Mt. Sherman

Yes, Mount Sherman is widely considered one of the easiest, shortest, and most accessible introductory 14ers in Colorado. The standard route is a non-technical Class 1 trail hike that spans just over 5 miles round-trip with a relatively gentle 2,100 feet of elevation gain. It has a distinct path for most of the trek, making it the perfect entry-level peak for families, and out-of-state tourists looking to test their high-altitude lungs.

The standard route approaches from the Fairplay side via Fourmile Creek Road. The road is passable for standard 2WD passenger vehicles for the first several miles. If you have AWD/4WD, you can drive higher and park at or just below the upper gate at 12,000 feet, which significantly cuts down on the vertical climbing distance required to reach the summit. Don't expect to get a low-clearance 2WD vehicle to within the last mile of the gate as the road becomes very rocky and rutted.

Not really. While the lower approach through the Iowa Gulch drainage on the Leadville side sees significantly fewer hikers than the busy Fairplay side, the illusion of solitude vanishes quickly. Once you finish climbing the West Slopes and top out on the main upper saddle ridge, you will immediately join the standard, heavy crowds coming up from the Fourmile Creek trailhead for the final push to the summit.

While it is a popular winter peak due to its shorter distance, the standard access road is not plowed all the way to the upper gate, which adds substantial walking mileage. Additionally, late spring snow covers the pitch between the Hilltop Mine area and the main saddle, turning a simple walk into an potentially dangerous slope that requires an ice axe and microspikes. When there is a lot of snow or a dangerous cornice blocking that saddle on the standard route, the South Slope snow route is a much safer option to avoid slide hazards.