Longs Peak Trailhead

About

Every Longs Peak day starts here, usually in the dark. It's a small lot off Highway 7 south of Estes Park, and the trail heads straight up into the trees. The people in the lot at 3 a.m. are mostly after the summit, but you don't have to be.

The trailhead is off Colorado Highway 7, roughly nine miles south of Estes Park, inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Parking is limited and the lot fills very early on weekends. Roadside parking is scarce too. From here the Keyhole Route runs about 15 miles round trip to the 14,259-foot summit, and the Park says the whole day takes 10 to 15 hours. Climbers typically show up between 3 and 5 a.m.

If you're not climbing the peak, you can still walk the lower part of the trail and turn around whenever you like. That's what I'd tell most visitors. Go early or late to find a spot, and bring a headlamp if you're anywhere near sunrise. Don't treat the trailhead as your conditions check. Call the Park at 970-586-1206 first, because weather and snow can change the plan. Pets aren't allowed on Park trails. Reservation rules change, so check nps.gov/romo before you drive out.