Alpine Climbing

Are you ready to take your hiking to new altitudes? Our guided non-technical peaks that surround Aspen offer some of the best “hike up” routes to the summits of our surrounding 12, 13 and 14 thousand foot mountains. “Non-technical” is our verbiage for routes and peaks that do not require ropes, harnesses and helmets.

The Maroon Bells and Snowmass Wilderness areas surrounding Aspen offer some of the most beautiful and technically challenging peaks of all of Colorado’s famed fifty eight 14’ers. “Technical” is our verbiage for any peak that requires ropes, harnesses and helmets. These peaks require hand and feet climbing movement and scrambling through steep and often exposed terrain.

Non-Technical Peaks

For much of the year, wildflowers line these trails up to and above tree line. All of these summits offer unmatched 360° views of the heart of the central Rocky Mountains. Many of these peaks will offer several different routes to their summits. Let us help choose the right objective for you and your group’s needs. 

La Plata Peak

Located just under an hour from downtown Aspen, lies La Plata, the 5th tallest 14er at 14,336 ft The most common route is the Northwest Ridge, which starts just outside of Twin Lakes. This route…

View Trip : La Plata Peak

Mount Sopris

Hike or ski one of the most dramatic mountains in Colorado Iconic Mount Sopris dominates the skyline, guarding the entrance to the lower Roaring Fork Valley and serving as an unofficial symbol of the area….

View Trip : Mount Sopris

Castle Peak

Castle Peak (14,279 ft.) is the highest summit of the Elk Mountains, ninth highest in the Rocky Mountains Castle is one of our “lighter duty” 14ers, typically done as a non-technical climb. Despite being the…

View Trip : Castle Peak

Mount Elbert

Located just one hour from downtown Aspen, lies the tallest and perhaps one of the easier of all of Colorado’s 58, 14ers – Mt. Elbert (14,439′) The quickest way to the summit begins at the…

View Trip : Mount Elbert

Mount Massive

Located an hour and half from downtown Aspen, lies Mount Massive, the second highest peak in Colorado at 14,421 feet The most common route is the East Slope at 14.50 miles roundtrip with an elevation…

View Trip : Mount Massive

Technical Peaks

Our clients will be on a rope and moving in “short-rope” and “short-pitch” fashion with their veteran AMGA certified and trained mountain guides through all terrain where a slip, fall or loose rock would be detrimental. Our guides have an intimate knowledge of these routes and have spent years honing their alpine mountain guiding craft. Give us a call and we can discuss which route or peak would be the best fit for you.

Maroon Bells Traverse

The Maroon Bells Traverse is considered by many to be one of the most difficult and technically challenging traverses from one 14er to another Exposed ridges and ledges connect South Maroon Peak (14,156′) to North…

View Trip : Maroon Bells Traverse

Capitol Peak

Whether Capitol Peak (14,130 ft.) is on your summit’s tick list or looms large as a solitary mountaineering goal, this ‘Grand Teton’ of Colorado beckons This world-class climb has earned its reputation as one of…

View Trip : Capitol Peak

Snowmass Mountain

Snowmass Mountain (14,092′) is perched high above breathtaking Snowmass Lake Offering the unique ability to alpine climb on snow for most of the summer, Snowmass is an ideal setting for the “new-to-snow 14er climber.” Our…

View Trip : Snowmass Mountain

Snow Climbs

The Aspen area hosts some of Colorado’s best spring snow climbing routes to the summits of its many prominent “technical” 13’ers and 14’ers From the classic 2,000’ “Y” Couloir up South Maroon to moderate snow…

View Trip : Snow Climbs

Crestone Peak

The Crestone Traverse is considered one of the 4 great traverses in the Colorado Rockies A popular option is the class 4 Crestone Traverse which tackles both Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle with a technical…

View Trip : Crestone Peak

Crestone Needle

The South Face Route on Crestone Needle is a high quality class 3 route of the Colorado 14er From a camp at South Colony Lakes this route climbs to Broken Hand Pass where it then…

View Trip : Crestone Needle

Pyramid Peak

Pyramid Peak, the closest 14,000 foot summit to downtown Aspen, just happens to be one the Elk Range’s most spectacular. The peak is considered a classic in terms of scenery, positioning, difficulty and history. Due…

View Trip : Pyramid Peak

North Maroon Peak

North Maroon Peak (14,014’) is one of the more popular 14ers in the Maroon Bells wilderness, due to its relatively easy access and dramatic positioning Standing next to its slightly taller sister, Maroon Peak, it…

View Trip : North Maroon Peak

South Maroon Peak

For a mid-summer classic 14er experience, the standard and exceptionally long South Ridge is a must do Our clients are on rope with their guides through all technical sections of this climb. For the majority…

View Trip : South Maroon Peak

Explore Other Adventures

Check out our summer alpine climbs in the heart of the San Juan Mountains with San Juan Expeditions.