1 shows the general route. Start from the 4WD parking area and cross a small creek using a footbridge (
2). Follow the Colorado/Continental Divide Trail through willows, keeping left at a small trail junction (
3). Continue through a section of aspens for about 0.4 mile, descend slightly, then turn left at another junction (
4). Walk a bit farther and stay left at yet another junction (
5). Now on the South Mt. Elbert Trail, follow it through the forest (
6). At around 11,400', the forest begins to thin as you approach the ridge (
7). Ascend the ridge, passing through a clearing at 11,600' (
8). Turn left and ascend to a corner where you'll get a beautiful view of Mt. Elbert (
9). From there, turn right and traverse north (
10), regaining the west side of the ridge near 12,200' (
11). Continue a short distance to reach a saddle on the ridge.
From the saddle, the route becomes more challenging as you'll need to gain 2,000 feet of elevation over the remaining 2 miles (
12). In recent years, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) has improved and re-routed portions of this trail, so you may notice some closed-off, older trail sections. Leave the saddle, turning left to bypass an initial point (
13), swing to the right side of the ridge, then regain the ridge crest near 12,500' (
14). Hike west along the ridge (
15), passing a large rock to reach a flat spot at 12,900' (
16). Continue to 13,200', where you'll see the route's crux—a steep section between 13,400' and 13,800' (
17). Push through this steep part, then swing left to ascend Mt. Elbert's southeast face (
18). Traverse partway across the face before climbing 600 feet more to reach the summit ridge. Finally, turn left and follow the ridge to the summit (
19,
20,
21).
GPX Track File
