Summit Colorado mountains by hiking to the peaks! In the Rocky Mountains, hikers can experience the adrenaline rush of a mountain climber! Let James Dziezynski guide you along 55 of Colorado’s top summit hikes. Conquer some of the most famous peaks (Longs), some of the toughest (Storm King), and some of the most remote (Lone Cone). The expert author leads you to countless breathtaking views, and his spirited descriptions reveal why each trip ranks among the very best. Now in full color, this inspiring guide covers all of Colorado’s major ranges, including Front, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch, San Juan, Mosquito, and Tenmile. You’ll stand atop the highest mountain in the state; visit the ruins of a town flattened by an avalanche; hunt for fossilized seashells more than two miles above sea level; and enjoy countless scrambles, ridge walks, and traverses through Colorado’s stunning alpine scenery. Each hike includes: Topographic map with GPS waypoints and elevation profile - Difficulty and class ratings tailored to Colorado’s unique terrain - Optional routes for further exploration - Fascinating trivia and history “There is so much of Colorado that is still wild and lonely, and James Dziezynski takes you there in this book. And because he has spent so much time figuring these trips out from a logistical standpoint, it’s an easy guidebook to follow. You have a guide whose passion for the high peaks makes the climb up even more enjoyable.” —Doug Schnitzspahn, Elevation Outdoors “ Best Summit Hikes in Colorado details non-technical scrambles up 14ers in every Colorado mountain range. Each route Dziezynski selected sets itself apart with notable features, including the site of a ghost town, a waterfall, an airplane wreck, a great meadow for wildflowers or wildlife spotting.” — Boulder Weekly “This great book covers some of Colorado’s unsung hikes. I appreciate the lively detail and stories about natural and human history. I’d even read it sitting in my armchair!” —Susan LeFever, former director, Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter “There is so much of Colorado that is still wild and lonely, and James Dziezynski takes you there in this book. And because he has spent so much time figuring these trips out from a logistical standpoint, it’s an easy guidebook to follow. You have a guide whose passion for the high peaks makes the climb up even more enjoyable.” —Doug Schnitzspahn, Elevation Outdoors James Dziezynski is the author of several Colorado mountain hiking guidebooks. He is currently an editor at Outside Inc., where he works on publications such as Outside, Backpacker, and Trail Runner. He is a graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he studied literature and philosophy, and is also a graduate of NOLS. James lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, Sheila. Longs Peak Longs is the classic fourteener. Despite the fact that it’s a strenuous circuit, most people climb the Keyhole Route in a single day. The scrambling is among the best in the state. Round-Trip Distance 14.0 miles - Hiking Time 11–15 hours - Difficulty 8/10 - Class 3 - Start Elevation 9,375 ft (Longs Peak Trailhead) - Peak Elevation 14,255 ft - Total Elevation Gain 5,580 ft - Terrain Long, easy approach trail to solid scrambling and a steep gully to summit; moderately exposed terrain - Best Time to Climb Mid-June–September - Gear Advisor Ice ax, helmet, and crampons in early spring and after mid-September - Crowd Level High - Trailhead GPS 40°16.316' N, 105°33.376' W Location Front Range in Rocky Mountain National Park outside of Estes Park Intro Longs is a must-do mountain. I could not in good faith write about the best summits in Colorado and exclude it. For many, an ascent of Longs Peak is the culmination of their hiking career. Even though it’s a tough climb, it is also one of the most social summits in the state, so get ready to make some new friends. In my opinion, this is part of the fun. You’ll see it all: families, gutsy weekend warriors, cocky climbers, teenagers, grandparents, guys, girls, the hefty and the slim, all aiming to stand on the flat summit of the mountain whose image is reproduced on the Colorado state quarter. Longs Peak is a challenging day hike that should not be underestimated. The classic way to climb the peak is to begin around 3 a.m. (to avoid storms) and summit in the early morning. Dreamlike phantom trains of headlamps heading up in the predawn hours are a surreal sight, and passing through the Keyhole is like reaching the next level in a video game; a new world waits on the back side of Longs. Even veteran hikers and scramblers can appreciate the moderately exposed traverses and good class 3 terrain that lead to the summit. Driving The road to Longs Peak Trailhead is paved and passable by all vehicles. How to Get There The road to the trailhead is off CO 7. From the south, this is 10.4 miles north of the junction of CO 7 and CO 72; from the north, it’s 9.2 miles from t