These sky-scraping mountains make us the tallest state in the nation and lure hikers and photographers anxious for that amazing photo and bragging rights for summiting their heights. Pikes Peak, Mount Elbert, Rocky Mountain National Park's Longs Peak, Mount Blue Sky, the Maroon Bells and Mount Sneffels are six of Colorado's most popular and most photographed mountains. And they're so beautiful, even the novice photographer will look like a pro.
1. Mount Elbert
Mount Elbert is the tallest mountain in Colorado, coming in at 14,437 feet. It's also the second-highest peak in the contiguous United States. With such honors, you can imagine that the Sawatch Range peak is popular with climbers and hikers. Reachable from the home bases of Leadville and Twin Lakes, one of the best ways to see the peak (and its neighbor, Mount Massive) is from the window of the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad.
Hikers are lucky, as there's a 9.1-mile round-trip trail that goes all the way to the lofty summit — though with an elevation gain of nearly 4,500 feet along the way, they may not feel so lucky.
Location: The Mount Elbert (Northeast) trailhead is located off North Halfmoon Road southwest of Leadville, just past Elbert Creek Campground.
2. Maroon Bells (pictured)
It’s said that the Maroon Bells (actually, two peaks: Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak) are the most photographed peaks in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, and when you see them, you’ll understand why. With a reflective lake to cast back their beauty and a crystalline blue sky to frame their edges, the pyramid-like peaks of these sister mountains are a photographer’s dream. The naked faces of these often snow-dusted behemoths stand in contrast to the lush greenery of conifers and brilliant wildflowers that grow in their shadows.
Maroon Bells hikers and bikers can access a moderate, 1.5-mile trailthat hugs the lake and provides many areas to stop and snap a shot. For much of May through late October, a shuttle from Aspen Highlandsis a great way to reach the peaks.Maroon Creek Road is closed during the winter, so cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling are the only ways in.Learn about overnight permits and fees for camping in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
Location: From Glenwood Springs, travel southeast on Highway 82.
3. Pikes Peak
At 14,107 feet, Pikes Peak is a monolithic monument named for explorer Zebulon Pike, whose travels left an indelible mark on the psyche of the American people and the Rocky Mountains. While Pike himself was never able to reach its summit, he was the first documented pioneer to try. Well before Pike, however, the Ute people summited the mountain, which they called Tavá Kaa-vi (the Sun Mountain). Infused with historic significance, a picture of this peak is more than just a shot of scenery — it’s a glimpse into Colorado’s identity.
If you have an adventurous spirit, drive the Pikes Peak Highway to get your shot. (Note: Visitors who want to drive to the summit park in the top lot from May–September will be required to make an online reservation.) It has more than 150 turns that traverse the mountain face, each one providing a vista worth photographing. Or, leave the driving to your conductor on the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, where your hands will be free to snap photos as you're treated to the history and lore of the mountain.
