Highlight (Segment) • Trail
Longs Peak Trail
Hiking
5.0
(8)
The primary trail for ascending the mountain is the Longs Peak Trail, which leads to the summit via the Keyhole Route. The trail begins at the Longs Peak Ranger Station and is maintained by the National Park Service and is a 15-mile round-trip journey with nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain. While it is classified as non-technical, it involves significant Class 3 scrambling, which means you will be using both your hands and feet to navigate steep, rocky sections with high exposure The initial portion of the trail is a steady, forested climb. After breaking through the treeline around 11,000 feet, the terrain becomes rocky alpine tundra. The trail is clearly marked with cairns as it crosses the vast Boulder Field to the Keyhole. Past the Keyhole, the route is no longer a maintained trail but a marked mountaineering route, indicated by red and yellow bullseyes painted on the rock to guide climbers through the Ledges, Trough, Narrows, and Homestretch sections to the summit.
Essential hiking gear is a critical component of this planning, extending beyond basic supplies to include helmets for rockfall protection on the final stretches and traction for potential ice and snow. Hiking Longs Peak in Colorado is considered a serious undertaking and is not suitable for novice hikers. Hikers must be well-acclimatized to the high altitude to mitigate the risks of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The hike typically takes 10-15 hours to complete, necessitating an "alpine start" well before sunrise (often between 2 and 3 AM) to ensure you are off the summit and below the exposed Keyhole before the common afternoon thunderstorms roll in. The experience is incredibly rewarding, offering breathtaking views and a profound sense of accomplishment, but its difficulty and inherent risks should never be underestimated.
This Highlight goes through a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Rocky Mountain Wilderness
Tips
August 21, 2024
Hiking
May 3, 2022
Hiking
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Details
Informations
Distance 4.05 km
Uphill 20 m
Downhill 550 m
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