Mt Elbert Winter 14er Hike Trail Guide

A Mt Elbert Winter Hike is one of the most popular 14ers during the snowy months in Colorado. Mt Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado and is one of the most popular 14ers during summer months. In the winter, the East Ridge route is a nice way to summit the mountain as it presents almost no avalanche risk, provides decent trailhead access and has only Class 1 terrain along the way. A Mt Elbert Winter hike is suitable for those looking to gain winter experience with relatively low risk, but is not recommended for beginner hikers. 

Mt Elbert Winter Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Mt Elbert Winter Hike – East Ridge

Mt Elbert Winter Hike Rating: ★★★★ (⅘ Stars)

Distance: 12.3 Miles RT (subtract 3-4 miles RT if starting at 4WD TH)

Elevation Start: 9,450 ft

Highest Point:14,433 ft

Total Elevation Gain: 5,200 ft (subtract about 800ft if starting at 4WD TH)

Estimated Time to Complete: 8-10 Hours RT

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 1 What does this mean?

Snow Grade: Minimum steepness & little to no exposure

Season: Year Round – Expect snow November – June

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Mt Elbert Winter Route

Trailhead: South Elbert

Getting Here: From US 24, head to the Colorado 82 junction and drive towards Twin Lakes. Drive for about 4 miles and turn right onto road 24 (yes it’s actually called that). Drive for about a mile and reach the signed TH on your left. If you are able to continue up towards the upper TH (not likely), drive past the small parking lot and turn left onto Forest Road 125.1B – its another 2 miles to the upper TH from here. 

Fees: There is no fee to park at the South Elbert trailhead.

Parking: Parking at the South Elbert Trailhead is EXTREMELY limited. The lot can fill about 10-15 cars and will fill up on most weekends with nice weather during the winter. Be sure to arrive early as there is no alternative to parking in the small lot. There are no bathrooms at the South Elbert TH, but nearby Twin Lakes recreation area does have a handful that are open year round. 

Summary

Mt Elbert Winter Camping: Winter camping near the TH is certainly an option or along the trail up to the 4WD TH. However, be sure to prepare accordingly as deep snow will be in the area until May/June during most years. 

Dogs: Mt Elbert Winter hike via the East Ridge is dog friendly, but please use extreme caution when deciding to bring a dog on this hike. This is not a summer hike, there is deep snow, avalanche risk and frigid temperatures. If your dog is not used to hours of hiking in winter weather, please leave them at home. 

Make it a Loop: Mt Elbert Winter Winter Hike is an out and back hike with little alternatives in the area unless you have a snowmobile/skis or a desire to trudge through very deep snow.

Trail X Factors: Trail Finding & Snow Levels

With any winter hike in Colorado, the two biggest X factors are trail finding and snow quality/amount/depth. For the Mt Elbert Winter hike, trail finding is usually not an issue because of how many people frequent the hike. However, after a storm, don’t be surprised if you are not able to locate the trail and have to do some serious trail breaking/bootpacking. In terms of snow, this route is not typically prone to avalanche risk but can still present a number of challenges. Even with snowshoes/skins on, you may find yourself sinking into the snow for several miles. 

Hike Tip(s): For a number of reasons, you want to get an early start on the Mt Elbert Winter hike. The lot is very small and can fill up, snow will soften up (even on cold days) under the warming sun and winter offers limited daylight vs summer. In addition, the most important thing about winter hiking is to be prepared for everything. Unlike the summer where being unprepared can be more of a nuisance, being under prepared for a winter hike can lead to serious injuries/death and the inability to summit a peak. For example: we left our snowshoes in the car like a bunch of morons and had to deal with thigh deep post-holing that would have been mostly avoidable if we had just brought the damn things. You can always stash gear you don’t need. 

Best Views: On a clear day, the views on the Mt Elbert Winter hike are unbelievable. Once you leave treeline, views of the Twin Lakes and nearby Collegiate Peaks immediately become available. Once you get closer to the summit, The Gore Range, Front Range, Sangre De Cristo Range, Pikes Peak come into view as well. From the summit, a clear day can offer 360 degree snow covered peaks with mountains in the Elk Range and San Juan range sometimes available. The Collegiate Peaks are usually my least favorite range to look at, but in the winter they are absolutely amazing. 

Mt Elbert Winter Trail Route

Gear Needed

• 14er Day Hike Packing List
• La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
• La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women’s)
• La Sportiva Mountaineering Boots
• Backpack
• Food & Water
• Microspikes
• Gaiters
• Optional: Mountain Axe
• Optional: Ski or Snowboard
• Optional: Probe, Beacon, Shovel
• Optional: Crampons
• Optional: Crampon Bag
• Optional: Garmin inReach
• Optional: Hiking Poles
• Optional: Headlamp
• Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
• Optional: Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Probe, Shovel
• Optional: Snowshoes
• Optional: Camera and Lens
• Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
• *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

My Trip to Mt Elbert in the Winter: March 2020

The winter of 2020 was brutal in February so when March rolled in with beautiful weather, my friend Rick and I decided to get our fat asses back into shape and hike Mt Elbert via the East Ridge. Check out some pictures of our trip below and watch a full recap on YouTube below. 

Mt Elbert Winter Route Virtual Trail Guide

Questions or comments about the hike to Mt Elbert Winter Hike via the East Ridge? Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram!