Longs Peak

Longs Peak dominates the northern Colorado Front Range and is the only 14,000-foot peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. The standard Keyhole Route is a challenging Class 3 climb involving route-finding across ledges, a narrow gully known as the Trough, a technical traverse called the Narrows, and the final scramble up the Homestretch. The round trip is 15 miles with 5,100 feet of elevation gain. Most climbers start from the Longs Peak Trailhead at 2-3 AM to beat afternoon lightning. The true summit offers views east across the Great Plains and west into the heart of the park.