Front Range

The Front Range is the easternmost major range of the Rocky Mountains, running roughly north-south along central Colorado into southeastern Wyoming and forming the dramatic backdrop to the Denver metropolitan area. It contains multiple high peaks, alpine plateaus and intensely recreational terrain.

The range hosts numerous popular outdoor destinations and trailheads. Notable summits include Longs Peak (4,346 m / 14,259 ft), Mount Evans (4,350 m / 14,271 ft) and Pikes Peak (4,302 m / 14,115 ft). Rocky Mountain National Park and other protected areas provide extensive hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing and backcountry access across alpine tundra, forests and glacial valleys.

The Front Range was uplifted during the Laramide orogeny and displays classic Rocky Mountain geology and relief. Human use intensified in the 19th and 20th centuries with mining, roadbuilding and the development of cities along its eastern foothills.

Geographically the Front Range forms the immediate western edge of the Great Plains, extending from the Cheyenne area in Wyoming south toward Pueblo, Colorado, and running along or near major Colorado cities including Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs.

• Major fourteeners: Several well-known 'fourteeners' sit on the Front Range including Longs Peak (4,346 m), Mount Evans (4,350 m) and Pikes Peak (4,302 m).
• Steep eastern rise: The eastern flank of the Front Range rises abruptly from the adjacent Great Plains and forms the skyline behind the Denver-Colorado Springs corridor, making many trailheads and recreation areas readily accessible from major cities.

What to See #

• Longs Peak: A classic high-alpine summit rising to 4,346 metres (14,259 feet) located on the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park, known for the Longs Peak Trail and technical climbs on its Diamond face.
• Mount Evans: Rising to 4,350 metres (14,271 feet), this peak is reached by a paved mountain road to a high alpine summit road and is noted for alpine tundra and roadside access at high elevation.
• Pikes Peak: A prominent 4,302-metre (14,115-foot) peak overlooking Colorado Springs that is accessible by a long road to near the summit and has a long history as a tourist destination and summit road.
• Rocky Mountain National Park: A federally protected area established in 1915 that contains large tracts of Front Range high country, including alpine lakes, tundra and Longs Peak; it is a primary gateway for hiking and mountaineering in the northern Front Range.