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Capitol Peak Pitkin County Colorado
Capitol Peak, Pitkin County, CO. Photo by: Tom Wilberding

Capitol Peak – near Aspen

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Known as one of the most infamous fourteeners in the state, Capitol Peak is tucked away in the Elk Mountain range west of Aspen. It’s located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of the White River National Forest.

Reaching an elevation of 14,137 ft, the closest town is the small community of Redstone. Classified as a “14er” (a mountain peak with a minimum elevation of 14,000 ft), it is disputed as being one of, if not the most, difficult mountains to climb in Colorado.

Trail Routes

Capitol Peak Knife Ridge CO
Capitol Peak Knife Ridge. Photo by: Xpda

There are 6 trail routes to choose from. All routes are at a Class 4 difficulty or higher.

  • Knife Ridge
  • Capitol-Snowmass Traverse
  • Cleaver Buttress
  • Ridge Direct, Pierre Lakes
  • Northwest Buttress.

Activities

Capitol Peak Northeast Ridge
Capitol Peak Northeast Ridge. Photo by: MostlyDeserts

Camping – There are a few places where camping is possible, though there are no official campgrounds and a lot of private land goes through the area. Maroon Creek and Roaring Fork both have White River National Forest campgrounds but work on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For campgrounds that do offer reservations, Silver Bell, Silver Queen, and Silver Bar are the options to choose from. Self-registration for overnight stays is available at the trailheads and a copy of the registration is to be kept.

Read about camping near Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt.

Fishing – Capitol and Pierre Lakes as well as creeks provide areas for various types of fishing.

Hiking – For backpackers or hikers, the Capitol Creek Trail is roughly 6.5 miles one way to Capitol Lake with easy access to additional hiking trails in the area.

Horseback Riding – With numerous outfitters in the area, horseback rides are available to those without horses from hourly rides to all-day passes.

Rock Climbing – Due to the difficulty of routes, helmets are the minimum suggestion for scrambling, though proper experience and climbing gear should be used if attempting to summit.

Details

Address: White River National Forest, Pitkin County, CO

Season: Year round

Elevation: 14,137 ft (4309 m)

Website: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5187098.pdf (PDF)

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