Mount Massive
4,398m
Second-highest peak in Colorado at 14,428 feet, with the longest summit ridge above 14,000 feet of any mountain in the contiguous United States.
Mountain Weather
Mount Massive sits in the Sawatch Range just north of Mount Elbert and is the second-highest peak in Colorado and the third-highest in the contiguous United States. True to its name, it has the longest connected ridge above 14,000 feet of any peak in the lower 48 — five distinct summits exceed 14,000 feet along the crest. The standard Southwest Slopes route from the North Halfmoon Trailhead is a Class 2 hike of about 14 miles round trip with 4,500 feet of gain, sharing a trailhead approach with Mount Elbert. The mountain is protected within the Mount Massive Wilderness and the Leadville National Fish Hatchery sits at its base. As with all Sawatch 14ers, alpine starts are essential to beat afternoon thunderstorms.