Mt. Harvard

Overview Photos Routes Map Trip Reports FAQ

The 3rd highest peak in Colorado is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of the San Isabel National Forest, just northwest of the town of Buena Vista. Unlike Mounts Princeton, Antero, Yale and Columbia, Harvard isn't as visible from paved roads as you drive through the Arkansas River Valley. If you want to see Harvard in all its grandeur, you'll have to drive to the trailhead and hike to the peak. Climbing Mt. Harvard via its standard and easiest route involves backpacking into Horn Fork Basin from the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead. The trail ascends almost all the way to the summit, but you’ll need to scramble through rocky terrain near the top.

Elevation 14,424' (LiDAR)

Prev Elevation 14,420'

CO 14er Rank 3 of 53

Range Sawatch

Forest San Isabel

Lat / Lon 38.92442, -106.32079

County Chaffee

Towns Granite, Buena Vista, Leadville

Planning Weather
Conditions (6/28/2026)
Cell Reception

More Member Ascents (9,789)
GPX Library (20)
Climb Times

Other 14ers in Group

Mount Columbia

Photos

360° Summit Pano

Member Contributed Photos

Peak 46 Aerial Photos 1 Sunrise and Sunsets 1 Wildflowers, plants, trees 1 Waterfalls, lakes, rivers 1 Wildlife in Colorado 5 Rocks, geology 2

Climbing Routes

		Mt. Harvard - South Slopes Standard Route Difficulty: Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 4,600' Round-trip Distance: 13.75 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Moderate Route-Finding: Moderate Commitment: Moderate
		Mt. Columbia - West Slopes Standard Route Difficulty: Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 4,250' Round-trip Distance: 12 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: Moderate Commitment: Moderate
		Combo: Harvard and Columbia Traverse Difficulty: Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 6,100' Round-trip Distance: 15 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: High Commitment: High
		Mt. Columbia - Southeast Ridge Difficulty: Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 4,800' Round-trip Distance: 11.25 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Moderate Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Moderate
		Mt. Harvard - South Face Difficulty: Class 2 Moderate Snow Total Elevation Gain: 4,600' Round-trip Distance: 13.75 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Moderate Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Considerable
		Mt. Columbia - Southwest Couloir Difficulty: Class 2 Moderate Snow Total Elevation Gain: 4,800' Round-trip Distance: 13.5 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Moderate Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Moderate

Map

Trip Reports

8 Recent Reports	Peaks	Climbed	Added
Columbia to Harvard Traverse By: taylormac8 Peak(s): Mt. Columbia, Mt. Harvard Added: 9/4/2025	Mt. Columbia Mt. Harvard	9/3/2025	9/4/2025	3	10
Columbia to Harvard Direct traverse By: LAW1234 Peak(s): Mt. Columbia, Mt. Harvard Added: 8/4/2025	Mt. Columbia Mt. Harvard	8/4/2025	8/4/2025	8	37
Harvard & Columbia By: Winter Parker Peak(s): Mt. Harvard, Mt. Columbia Added: 7/29/2025	Mt. Harvard Mt. Columbia	7/28/2025	7/29/2025	3	4
Harvard Columbia Traverse By: maraki Peak(s): Mt. Harvard, Mt. Columbia Added: 7/7/2025	Mt. Harvard Mt. Columbia	7/6/2025	7/7/2025	5	6
Holy Nolans FKT By: SpeedWalker Peak(s): Mt. Shavano, Mt. Princeton, Mt. Yale, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Belford, Huron Peak, La Plata Peak, Mt. Elbert, Mt. Massive, Mt. of the Holy Cross Added: 10/9/2024	Mt. Shavano Mt. Princeton Mt. Yale Mt. Harvard Mt. Belford Huron Peak La Plata Peak Mt. Elbert Mt. Massive Mt. of the Holy Cross	10/5/2024	10/9/2024	47	26
Better Remembrances of Things Past By: HikesInGeologicTime Peak(s): Mt. Belford, Mt. Oxford, Missouri Mountain, Mt. Yale, Mt. of the Holy Cross, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Columbia Added: 8/26/2024	Mt. Belford Mt. Oxford Missouri Mountain Mt. Yale Mt. of the Holy Cross Mt. Harvard Mt. Columbia	9/2/2017	8/26/2024	4	18
Harvard Columbia Ridge Direct Traverse By: daway8 Peak(s): Mt. Harvard, Mt. Columbia Added: 8/24/2024	Mt. Harvard Mt. Columbia	8/3/2024	8/24/2024	10	8
Nolans 14 thru hike (aka slowlans heavy) By: vermontster Peak(s): Mt. Shavano, Tabeguache Peak, Mt. Antero, Mt. Princeton, Mt. Yale, Mt. Columbia, Mt. Harvard, Mt. Oxford, Mt. Belford, Missouri Mountain Added: 8/20/2024	Mt. Shavano Tabeguache Peak Mt. Antero Mt. Princeton Mt. Yale Mt. Columbia Mt. Harvard Mt. Oxford Mt. Belford Missouri Mountain	8/15/2024	8/20/2024	14	13

View All 206 Trip Reports

Frequently Asked Questions about Mt. Harvard

Can I hike Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia together?

Yes, Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia share the exact same standard trailhead (North Cottonwood) and are very frequently climbed together. Elite or high-endurance hikers often choose to bag both summits in a single, massive 15-mile day via a combination traverse route. Alternatively, many climbers backpack into the Horn Fork Basin to set up a base camp, allowing them to summit Mount Harvard on day one and tackle Mount Columbia on the subsequent day.

What is the terrain like on the final climb to Mount Harvard's summit?

While the lower miles are spent on a smooth, well-defined dirt trail through the woods, the final push up the standard South Ridge turns into rugged, rocky Class 2 terrain. The very last 50 feet below the true summit block requires some basic, hands-on movement across large, solid granite boulders. It is a highly enjoyable finish, but hikers must watch their footing and maintain focus, as the boulder block features minor exposure.

Is Mount Harvard good for beginner 14er hikers?

Mount Harvard is the fourth-highest peak in Colorado, and while its standard South Ridge route is a non-technical Class 2 hike, it is not recommended for absolute beginners. The trek requires a long round-trip distance and a demanding 4,600 feet of vertical elevation gain. It demands excellent stamina, strong cardiovascular physical conditioning, and solid pacing skills to safely navigate the long alpine approach.

How do I get to the standard Harvard/Columbia trailhead?

The standard access point is the North Cottonwood Trailhead located just outside of Buena Vista. The dirt road leading to the trailhead is generally well-maintained and accessible to most standard 2WD passenger cars and low-clearance vehicles during the summer. However, parking spaces in the main lot are limited and fill up rapidly on weekend mornings, so arriving early or choosing a weekday hike is highly recommended.

Additional Mt. Harvard History

Name History 1

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