Two main trailheads reach Mount Elbert, and they start in different places

Mount Elbert is Colorado’s highest peak, and people often picture it as a single hike. In fact there are two main trails up it, and they start in different parts of Lake County. If you punch “Mount Elbert” into a map app without knowing which one you want, you can end up far from the trailhead you meant to use.

The North Mount Elbert Trail starts off Halfmoon Road, also called Forest Service Road 110, near Elbert Creek Campground. You reach it by driving south from Leadville on US Highway 24, then west on State Highway 300 and onto county and forest roads. The South Mount Elbert Trail starts farther south, near Twin Lakes, off State Highway 82 and Lake County Road 24.

Both routes climb to the same high summit, so neither is a stroll. This is high-altitude hiking with fast-changing weather, and the last miles are above treeline where afternoon storms are a real hazard. The Forest Service, through the Leadville Ranger District, is the place to confirm which trailhead fits your plan, how the access roads are doing, and where parking and camping are allowed.

The Forest Service’s Mount Elbert pages are the place to confirm which trailhead is right and to check current road and trail conditions.