Colorado has more than 53 14ers in the state, making it a paradise for hikers, climbers and skiers but not all of these peaks are accessible.  Between the terrain and private land ownership some of those peaks are a little too hard to get to for the average climber.  Some of the others are easily hiked and they are some of the most amazing places on earth.

So here are our favorite 14ers to hike in Colorado.

Mount Elbert

This is a Class 2 and the peak is 14, 433 feet and it is the highest summit in Colorado.  Considered a gentle giant you can easily reach the peak via several trails.  This won’t be your typical Sunday afternoon stroll you will need to ascend over 4,000 feet over 4.5 miles.  The paths have been well maintained and once you break the tree line and see the stunning views of the Sawatch Range it will all be worth it.

Huron Park

Huron Peak is another Class 2 peak of 14, 003 feet, it’s a high triangular peak that pokes the clouds.  This is one of the best trails in all of Colorado.  It runs through a pine forest and then opens up into a beautiful alpine meadow.  You have views of the Sawatch Peaks and the Hope Pass.  If you get the chance then you need to hike this trail in autumn.  The colors in the fall are absolutely stunning.  If you can’t make it in the fall, try sunrise or sunset, the pictures you will be able to get will be unlike any others.

Long’s Peak

Long is Class 3 and it is a hugely popular destination but this peak is not for the faint of heart.  You’re going to find crowds, but take a good look around only have of those people will make it to the summit.  The trip is over 14 miles long and there are still brave souls who attempt to make the climb in one day.  Most regular climbers consider it one of the most challenging peaks out of all the 14ers.

Capitol Peak

This one is even tougher that Long’s Peak, at 14, 130 it’s a Class 4…and it’s HARD.  It’s an 18 mile trip there and back again and make no mistake getting off the peak will be just as tricky as getting up there was.  It lulls you into thinking it is easy as the first part of the journey takes you through some beautiful aspen forests until you reach Capitol Lake.  This is where it starts to get difficult, with steep passes and a tricky path to reach the summit.  The view though makes it all worthwhile.

While these are our favorite 14ers to hike in Colorado there are still plenty you can climb.  Colorado has some of the best concentration of scalable mountains in the entire world.  Colorado needs to been on the bucket list for every outdoors lover.