How Long Does It Take To Hike Longs Peak?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The best time of the day to begin your hike to Longs Peak is at 3 am (yes, you read that right, 3 o’clock in the morning). Typically, this 15-mile hike takes

between 10 and 15 hours

to complete, and you will want to be below the treeline when afternoon thunderstorms begin.

Is Longs Peak a hard hike?

Located in Rocky Mountain National Park, just under 10 miles southwest of Estes Park, Longs Peak is the highest point in Boulder County at 14,259 feet.

This is a strenuous hike with difficult terrain

that should not be underestimated.

Can you hike Longs Peak a day?


Done as a single day outing

, the standard Keyhole route on Longs entails 15+ miles of hiking, 5,000 ft. of elevation gain, exposed scrambling with fall-risk potential, and difficult terrain above treeline, where storms roar in with regularity.

How long does it take to get to the top of Longs Peak?

Attempting the summit in the afternoon greatly increases your risk – the round-trip from the Longs Peak Trailhead averages

10 to 15 hours

.

How steep is Longs Peak?

Longs Peak is difficult.

That means you’re gaining

around 700 feet per mile

…it adds up. Note: due to the amount of scrambling on this climb, you won’t have a traditional trail for a large chunk of the route. Instead, you’ll follow Colorado “C” icons that have been painted on the rock.

Do I need a pass to hike Longs Peak?

Permit & Entrance Fees for Longs Peak Hike

Unlike other access points in Rocky Mountain National Park,

there are no entrance fees or day permits required to access this area

. The trailhead does fill up fast though, so show up early! A week-day hike is a better time to go for less crowds.

How many people died hiking Longs Peak?


Fifty-eight

people have died climbing or hiking Longs Peak. According to the National Park Service, two people, on average, die every year attempting to climb the mountain.

What is the most difficult 14er in Colorado?

  • Capitol Peak – Class 4 (Most Difficult) …
  • Little Bear Peak – Class 4 (Most Difficult) …
  • Pyramid Peak – Class 4 (Most Difficult) …
  • Maroon Peak – Class 4 (Most Difficult) …
  • Mount Wilson – Class 4 (Most Difficult) …
  • Crestone Needle – Class 3 (Most Difficult)

Is Longs Peak a 14er?

14er Rank: 15 of 53 Elevation: 14,255′ Range: Front National Park: Rocky Mountain Lat/Lon: 40.254902° -105.615738°

Is Longs Peak safe?

Longs Peak, the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park, is one of the most popular Colorado mountains, with more than 10,000 hikers every year making the summit.

You, too, can make the summit and safe descent — if you take the proper precautions

.

Which Colorado 14er is the easiest to climb?


Pikes Peak

is arguably the easiest 14er in Colorado, but if you are looking for a little more help on your first mountaineering trip, be sure to check out our Pikes Peak guided hiking tour.

What class is Longs Peak?

Difficulty:

Class 3
Risk Factors: Exposure: High Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: High Trailhead: Longs Peak Start: 9,400 feet Summit: 14,255 feet

What class mountain is Longs Peak?

Just a couple hours from Denver, Longs Peak, the highest point in the northern Front Range, beckons hikers to its 14,259-foot summit. But the final mile of the ascent of the Keyhole route is a strenuous

Class 3

scramble, and a guide is highly recommended to help manage the risks and insure a rewarding experience.

Which national park has most deaths?

Going by its per-capita death rate, Denali is by far the most dangerous national park—ten times more so than

Great Smoky Mountains

, which sees less than one death per million visitors.

What 14er has the most deaths?

  • 1) Maroon Peak, South Ridge Route. …
  • 2) Crestone Needle, South Face Route. …
  • 3) Snowmass Mountain, East Slopes Route. …
  • 4) North Maroon Peak, Northeast Ridge Route. …
  • 5) Pyramid Peak, Northeast Ridge Route. …
  • 6) Mt Wilson, North Slopes Route. …
  • 7) Sunlight Peak, South Face Route.

What mountain has highest death rate?


Mount Everest

, the highest mountain on Earth, attracts hundreds of climbers every year. The main peak of the Annapurna massif is the most dangerous of the world’s mountains, with a 29% fatality rate of everyone who tries to climb it. Since 1900, an estimated 244 expeditions have resulted in 72 deaths.

Can a beginner hike Pikes Peak?

One of the most popular trails in the Pikes Peak region,

the Crags Trail (Forest Service Trail 664) in the Pike National Forest is an easy/moderate hike of less than 6 miles round trip

; it offers stunning views of the lower part of Pikes Peak and the surrounding areas.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.