Elk Mountains (Colorado) Mountains

The Elk Mountains are a rugged subrange of the Rocky Mountains in west-central Colorado, noted for steep, glaciated peaks and alpine valleys. The range contains several peaks above 14,000 feet and is a major destination for mountaineers and backcountry recreation.

High-profile features include the Maroon Bells massif and Capitol Peak; the Maroon Bells area includes scenic alpine lakes and is one of Colorado’s most photographed landscapes, while Capitol Peak is known for long, technical climbs. The range supports alpine lakes, steep cirques and extensive snowfields.

The Elk Mountains formed through uplift and glacial sculpting within the broader Rockies and have long been used for mining, logging and later recreation. Over the 20th century much of the range became managed for conservation and multiple areas are now within national forest boundaries.

Geographically the range lies west of the Continental Divide in central Colorado, between the towns of Aspen to the southwest and Crested Butte to the northwest, and is accessed by highway valleys that lead into trailheads and scenic areas.

• 14,000-foot peaks: The range contains multiple ‘fourteeners’ - peaks exceeding 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) - and is a major destination for mountaineering and backcountry skiing.

What to See#

• Maroon Bells: A pair of glaciated pyramidal peaks and an alpine lake that form one of the most photographed mountain groups in Colorado, accessed from the Maroon Bells Scenic Area near Aspen.
• Capitol Peak: A remote, technical 14,000-foot peak known for steep ridges and challenging alpine routes, located within the Elk Mountains range.