Colorado has a total of fifty-eight 14ers, or 58 mountains that have an elevation of over 14,000 feet above sea level – the most out of any state. Six of the 58 are in the Front Range, making climbing them an easy hiking accomplishment while you’re stationed (or just living) in the Denver or Colorado Springs areas.
In this post, I’m going to show you how to bag Longs Peak. I believe an assignment or saying that you’re living in Colorado isn’t complete until you’ve bagged at least one 14er, so read on and get pumped to summit the only 14er in one of Colorado’s National Parks!
In this post I’ll cover:
- Who is Longs Peak named after
- When to climb Longs Peak
- How long the hike to Longs Peak is
- Why Longs Peak is so dangerous
- The most dangerous part of Longs Peak
- The Longs Peak Keyhole Trail
- Trail length: 14.8 miles (7.4mi out, 7.4mi back)
- Estimated time for completion: 9.5 hours
- Best way to experience the journey: camp in Rocky Mountain National Park (and explore the park afterwards with my post here)
- Recommended start time: 0400
- Recommended months: June through September
- Best part: The thrill of walking along the knife’s edge portion of the trail
- Named after: Major Stephen Harriman Long (1784–1864)–an American military explorer that in 1820, lead an expedition into present-day Colorado
I consider Longs Peak to be the second hardest peak in the Front Range but by far the most rewarding.
It should be noted that Longs Peak is also considered to be the deadliest 14er in Colorado with a total of 58 recorded deaths and an average of two deaths per year. With that said, I’d recommend establishing yourself as a decent hiker well before you try to summit this one. This mountain will require good endurance, the ability to scramble, and knowledge to know when to delay summiting based on drastic weather changes.
When I attempted to climb Longs, I camped in Rocky Mountain National Park the night before because it put me within 20 minutes of the trailhead. Of course there’s also dispersed camping in the nearby National Forest for free, so the choice is completely up to you! Check out my post here for tips on where to camp in the National Park and for things to do after you’re through with your hike.
Keyhole Route: Start by parking at the Longs Peak Trailhead
Make sure you have a headlight, plenty of water (I used just one of the camelbacks I was issued), extra socks, some moleskin (for blisters), and more snacks than you think you’ll need. I’d recommend at least 10 Clif bars or something equivalent (maybe even a few sandwiches or something lunch-like).
The trail is a straight shot to the boulder field and be sure to take in the amazing sunrise you’ll get from just above the trees! I got really lucky and didn’t see a single person on the trail when I was already maybe 4 miles in towards the summit. Keep an eye out for deer here, they love to surprise you!
As the trail ends, it’s kind of anyone’s guess as to which path along the boulder field is best. Just keep your eye on the keyhole and make sure you make your way in that direction!
Once you’re through the keyhole, you’ll want to make sure you have a solid footing because the trail gets extremely narrow here and one slip could be fatal! Follow the bullseyes to get out of this portion and onto the final push!
If you’re not the most balanced/stable person, you might consider this to be a good point to turn around. The “trail” (if that’s what we’re calling it lol) is extremely, extremely narrow beyond this point until the summit. Here’s a few pictures to show you just how precise you need to be with your footing to ensure success.
And if pictures aren’t doing you justice, here’s a video of the drop off one side.
Once you’re past this section, you’ll have one final push to the top. Make sure you are rested up before attempting the final push as one slip here means falling a few hundred feet…
Finally! You’re at the top! Take out your cardboard sign and take as many selfies as you can as you’ve officially climbed the deadliest 14er in Colorado and the only one in a National Park!
Take your time getting back down and don’t rush it. The last thing you want is to think you’re in the clear just to miss a footing and roll an ankle or something worse!