Classic Colorado 14er Routes

Classic Colorado 14er Routes

Colorado, United States, North America
Page Type Page Type: List
Sign the Climber's Log

The List

Gerry Roach is notorious for his "classic" lists in all of guides. These ratings appeal to both list-checkers and list-haters by denoting quality hikes/climbs.

In the 2nd edition of his guide to the Colorado 14ers, Roach has denoted 50 routes as being worthy of his "Classic" rating. I have included the YDS rating that Roach has given these routes.

Front Range

The Front Range has six 14ers and 12 classic routes.

Longs Peak
Keyhole - Class 3
Kieners - Class 5.3-5.4 (Moderate Snow)
Stettner's Ledges - Class 5.7+
Notch Couloir - Class 5.0-5.2 (Steep Snow)
Grand Slam - Class 3

Torreys Peak
Kelso Ridge - Class 3

Mount Bierstadt
East Ridge - Class 3
Sawtooth Ridge - Class 3

Mount Evans
Combination from Mt. Bierstadt - Class 3

Pikes Peak
East Slope - Class 1
Y Couloir - Class 3 (Steep Snow)

Tenmile - Mousquito Range

The Tenmile - Mosquito Range has 6 14ers and 3 classic routes.

Quandary Peak
East Slopes - Class 1
West Ridge - Class 3

Mount Democrat
North Ridge - Class 3

Sawatch Range

The Sawatch has 15 14ers and 6 classic routes.

Mount of the Holy Cross
Holy Cross Couloir - Class 3 (Steep Snow)

Mount Elbert
East Ridge - Class 1

La Plata
Ellingwood Ridge - Class 3

Mount Belford
West Slopes - Class 2

Mount Yale
East Ridge - Class 2

Mount Shavano
Angel of Shavano - Class 2 (Easy Snow)

Sangre de Cristo Range

The Sagres have 10 14ers and 12 classic routes.

Crestone Peak
South Face - Class 3
North Pillar - Class 5.8

Crestone Needle
South Face - Class 3
Ellingwood Arete - Class 5.7
The Crestone Traverse:
#1: Ascending either the North Buttress or Northwest Couloir on the Peak - Class 4
#2: Ascending the Peak's South Face from Cottonwood Lake - Class 4

Kit Carson Peak
North Ridge - Class 4
The Prow - Class 5.8

Blanca Peak
Ormes Buttress - 5.6
Traverse from Little Bear - Class 5.0-5.2

Little Bear Peak
Northwest Face - Class 4

Ellingwood Point
Southwest Ridge - Class 3


Elk Range

The Elks have 7 14ers and 6 classic routes.

Capitol Peak
Northeast Ridge - Class 4
Northwest Ridge - Class 5.7

Snowmass Mountain
East Slopes - Class 3 (Moderate Snow)

Maroon Peak
Bell Cord Couloir - Class 4 (Steep Snow)

North Maroon Peak
North Face - Class 4
The Bells Traverse (Either direction) - Class 4

San Juan Range

The San Juans have 14 14ers and 11 classic routes.

Wetterhorn Peak
Southeast Ridge - Class 3

Handies Peak
East Slopes - Class 2
East Ridge - Class 2

Sunlight Peak
West Ridge - Class 4

Windom Peak
West Ridge - Class 2+

Mount Sneffles
South Slopes - Class 2+
Southwest Ridge - Class 3
Snake Couloir - Class 3 (Steep Snow)
North Buttress - Class 5.6

Mount Wilson and El Diente Peak
Traverse from Navajo Basin - Class 4
Traverse from Kilpacker Basin - Class 4

In Closing

This list is a work in progress. I hope to continue adding photos and information to these routes as I continue to climb them. I hope this page helps some of the other list people out there. Enjoy and feel free to add your own photos from these routes.

Geography
Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.