Elbert lodge twin lakes colorado buena vista, colorado. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from june until september. Mount elbert is the highest peak in colorado at 14,426 this trail goes by emerald lake getting started. Mt elbert highpoint of colorado san isabel national forest. Elbert lodge is open yearround allowing guests to experience all four seasons in this part of colorado s high country. Mount elbert, co mount elbert is a summit in lake county, colorado. The most popular is south elbert trail, about 3 miles northeast of twin lakes village the other two are the black cloud trail, 4 miles west of twin lakes, and the north elbert trail, about sixteen miles from the village. Af reservoir storage content acrefeet fb reservoir forebay elevation feet. Trail guide to the north mount elbert trail on mount elbert in lake county, colorado. Immediately after the echo lake lodge, turn right onto co hwy. The community of twin lakes lies at the base of mount elbert, denver is about miles 209 km to the east, vail is 50 miles 80 km to the north, and aspen is 40 miles 64 km to the west. Mount elbert, mountain in lake county, westcentral colorado, u. Mount elbert the denver post colorado breaking news. Mount elbert was the first fourteener i ever summited.
At 14,440 feet 4,401 meters, it is the highest mountain in colorado. Either one is good in summer conditions, but the south mt. Roughly 3040 minutes from twin lakes, aspen colorado is a great day escape. Elbert trail is considered the standard winter route. The highest point in colorado is a dangerous mix of lightning, jealousy, and thin air. At 14433 feet, its a big hike fit hikers can easily tackle. These are the top 10 coolest trucks from the 2020 chicago auto show. In this guide is everything you need to know about planning your climb on mount elbert. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until october.
During the 1970s a group of mount massive aficionados decided that elbert s northern neighbor was more deserving of the honor of colorado s highest peak. The mountain was named after samuel hitt elbert, who served as governor of the territory of colorado in 18731874. I am suprised still that i made that hike back then. Mount elbert is the highest summit of the rocky mountains of north america and the. Whitney, and the technical difficulty of summiting many of alaskas highest mountains, there is a good chance that a hiker standing on the summit of elbert. Twin lakes colorado general information mount elbert lodge.
Elbert s parent peak is mount whitney in california. Mount elbert is the highest mountain in colorado and the rockies. The community is named for a past colorado territorial governor and state supreme court justice samuel hitt elbert. Mount elbert, the highest peak in colorado, rises to 14,433 feet in elevationmaking it not only the state highpoint, but also the second highest mountain in the lower 48only mount whitney in california is higher. First of all, i would recommend getting to the trailhead. Few nonmountaineers outside of colorado have heard of mount elbert, and even in colorado the states high point is sometimes regarded as an embarassing joke. With only driving directions and no map i had some difficulty finding the trailhead. A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on thu afternoontemperatures will be well below freezing max 10c on fri afternoon, min 17c on thu nightwinds decreasing severe gales from the w on thu morning, light winds from the w by sat morning.
Elbert trail is a great route and a relatively easy hike for someone in reasonable physical condition. Mount elbert is colorado s tallest 14er and one of the few thats open to cyclists, so lead rider mike hall and followcam riderfilmmaker nate hills decided to take on elbert at peak foliage. Mount elbert leadville 2020 all you need to know before you. The course will teach you everything you need to know about legally operating a vehicle on the different roadways of colorado. Drive about 4 miles and turn right onto the 24 road. Mount elbert leadville 2020 all you need to know before. Home drivers ed and schools driving school and drivers ed colorado elbert county. Rome2rio is a doortodoor travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. There are five routes that lead to the summit of colorado s highest mountain. Best time for climbing mount elbert in colorado 2020. View more property details, sales history and zestimate data on zillow. Elberts northeast ridge the route described here is an easily accessible standard route. My visibility was so poor, i wasnt even sure if i had hit the summit of the right mountain.
Mt elbert is colorado s highest fourteener and comes in just below mt whitney for highest in the contiguous united states, but its also one of the easier fourteeners to summit. If this camera doesnt work or should the link be wrong please report that here. No trails north dam closed to public previous stocking 2019 rainbow trout 2018 rainbow trout cutbow trout 2017 rainbow trout brown trout warning. Colorado to mount elbert 6 ways to travel via car, bus. Whitney in california as the highest peak in the continental united states. Trail guide to the south mount elbert trail east ridge on mount elbert in lake county, colorado. Mount elbert is the highest summit of the rocky mountains of north america and the highest point in the u.
Guide includes peak data, directions to the trailhead, route description, photos, route notes, mileage, map, geo. Mount elbert is the highest peak in the rocky mountains of north america. I climbed it with my grandpa while i was still in elementary school. Plots of daily archive data since the beginning of water year.
Find all the transport options for your trip from colorado to mount elbert right here. At 14,433ft, mt elbert is the third highest state high point in the country. Elbert is the highest point in colorado, and the second highest mountain in the lower 48, the hike via the northeast ridge is relatively easy, and relatively safe. It took nearly 4 hours from the parking lot to the summit and return trip took 3 hours.
Elbert supporters would then climb the mountain and tear the cairn down. Rome2rio makes travelling from colorado to mount elbert easy. Elbert are the south mount elbert trail and the north mount elbert trail as described below. It is also a relatively easy 14er, making it a popular climb for many.
With the prominence of 14,440 ft 4,401 m, it is the highest peak in the sawatch range and the secondhighest in the u. Elbert, a huge, sprawling, gentle, and uninspiring massif in the sawatch range just southwest of leadville, colorado. Aug 22, 2019 leadville though it may lack in true climbing excitement compared with many of the states 14,000foot mountains, hiking colorados highest point, mount elbert, provides a textbook rocky mountain challenge for almost any hiker. Jan 06, 2016 mount elbert is the tallest summit in the rocky mountains and the highest point in colorado. The tallest mountain in colorado and the second tallest in the contiguous usa, elbert has a couple of direct routes to the top. Elbert, but remember, the elevation gain is still 4,800 feet.
Mount elbert, colorados tallest 14er, provides a textbook rocky. We are located in the twin lakes area in lake county, colorado. You can also find the distance from colorado springs to mt elbert rd using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. For a cool slideshow, click on view all 22 photos above, and click play robin schichtel 2 years, 11 months ago elbert e. Located in the sawatch range of the colorado rockies, mt. There are three main routes up elbert, all of which gain over 4,000 feet of elevation.
Post office in elbert county, colorado, united states. If the parking lot at the base of the trail is full, you can continue up the road to a second lot. Wintertime guests enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing on nearby mountain trails or can travel a short distance for downhill skiing at ski cooper. Elbert 14,433 is the highest point in colorado, and only second to mt. Mount elbert lies 12 miles 19 km southwest of leadville, in the sawatch range and white river national forest. Best time for climbing mount elbert in colorado 2020 best. Traversing the mighty sawatch jaun ekdacha karun taak perfect day on colorado s highpoint.
Elbert is the tallest mountain in colorado and is heavily managed by the forest service, so access is limited and the hike is long. The distance between colorado springs to mt elbert rd is 187 mi by road. Daily archive values one value per day for the last five days of record mount elbert forebay, colorado. Mt elbert forebay reservoir colorado parks and wildlife. Elbert colorado online drivers ed and online learners permit. The standard route, via the northeast ridge, begins from the north mt.
Facts about mount elbert highest mountain in colorado. The standard route ascends the peak from the east, starting from the colorado trail. From buena vista drive north 20 miles to the same intersection. No shower for 45 days and mount elbert continental divide. This year 2016, we made it to the top of mount elbert, the highest point in colorado. As the east side of our duplex, built in 2000, cinnamon bear cabin is.
There was a pole with some names carved into it and my altimeter indicated that i was above 14,400 feet. Hike colorado s tallest 14er, and the 2nd tallest peak 14,433 feet in the lower 48. From the upper 4wd parking area, follow the colorado trail to the n. Elbert hiking trail, leadville north, colorado hiking project. Mount elbert mountain, colorado, united states britannica. James dziezynski there are several ways up the peak, but the most popular is the mount elbert trail via the mount elbert trailhead, where parking is plentiful thanks to a large lot plus an overflow lot. Welcome to the mount elbert water association web site. Referred to as the gentle giant, at 14,440 ft mount elbert is the highest point in colorado and the highest summit of the rocky mountains of north america. Elbert trail forks off the colorado trail, which continues to halfmoon creek.
Includes a summit of the fourteener mount elbert 14er 14,000. Great plains region hydromet system for mount elbert forebay, colorado. Elbert is a censusdesignated place and the location of a u. You do not have to take the entire elbert colorado online driver education course from a single computer. Colorado scenic byways colorados most scenic drives. They repeatedly stacked rocks onto massives summit cairn in an attempt to surpass mount elbert. Mt elbert is colorados highest fourteener and comes in just below mt whitney for highest in the contiguous united states, but its also one of the easier fourteeners. It has an elevation of 4,397 meters, or 14,426 feet. At 14,440 feet, it is the secondhighest mountain in the contiguous united states after mount whitney in california, the highest of the fourteeners of colorado, the fourteenthhighest mountain in the united states, and the highest point of the sawatch range. For example, its totally acceptable to take part of the elbert colorado online driver ed course at school and part of the elbert colorado learners permit course from home. Leadville, about 16 miles 26 km to the northeast, is the nearest large town. Bring water for the hike, but drink it before the hike. If you are driving a 4wd, notice a road going to the left just after the turnout described above. Elbert elevation 14,433 feet from the standard trail route.
Find the perfect mount elbert colorado stock photo. Your cabin at mt elbert lodge is at the base of independence pass, which in the summer is open for road traffic which takes you onto aspen. Choose your route wisely and make sure it is in your abilities. Mt elbert forebay reservoir fish survey and management data michael atwood aquatic biologist salida michael. They seem to tolerate people pretty well which is great when you want to photograph them. Evans is probably the best place in colorado to see and photograph mountain goats. To find the driving direction from denver to mt elbert which is 187 by road, click on show directions after entering start and end locations in the calculator control. Day of an online journal documenting a thruhike of the colorado trail from denver to durango. Mount elbert is the highest colorado 14er, the highest peak in the rocky mountains, and the 2nd highest peak in the continental us. That might seem like an early start, especially if youre driving the hour or so. The highest mountain in colorado is also one of the easiest 14ers. Twin lakes colorado 4 person cabins mount elbert lodge. Mt elbert is colorados highest fourteener and comes in just below mt whitney for highest in the contiguous united states, but its also one of the easier fourteeners to summit.
Guide includes peak data, directions to the trailhead, route description, photos, route notes, mileage, map, geopdf map, and user comments. Given the lower traffic and requisite permits to climb mt. If you are from a lower altitude, i advise you to start taking aspirin a few days before you land in colorado, and please start and continue to drink water. The 14,440foot 4,401 m fourteener is the apex of the sawatch range and the secondhighest mountain in the contiguous united states after mount whitney in california.
Mount elbert trails 3afourteener3a usda forest service. We hiked it via the northeast ridge from the halfmoon road trailhead, which was 4383 vertical feet and about five miles from the summit. Colorado fourteeners see 311,000 hiker days in 2016, a 16 percent increase over 2015. The other standard route is via the northeast ridge and is called the north mt. Passing the colorado written exam has never been easier. Located in san isabel national forest, mount elbert lies in about 12 mi 19 km southwest of leadville in lake county, colorado. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. At 14,440 feet it would serve as a lofty challenge on our stop along the road to or. Elbert real estate elbert co homes for sale zillow. It is also considered the easiest of the 14ers to hike. Elbert lodge is open yearround allowing guests to experience all four seasons in this part of colorados high country.
This is for you, our neighbors and customers in pan ark estates and for the general public. Mount elbert, the colorado high point my hike photos. Whether youre 16 or 60, if you want to become a licensed driver in elbert, colorado, taking an approved driver s ed class will get you one step closer to your goal. Mt elbert colorado highpoint san isabel national forest, colorado.
All 26 of colorado s scenic and historic byways 11 of which are also designated americas byways, and countless other scenic drives that crisscross the highest and lowest altitudes of colorado, welcome motorcycle riders, leisure drivers and all others hungry for a taste of colorado s history and scenic beauty. Home driver services dmv office locations colorado elbert county kiowa. This newer cabin has 1 bedroom upstairs with a king bed, a queen bed in sitting room downstairs, and a full bath. One of the keys to a successful summit is to make sure that youre properly acclimated. Jul 24, 2019 the mount evans scenic byway takes you up to over 14,000 feet where youll see mountain vistas, lakes, ancient bristlecone pines, mountain goats and more.