The high mountains of Colorado are visited by an estimated 200,000 people each year making it one of the most popular areas in the nation for mountaineering. What makes the region so popular is the Central Rocky Mountain's breathtaking beauty, abundant wildlife, and the large number of Fourteeners. Mountaineers refer to mountains with peaks over 14,000 feet as "Fourteeners". Colorado has 54 mountains with summits above 14,000 feet and more than one thousand mountains topping 10,000 feet. This is the highest concentration of high mountains in the lower 48 states. 

These high mountains are the remaining high points of an eroded plateau. The elevation of the mountains is generally uniform, with few of the Fourteeners standing out as significantly higher than the others. These high mountains are the centerpieces of the Colorado Rockies which are part of the North American Cordillera that stretches 3,000 miles from Alaska, through western Canada and the United States, into northern Mexico. Most Fourteeners have easy routes up rounded flanks, and more difficult climbs up steep rock faces. Some small glaciers exist, and snow covers the high mountains from December through May, with some snow patches remaining through most of the year.

The mountains are more accessible during the summer, but severe afternoon thunderstorms are common. Wildlife in Fourteener country is plentiful. Black bear, mountain lion, mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and elk are commonly spotted on the open slopes and in the fir and aspen forests. The mountain wilderness also includes abandoned mountain homesteads and ghost towns, remnants of the original Colorado settlers, who came to the region to mine gold and silver. The miners and Native Americans were the first to climb many of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks.

Words alone can not describe the beauty of the Colorado Rockies and its Fourteeners. The Colorado Mountain Photo Library website provides a collection of over 400 digital images of Colorado's Rocky Mountains that you can download for your own personal use. Featured are the Colorado "Fourteeners" and "Highest Hundred". Colorado Mountain Photo Library

Hiking Fourteeners can be a fun, challenging and rewarding experience. The view from the top of these high mountains is spectacular and the feeling of achievement upon reaching the top of a Fourteener is exhilarating. Some of these high mountains are so close to one another that experienced climbers have bagged more than one in a single day. To protect the unique alpine environment it is recommended that all visitors to these high places practice the principles of Leave No Trace identified later in this web page. There is no substitute for experience, all beginning Fourteener hikers and climbers should receive instruction before attempting their first climb or hire a local guide service. The Colorado Mountain Club trains thousands of climbers annually on how to safely and responsibly hike and climb Fourteeners. Each year the club's experienced trip leaders lead hundreds of Fourteener hikes. Visit their website for details on various programs they offer. Colorado Mountain Club  

To hike safely in the Colorado backcountry or up a 14,000 foot mountain it is necessary to plan your trip before you reach the trailhead. Define your group's goals and expectations, know the area and what to expect, carry and use appropriate equipment, and be prepared for adverse weather conditions that can be part of any trip into the high country. Virtually all backcountry accidents can be prevented through careful pre-trip planning. Fourteener climbs are challenging and require preparation, skill, and experience. For detailed information on how to safely hike a Fourteener, the best routes, and more, visit the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative website. 

General Backcountry Safety--This training program was prepared by Charley Shimanski of the Mountain Rescue Association Education Committee. It is an introductory course in backcountry safety for those with little or no experience in mountainous and backcountry terrain. This file is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file. If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, click the image below to download it now.

(All backcountry recreationist should read this. It could save your life in an emergency.)

The Colorado Fourteeners and other mountains in the Colorado Rockies are visited by an estimated 200,000 people each year. This is a 300 percent increase over a decade ago. With ever-increasing numbers of people discovering the deep personal rewards of hiking and climbing in the mountains, the very environment that we so love risks imperilment. It is absolutely essential that climbers respect the fragile terrain on which they climb, and ever-consciously exercise a minimum impact approach so future generations can have the same rewarding experience we enjoy today. The following is a list of sound environmental practices, as recommended by the American Alpine Club:

1. Observe local regulation and guidelines of Federal agencies or private owners.

2. Help to prevent trail erosion. Cutting across switchbacks creates serious erosion problems. Making duplicate paths should be avoided. Trails which cut across a slope where the angle is low will cause less erosion than those which cut across it where it is steep.

3. Protect the trees. Continuous use of belay and rappel anchors can damage and even kill trees. Tree climbing should not be a substitute for routes on rock.

4. Protect the alpine meadows. In general, the lower forested areas or the rocky alpine areas are more tolerant of use than the delicate sub alpine meadows and are therefore preferable for campsites.

5. Pack a stove. In many alpine and sub alpine areas, downed wood is in short supply. The lower dead branches of alpine trees are part of the natural scene and should be allowed to remain. Blackened campfire rings left in place are a sign of human impact on the wilderness environment; on the other hand, dispersing fire rings will damage the environment if many users are doing it.

6. Avoid polluting. Soap pollutes streams and lakes. Excrement should be buried a short distance into the top soil where natural processes will decompose it. All trash and garbage should be packed out. If it is buried, animals will dig up the soil to get at it.

7. Pack out litter left behind by thoughtless users, who unfortunately will always be with us.

8. Use restraint in the employment of climbing aids such as pitons and bolts which can permanently deface the rock and degrade the route for subsequent climbers.

CentralColorado.com recommends anyone interested in hiking and climbing in the high mountains of the world visit these web sites. Here you will find a wealth of information about the world's mountains and mountaineering throughout the US and in other countries across the globe. Most of these web sites were used by CentralColorado.com in the preparation of this web page.

	American Alpine Club The American Alpine Club is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has represented mountaineers and rock climbers for almost a century. Since its inception in 1902, the AAC has been the only national climbers organization devoted to: Exploration and scientific study of high mountain elevations and polar regions of the world; promotion and dissemination of knowledge about the mountains and mountaineering through its meetings, publications and libraries; conservation and preservation of mountain regions and other climbing areas; and representation of the interests and concerns of the American climbing community.
	Colorado Fourteeners Initiative The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is a partnership among nonprofit organizations, concerned individuals, and public agencies, to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado's Fourteeners and the quality of the recreational opportunities they provide. This website provides valuable information on mountaineering in Colorado.
	The Colorado Mountain Club The Colorado Mountain Club is organized to: unite the energy, interest, and knowledge of the students, explorers, and lovers of the mountains of Colorado; collect and disseminate information regarding the Rocky Mountains in behalf of science, literature, art, and recreation; stimulate public interest in Colorado's mountain areas; encourage the preservation of forests, flowers, fauna, and natural scenery; and render readily accessible the alpine attractions of this region.
	The Colorado Mountain Photo Library The Colorado Mountain Photo Library provides a collection of over 400 digital images of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Featured are the "Fourteeners", the "Highest Hundred", and the named peaks in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park. These images may be download for your own personal use.
	The High Altitude Medicine Guide The High Altitude Medicine Guide provides current medical information on the prevention, recognition, and treatment of altitude illness, as well as other health issues affecting travelers to high mountainous regions of the world. Information content is designed for the use of physicians and non-physicians alike.
	Mountain Rescue Association The Mountain Rescue Association is a volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives through rescue and mountain safety education. More than 80 units, in the US, Canada, and other countries provide unpaid professional mountain search and rescue at no direct cost to the taxpayers.
	Peakware World Mountain Encyclopedia Peakware World Mountain Encyclopedia is an excellent resource on world mountains and mountaineering. Here you can explore the world, and network with others who share your love for the high country. This site is built and maintained by its visitors - you can help build this site by signing a summit log, submitting a mountain photo, or adding your own peak to their database.
	Wilderness Medical Society The Wilderness Medical Society is an organization composed of qualified physicians, allied health specialists and other qualified individuals that will concern itself with matters related to wilderness medicine and the benefits, health, safety and medical care of the individual in the wilderness environments and human activities in these environments.
	Wildernet Wildernet.com is an online outdoor recreation guide providing detailed information about trails, jeep roads, campgrounds, parks, forests, wildlife refuges, scenic byways, and other resources in the United States. Wildernet.com is produced and owned by Interactive Outdoors, Inc., a privately held web publishing company based in Aspen, Colorado.