Mount Elbert
Mount Elbert is the highest peak in Colorado and the second-highest in the contiguous United States. Just south of Leadville, it offers straightforward high-elevation hikes and striking alpine scenery.
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Geography
| Address | Mount Elbert, Colorado, USAMount Elbert |
|---|---|
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Colorado Plateau |
| Subregion | Rocky Mountains |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Lake County |
| District | Sawatch Range |
| City | Leadville |
| Neighborhood | Leadville Historic District |
| Postal Code | 80461 |
| Timezone | AmericaDenver |
| Latitude | 39.285 |
| Longitude | -106.441 |
| Maps |
7:13 PM LOCAL TIMEMount Elbert stands as Colorado’s highest summit at 14,440 ft (4,401 m), nestled in the Sawatch Range near Leadville. The peak’s accessibility makes it a popular choice for multi-sport athletes and backcountry day-hikers, while its high-alpine environment rewards visitors with subalpine lakes, alpine tundra, and panoramic summit views. Routes typically ascend via the north or south slogs — often from trailheads on the Huron Peak or North Cottonwood Creek routes — and require acclimatization to elevation. Around the peak, expect a stark, open landscape — with the Riggs and Avalanche peaks nearby — contrasted against forested valleys below and expansive skies overhead.
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