually you will have to make a long drive and the 14ers are spread out all across Colorado. Whether you are new to Colorado or a #native, chances are this journey will open up a new area, brewery or restaurant that you look forward to visiting in the future. 
• If you are new the hiking or just hiking in Colorado, the 14ers are a great way to progress, learn new skills and advance your hiking ability. I’ve been hiking for most of my life, but even I was physically and mentally challenged along this journey. Important skills like understanding weather patterns, efficient packing, gaining experience with exposure and learning how to use near gear is all something you will most likely experience. Chances are, after you’ve hiked all of the 14ers, you will feel ready for any kind of future hiking adventure. 

Ranking The Colorado 14ers Background

Before diving into my ranking of the Colorado 14ers, let’s preface this with a few things; number 1: this is my opinion so if you don’t agree with it, that is okay. Any rankings list is going to be super subjective. Ranking the Colorado 14ers in this write-up is based on my experience hiking, getting to the THs and conditions that I hiked in. Number 2: I would not consider any 14er “easy” for the average hiker. Number 3: these rankings are based on the standard approaches (unless otherwise noted) and take a few things into account: total mileage, total elevation gain, additional hiking due to trailhead accessibility, technical hiking length/class and finally the amount of route finding required. All hikes are assuming spring/summer conditions: either a dry trail or some snow along the route. 

My Colorado 14er Journey Quick Facts

• I hiked all 4 Great Traverses (Little Bear to Blanca Peak, Maroon Bells, Crestones, El Diente to Mt Wilson) during my journey.
• I Soloed 46 of the 14ers and my dog Juno was with me on 9.
• Hikes by Year
  • 2 in 2019
  • 12 in 2018
  • 20 in 2017
  • 20 in 2016
  • 4 in 2015
• Since posting this blog I have now hiked around 100 14ers

Ranking the Colorado 14ers

14er Great Traverses:

1. Little Bear Peak – Blanca Peak – Extreme exposure, some loose rock, long approach, some route finding and class 4/5 moves. A ton of heavily exposed downclimbing on this one.
2. Maroon Peak to North Maroon Peak – Loose rock, few highly exposed moves – long approach with lots of elevation gain quickly and many class 4/5 moves. Lots of downclimbing on this one.
3. Crestone Peak to Crestone Needle: Long approach, even longer without high clearance car – some route finding, 2 highly exposed sections and hike down crestone needle is very tough (toughest descent of the group IMO). Class 4/5 moves.
4. El Diente to Mount Wilson – Overall just a fun route lots of class 3 although loose rock on the ridge can be very dangerous and scary. Long approach, but not terribly difficult overall. The class 4 move on Mount Wilson is truly very small with medium exposure. 

Standard 14er Routes 

Please note: the mountains are grouped by difficulty level, but not ranked within these categories. All are ranked assuming you can get to either an upper or lower standard TH and hiking the standard route, unless otherwise noted. Here is my list ranking the Colorado 14ers, each mountain has a link to the write-up/video and more information about it.

Hardest Colorado 14ers

• Capitol Peak – Class 4 with the most exposed section on a standard 14er route, long approach that typically requires camping. Some route finding required and lots of loose rock. 
• Little Bear Peak – Class 4 in the hour glass, lots of rockfall danger and long approach that typically requires camping. Getting down the hourglass may be tougher/more dangerous than going up it.  
• Maroon Peak – Long approach, lots of elevation gain and Class 3 and 4 moves along the way. Camping typically done, but not “required”.
• North Maroon Peak – Long approach, lots of elevation gain and sustained class 4 moves. Some route finding, especially on the ledges section which has a lot of loose conditions.
• Crestone Peak – Long approach (longer if no 4WD) lots of elevation gain (and loss) with Class 3 hiking. 
• Crestone Needle – Long approach (longer if no 4WD), lots of elevation gain and steep exposed class 3 and 4 hiking with some route finding required. 
• Snowmass Mountain – 2nd to longest standard 14er approach, camping required, lots of elevation gain, class 3 hiking. Snow hangs around very long making for even more variables to deal with.

Hard Colorado 14ers

• Pikes Peak (via Barr trail) – Longest standard 14er approach, camping typically required, but doable in (very) long day – almost no technical hiking otherwise would be hardest. Class 1.
• Pyramid Peak – Lots of elevation gain, all at once on loose trail. Lots of class 4 hiking, but medium exposure. Lots of downclimbing required on way down.
• Sunlight Peak – If no train, hardest – regardless, lots of elevation gain class 3 hiking and the 2nd most exposed move on a standard 14er in my opinion with the “leap of faith”. Note: The leap of faith scared me way more than the knife edge did. Class 4.
• El Diente Peak – Camping typically required, medium approach and lots of elevation gain all at once. Some route finding and loose conditions to deal with. Class 3.
• Mt Wilson– Long approach, typically camped. Some route finding, longer hike and class 4 (although only one move). If hiked from El Diente via Traverse, this becomes hard/hardest hike. 
• Mt Eolus – If no train, hardest – sustained exposure on shelves, looser conditions and lots of class 3 and 4 with some route finding involved. Most technical of Chicago basin hikes IMO. 
• North Eolus – If no train, hardest – long and steep approach to Twin Lakes with lots of elevation gain. Steady elevation and minimal route finding to summit. Class 3.
• Windom Peak – If no train, hardest – probably the easiest of the four 14ers in the Chicago Basin. Mostly class 2 with some class 3 – summit area very small. 
• Blanca Peak – Long and steep approach, longer if from Lake Como Side vs Zapata Falls. Either way, lots of elevation gain and some route finding and loose conditions from Zapata Falls. Minimal route finding from Lake Como and overall solid trail. Higher Class 2. Lake Como approach requires camping as well. 
• Ellingwood Point – Ditto to above. Class 2.
• Longs Peak – Long approach, steady elevation again and good mix of loose conditions and sustained class 3 climbing. Some exposure on ledges/narrows and downclimbing required on descent.

More Difficult Colorado 14ers

• Mt Elbert – Sustained elevation gain from TH, loose rock in sections and longer hike. No route finding required with drier conditions. Class 1 hiking.
• Quandary Peak – Sustained elevation from TH, lots of false summits and super popular hike which can lead to crowds on trail. Class 1 hiking.
• Mt Antero – Super long mileage and steady elevation gain if no 4×4 car. If you have a high clearance 4×4 this moves to an easier hike. Class 2 hiking, only near summit though.
• Kit Carson Peak – Long approach with lots of elevation gain/loss and some class 3 hiking. Requires a hike up Challenger Point before summiting which adds to difficulty. Ledges can be super dangerous with snow.  
• Challenger Point – Long approach with steady elevation gain and poor trail conditions which requires some route finding.  Class 2 hiking and trail conditions may improve in future years as trail work is being done.
• Wetterhorn Peak – Depending on starting point could be hard hike. If able to start at TH, steady elevation gain, some exposure and class 3 hiking. One of my favorites!
• Wilson Peak – Medium approach, camping typically required and elevation gain is steady from TH to summit. A handful of fairly exposed moves. Class 3.
• Mt Lindsey – Interesting hike as there are two variations to take to summit. Both are class 3 and involve some poor trail conditions. Long approach and heavy exposure if taking ridge direct. 
• Mt Massive – From either fish hatchery or standard route, lots of elevation gain and some route finding. Class 2 hiking.
• Mt Harvard – Longer mileage and steady elevation gain with some high class 2, low class 3 moves towards the summit. 
• Castle Peak – If able to drive to upper TH this is moderate, but if not – super long approach with lots of elevation gain. Class 2 though and not a ton of exposure. Descent can be very sketchy in spring/early summer, ax and crampons typically required.  
• Conundrum Peak – Assuming you hike Castle with this peak, lots of elevation gain, long approach and a tough descent down the saddle (with or without snow). Class 2 hiking.
• Mt of the Holy Cross – Longer mileage, steady elevation gain/loss, some route finding and class 2 hiking. 
• Mt Oxford – Similar to Mt Belford, but with a lot more elevation gain/loss and added mileage. Class 2 hiking, mostly on way down to saddle.
• Tabeguache Peak – Similar to Tab Peak, but more mileage and elevation gain/loss on loose rock conditions. Class 2 hiking.

Moderate Colorado 14ers

• San Luis Peak – Probably the most remote 14er so if road conditions ever go south, this one could turn very hard to access. Class 1 hiking.
• Huron Peak – Steady elevation gain and slightly longer approach if no 4WD. Very popular hike with steep ridge before summit. Class 2 hiking.
• Grays Peak – Road to TH gets tougher to access each year, steady elevation gain from TH but low class hiking. Class 1 hiking.
• Torreys Peak – Ditto to Grays, except for minimal class 2 even tougher approach if heading from west or from Kelso (class 3 with lots of exposure). If hiking Kelso, this moves up to hard hike.
• Culebra Peak – Total wildcard depending on land owners. Only privately owned 14er requiring a payment to hike beforehand. Class 2 hiking near summit.
• Mt Princeton – Borderline easy depending on how high you can drive, borderline more difficult if starting from lower TH. Class 2 hiking but very low class 2.
• Humboldt Peak – Moderate assuming you start from upper TH. More Difficult if starting from lower TH. Steady elevation and some route finding required in spring months. Class 2 hiking with 1/2 higher class 2 moves towards summit.
• Mt Sneffels – A borderline easy hike, but putting at moderate because of class ¾ move near summit and that most vehicles will not make it to the upper TH. 
• Red Cloud Peak – Steady elevation gain from TH and longer mileage but minimal route finding and all low class hiking. Class 2 hiking.
• Sunshine Peak – Almost identical hike to Red Cloud but with some added elevation gain/loss. Class 2 hiking.
• Mt Belford – Very steep from TH all the way to the summit. Recent avalanches made approach more difficult. Class 2 hiking.
• Mt Shavano – Long mileage and steady elevation gain from TH. Class 2 near summit.
• Missouri Mountain – Avalanche damage has changed this approach from when I went. Class 2 hiking on ridge.
• La Plata Peak – This peak can be tricky in the spring as route finding becomes a major issue (like many peaks). However, once you get above treeline its a steady straight up hike to the summit. Steep class 2 hiking.
• Mt Yale– Steady elevation gain from TH with steep slope and some class ⅔ hiking near summit. 
• Mt Columbia – Trail improvements recently done, but medium approach and loads of route finding if hiking from Mt Harvard. Minimal route finding and steady elevation from TH. Class 2 hiking.

Easier Colorado 14ers

• Handies Peak – Super short hike if you are able to drive to upper TH, extra bit of hiking without, but pretty mellow and short. Class 1 hiking.
• Mt Sherman – Short hike, but steady elevation (assuming you can get to upper TH), slightly longer if not. Lots of false summits here. Class 2 hiking near summit.
• Mt Lincoln – Longest single approach of any decalibron 14er with some minor higher class 2 moves towards the summit. Class 2 hiking but only for about 200 yards near summit.
• Mt Cameron – Zero route finding, steady elevation gain from car to summit. Class 2 hiking.
• Mt Bross – Some route finding, especially in spring/early summer – steady elevation gain from car to summit. Class 2 hiking.
• Mt Bierstadt – Extremely popular with zero route finding and steady elevation gain from car to summit. Class 2 hiking for about a quarter mile near summit.
• Uncompahgre Peak – Approach typically requires a 4×4 car otherwise add some mileage. I hiked from Wetterhorn Creek but the standard approach is similar – steady but slow elevation gain and low class 2 hiking. Minimal route finding with either approach. 
• Mt Democrat – Extremely straight forward, popular and steep hike.  Class 2 hiking.
• Mt Evans (via summit lake) – Hiking from summit lake is very short, yet steep hike. If hiking from Sawtooth Ridge, this would be a moderate hike. Sawtooth has lots of route finding and exposed class 3 hiking whereas Summit Lake is mostly Class 1. If hiking Mt Evans from Echo Lake or the Sawtooth Ridge from Mt Bierstadt this would bump this hike up two or so categories of difficulty.

Any ranking the Colorado 14ers list is going to have some debate and I will be the first to admit that a recency bias may be in effect here. Don’t agree with my list? Let me know what you think in the comments below! Be sure to also check out my virtual trail guides on all of these mountains on my Youtube Channel!