1 shows the general route. Leave the 4WD parking area and cross a small creek on a foot bridge -
2. Follow the Colorado/Continental Divide trail through willows and stay left at a small trail junction -
3. Continue through aspens for nearly 0.4 mile and after descending a bit, turn left at another junction -
4. Continue a bit further and stay left at yet another junction -
5. Now on the South Mt. Elbert trail, follow it through the forest -
6. Near 11,400', the forest opens up a bit as you approach the ridge -
7. Continue up the ridge and through a clearing at 11,600' -
8. Turn left and ascend to a corner where you'll get a beautiful view of Elbert -
9. Turn right and traverse north (
10) before regaining the west side of the ridge, near 12,200' -
11. Continue a short distance to reach a saddle on the ridge.
The route gets more difficult from this point because you'll need to gain 2,000' of elevation in the remaining 2 miles.
12 shows the next 1,000' of gain. Since 2017, The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) has been re-routing and repairing the trail in this area, so you'll notice some old trail sections which have been closed off. Leave the saddle and turn left to swing around an initial point -
13. Return to the ridge crest near 12,500' (
14) and hike west up the ridge -
15. Pass a large rock and continue to a flat spot, at 12,900' -
16. Continue to 13,200' where you'll be able to see the crux of the route - a steeper section between 13,400' and 13,800' -
17. Overcome the steep section and swing left to continue onto Elbert's southeast face -
18. Traverse partway across the face before ascending 600 feet to reach the summit ridge. Turn left and gain the top -
19,
20 and
21.