Looking for the easiest winter 14ers in Colorado? While there is no truly easy winter 14er, a handful of peaks offer relatively low avalanche risk, straightforward navigation and year-round trailhead access. After hiking all 58 Colorado 14ers and completing many winter ascents, these are the mountains I would recommend for hikers looking to get started with winter peak bagging.
Suffering in deep snow.
Before Attempting a Winter 14er
Winter 14ers are dramatically different from their summer counterparts. Before attempting any of the mountains on this list, I highly recommend understanding avalanche terrain, winter gear, route finding and cold-weather safety. Watch my Winter Hiking Tips video below before heading into the mountains
Easiest Winter 14ers in Colorado
While there are no truly easy winter 14ers, the mountains below generally offer a combination of lower avalanche risk, straightforward route finding, year-round trailhead access and relatively manageable winter conditions when compared to many other Colorado peaks. If you’re planning your first winter 14er, these are the mountains I would recommend researching first.
Colorado 14er
Why It’s a Good Winter Choice
Quandary Peak
Popular route, lower avalanche risk and typically well-packed trail plus trailhead access is great year round.
Mt. Bierstadt
Straightforward terrain and usually less snow accumulation than other Front Range peaks. However, road closures do add hiking distance vs the standard summer route.
Pikes Peak (Northwest Slopes)
Low avalanche exposure, good trailhead access throughout the Winter and snow levels are often lower than other 14ers.
Mt. Sherman
Often windswept with relatively low avalanche concerns. Trailhead access can be hit or miss though.
Mt. Elbert East Ridge
Well-traveled winter route with minimal avalanche terrain and great trailhead access.
Culebra Peak
Straightforward route and typically lower snow accumulation than many Colorado 14ers with low avalanche risk. However, getting a reservation does cost money and spots are not always available.
Best First Winter Colorado 14er
If I could recommend only one Colorado winter 14er to a beginner, it would be Quandary Peak. The combination of straightforward navigation, lower avalanche exposure, reliable winter trailhead access and frequent traffic makes it one of the most approachable winter 14ers in the state. That said, winter mountain travel is inherently dangerous and proper preparation, gear and judgment are still required.
How I Chose These Winter Colorado 14ers
These mountains were selected based on a combination of winter trailhead access, avalanche exposure, route-finding complexity, technical difficulty, mountaineering skills required, recommended Winter gear and overall commitment level. While avalanche risk was one of the primary factors considered, no Winter route is completely free from objective hazards and conditions can change rapidly throughout the season. A mountain’s summer difficulty was not a primary factor in these rankings and all peaks are organized by mountain range rather than overall difficulty.
Avalanche Awareness
Before attempting any Winter 14er in Colorado, I strongly recommend understanding avalanche terrain, snowpack, weather patterns and basic avalanche education. The peaks on this list generally have less avalanche exposure than many Colorado 14ers, but that does not eliminate avalanche danger. Conditions vary dramatically from year to year and even day to day. Watch the avalanche awareness video below before planning a winter ascent. This is absolutely not a substitute for an official AIRE course.
Winter Gear for Colorado 14ers
The mountains on this list generally require fewer technical skills than many Colorado winter 14ers, but they still demand proper winter gear and mountain judgment. All of this gear is useful to own and bring on any winter Colorado 14er hike. However, the most important part about any piece of gear is knowing how to use it properly, otherwise it just becomes extra weight on your back.
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Easiest Winter 14ers: Tenmile Range
Quandary Peak
Quandary Peak is often considered the easiest winter 14er in Colorado and appears on nearly every Winter 14er list for good reason. Trailhead access is the same as the summer route, avalanche exposure is generally lower than many other Colorado 14ers and the route sees heavy winter traffic so you are usually not breaking trail through deep snow. Limited technical gear is required during normal Winter conditions, making Quandary one of the best options for hikers attempting their first winter 14er.
Mt. Bierstadt is one of the most popular Colorado 14ers year-round and remains a strong Winter option. While the seasonal closure of Guanella Pass adds several miles to the day, the route itself remains relatively straightforward and avoids many of the avalanche concerns found on other Winter routes of Colorado 14ers. Snow coverage varies significantly throughout the season, but Bierstadt often experiences heavy winds that keep portions of the route relatively snow-free. For hikers looking for a Front Range winter 14er, Bierstadt is often one of the best places to start.
Pikes Peak earns a spot on this list because of its unique winter accessibility from its Northwest Slopes route. Unlike many Winter Colorado 14ers, the summit road remains open year-round (weather dependent), creating the possibility of a one-way hike if transportation logistics can be arranged. Snow accumulation is often lower than many other Colorado mountains and avalanche terrain is generally limited on the Northwest Slopes route. The biggest challenge is not technical difficulty, but rather the length of the day and exposure to severe weather and wind.
The DeCaLiBron loop offers several reasonable first time Winter 14er options depending on conditions. Mt. Democrat and Mt. Bross are typically the most straightforward winter objectives in the group, although trailhead access and private land considerations can significantly impact the experience. These peaks benefit from relatively low technical difficulty and often receive substantial wind, which can reduce snow accumulation in some areas. Avalanche awareness remains important, particularly on slopes where snow can collect.
Mt Sherman during the Winter is probably the biggest wildcard on this list of easiest Winter Colorado 14ers. The reason? Trailhead access. Like most mountains in Colorado, this hike starts from a Forest Service Road that is not maintained during Winter months. Low snow year? You could easily get close to the trailhead making this the easiest of all Winter 14ers. Lots of snow? This one turns into a SLOG. Mt Sherman during the Winter has two options, from the East side (standard route) or West side. I have only hiked this from the East side which has low avalanche risk and a more direct route up to the summit. The standard route is usually guarded by a large cornice which forces hikers to change course. Sherman can have lower levels of snow up high, but usually requires at least microspikes to hike. Crampons may be necessary depending on how “bulletproof” the snow is. Mt Sherman can be a nice option to ski or board down, but you do need somewhat high levels of snow which turns the hike into a slog.
Colorado’s highest peak is also one of its best winter 14ers. Similar to many mountains on this list, Mt Elbert has an alternative route to the standard summer version to tackle its summit during the winter months. For a winter attempt of Colorado’s highest peak, take the East Ridge route. This trail avoids avalanche terrain and starts from a TH which hikers can get to year round. Sure, you have to hike an extra 3-4 miles vs a summer start, but this one is also very well traveled which means a lower chance of breaking trail through deep snow (the hardest part about winter hiking). Mt Elbert winter hike starts from Twin Lakes and uses the Colorado Trail before heading up towards the summit. Snow on this one can get VERY deep before you reach the ridge so snowshoes are a must. Once through the trees, hiking can vary from wind drifted snow to hard packed snow which microspikes can usually handle. Elbert can also get very windy which means that a ski or snowboard descent can be tough.
Despite being privately owned, Culebra Peak is one of the easiest Colorado 14ers to hike during the winter. I know this one might ruffle some feathers because paying to hike a mountain is not a loved idea in the hiking community. However, winter can be the best time to hike Culebra if you want to because it’s usually a time of year where the privately owned 14er owners allow hikers. The Sangre de Cristo Mountain range has a load of wind and usually relatively low snow. Trailhead access? Well, that depends on where the ranch owners allow you to start. If you start from the ranch HQ check-in, 14 miles. If you can drive higher, subtract 4-5 miles or so. In either case, this mountain is not technical but without an established trail, hikers need to have a map, GPS and know the general direction on where to head.
The mountains below can make reasonable winter 14er objectives under the right conditions, but generally require stronger route-finding skills, additional winter gear, more avalanche awareness or substantially greater physical effort than the peaks listed above. In many cases, a low-snow year can transform one of these mountains into a relatively straightforward winter ascent, while a heavy snow year (or month) can turn the same route into a multi-hour sufferfest.
Mt. Blue Sky From Echo Lake
If you’re looking for a winter 14er near the Front Range, Mt. Blue Sky deserves consideration. The challenge is the approach. winter hikers must begin at Echo Lake, turning the route into a 17+ mile day with significant snow travel. Snowshoes are almost always required and avalanche terrain becomes a concern in certain areas. While possible, this would not be my first recommendation for a winter 14er.
Humboldt Peak is another excellent winter objective for experienced hikers, but it demands more effort than others on this list. Expect a long day of hiking, substantial elevation gain and the possibility of deep snow throughout much of the route. Unlike summer months, even on a low snow year, hikers must start from the lower trailhead adding miles of additional hiking.
La Plata Peak is one of the more serious winter objectives discussed in this guide. Even the winter route contains avalanche terrain and often requires route finding, technical gear and a strong understanding of snowpack conditions. In many years, deep snow can persist from the trailhead all the way to the summit.
Mt. Princeton and Mt. Antero share many of the same winter challenges. Both peaks have relatively low avalanche exposure, but road access becomes the primary obstacle. Depending on snow levels, hikers may be forced to add significant mileage below the summer trailheads. In low-snow years, these mountains become much more attractive winter options. In high-snow years, they can turn into long and exhausting slogs. Mt Princeton does also have higher avalanche risk potential.
