| About San Isabel National Forest |
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| Mt. Elbert |
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Ending Elevation:
14,433 Feet
USGS Maps:
Mt. Massive, Mt. Elbert
Usage:
Very Heavy
Length:
5 Miles
Elevation Gain:
4,333 Feet
Elevation:
10,100 Feet
Difficulty:
Most Difficult
Beginning Elevation:
10,100 Feet
Trail Number:
1,484
Reservation:
No
Season:
May - September
From Leadville, From the traffic light on 6th Street in Leadville travel 3.9 miles south on US Hwy 24. Turn right (west) on State Road 300 toward the Leadville National Fish Hatchery and follow for .75 mile. Take a left (south) onto Lake County Road #11, the paved road signed for Halfmoon Creek. Follow this road for 1.25 miles and take a right (west) onto Forest Road 110 toward the Halfmoon campgrounds and picnic areas. The Elbert Trailhead is just over 5 miles from this junction.
Location Information
Mt. Elbert is Colorado's highest peak with an elevation of 14,433 feet. It is named for an influential leader in the state, Samuel Elbert. The trailhead is located on the south side of the Halfmoon Road west of the two campgrounds. This trail is moderate to strenuous hiking with an elevation gain of 4,314 feet. It takes the average hiker 4-6 hours to reach the summit and approximately 2-hour back down. Be aware of changing weather conditions on mountain peaks and be prepared. For those who don't wish to summit the peak, there are many excellent views from various points along the trail. Samuel H. Elbert (1833-1899) was an outstanding and widely known civic leader in the Territory and State of Colorado. Mt. Elbert, Elbert County, and the town of Elbert, Colorado were all named in his honor. Elbert served as Colorado's Territorial Secretary, Territorial Governor, and State Supreme Court Justice. Active in the formulation of mining legislation and reclamation projects, he promoted concepts of conservation and irrigation which were ahead of his time. Due to heavy erosion on the North Elbert Trail, the U.S. Forest Service reconstructed a three mile section of this heavily used trail in 1992. Restoration of the old route is estimated to take 50 to 100 years, due to the fragility of the alpine vegetation. Please keep this in mind and help us and these alpine landscapes by staying on the established trails.
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