Central Colorado / Sawatch Range
Colorado's highest range, anchored by Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, with gentle slopes, Collegiate Peaks scenery, and the Arkansas River valley.
Trails
1
Best Season
June through September; autumn colors peak in late September
How to Get There
Trailheads accessed from Leadville, Buena Vista, and Salida via paved roads. The Colorado Trail follows the western side of the range for many miles.
Permit Information
No permits required for most trails beyond standard national forest parking passes. Collegiate Peaks Wilderness has self-issuing permits at trailheads.
The Sawatch Range runs north-south through central Colorado and contains the highest average elevation in the state, including Mount Elbert (14,440 ft, the highest peak in Colorado) and Mount Massive (14,428 ft). The range is known for its broad, relatively gentle slopes compared to the San Juans, making it a popular area for first-time fourteener climbs. The Collegiate Peaks — Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and Oxford — form the southern spine. The Arkansas River valley below is a major whitewater rafting destination and provides road access via US-24 and US-285.
Trails in Central Colorado / Sawatch Range
- ★Mount Elbert via Northeast Ridge15.3 km—→