Yellow-bellied marmot
Marmota flaviventris
MorningMiddayAfternoon
Boulder Field colony at 12,500ft — among the highest marmot populations in Colorado.
Photo: USFWS — public domain
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Front Range · Expert
Longs Peak
RMNP's only 14er — 14.5 mi RT via the Keyhole Route
Rocky Mountain National Park
Distance14.5mi round trip
Elevation5,100ft gain
High point14,259ft summit
Typical time10–15hours
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RMNP's only 14er — 14.5 mi RT via the Keyhole Route. Editorial intro forthcoming.
Trip facts
Typical duration10–15hours
Trailhead9,400ft elevation
High point14,259ft summit
Dogs: not allowed.
How you'll find it
From Estes Park, take CO-7 south 9 miles to Longs Peak Trailhead. Trailhead fills by 3am on summer weekends — arrive early or park at overflow.
Drive time
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We'll calculate drive time + a leave-by recommendation to beat the lot fill.
What you'll get
- 14,259ft summit — highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Keyhole Route involves 4th-class scrambling above 13,000ft
- Start by 3am to beat afternoon lightning above treeline
- Boulder Field and the Narrows require careful route-finding
What locals know
Practical-craft notes for this specific trail — timing, route, photo, etiquette.
Trail tips
- Timing
Start by 3am — non-negotiable
The Keyhole Route's afternoon-thunderstorm risk above treeline is the #1 cause of Longs Peak fatalities. To be off the summit before storms build (typically 11am–1pm), you must start by 3am from the trailhead. Headlamp + extra batteries critical.
- Route
Keyhole, Ledges, Trough, Narrows, Homestretch
The route name comes from the rock formation visible from the Boulder Field. After the Keyhole, follow the painted bullseyes through Ledges → Trough → Narrows → Homestretch. Off-route = exposure-fall fatality risk. Memorize the route before going.
- Gear
Helmet required for the Trough — rockfall kills
The Trough is a steep loose-rock couloir below the Narrows. Climbers above kick rocks down. A bike-style helmet is the minimum; a climbing helmet is better. RMNP rangers strongly recommend, though don't require.
- Weather
Turn around at the Keyhole if anything's wrong
The Keyhole at 13,150ft is the decision point. Wet rock = turn around. Building clouds = turn around. Acute altitude sickness = turn around. The summit will be there next year; the conditions decide whether you go.
- Food
5,100ft of gain — pack like an expedition
Most successful summit days are 12–14 hours total. Pack 4,000+ calories: gels for the climb, real food (sandwiches, energy bars, fruit) for breaks at Chasm Lake or the Boulder Field. Salt tablets for cramps above 13,000ft.
Where you'll start
Longs Peak Trailhead is the rare RMNP lot expressly designed for overnight + alpine starts — successful Keyhole-route attempts almost always start hiking at 2–3am. Free parking, but the lot fills by 3am on summer weekends; overflow is on the CO-7 shoulder. RMNP entrance fee ($30/vehicle/day) is separate and required.
Parking cost
Free
Overnight
Allowed
Overnight parking expressly allowed — Longs Peak is an alpine-start trailhead. Most successful summits start the hike at 2–3am.
Park entrance
$30/vehicle/day
Restrooms
Vault toilets
Fills by
Fills by 3am summer weekends — overflow on CO-7 shoulders
Cell service
Spotty
What's at the trailhead
- Restrooms — Vault toilets
- Water spigot
- Information kiosk
- Ranger station
- Spotty cell service
If the lot is full
Once full, hikers park along the CO-7 shoulder approaching the trailhead — adds 0.5–1 mile of road walking. RMNP rangers tow vehicles blocking road access.
Access road
Trailhead road plowed in winter but conditions can be sketchy; high-clearance vehicle preferred Nov–Apr.
When to go
Highlighted months offer the best conditions.
Who shares the trail
Longs Peak's 5,100ft of vertical traverses every Colorado biome — from ponderosa at the trailhead through subalpine forest, krummholz, and tundra. Each zone has its species. Above treeline, white-tailed ptarmigan are the prize sighting; the Boulder Field hosts the highest-elevation marmot colonies in the state.
- Common
CommonAmerican pika
Ochotona princeps
MorningMiddayAfternoonPhoto: NPS Photo, Rocky Mountain NP — public domain
OccasionalWhite-tailed ptarmigan
Lagopus leucura
Year-roundAlpine-tundra specialist — perfectly camouflaged year-round. Look on the upper slopes above the Boulder Field.
Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons
OccasionalAmerican pipit
Anthus rubescens
Photo: USFWS — public domain
What to watch for
What to watch for
- Afternoon lightning — summit before noon
- 4th-class scrambling requires comfort with exposure
- Rapid weather changes above treeline
- High altitude illness at 14,000ft+
- Pets prohibited on all RMNP trails — leashed pets allowed only along paved roads and in established campgrounds
On the map
Overnight camping
Longs Peak is the rare RMNP wilderness zone with multiple designated alpine camping sites (Boulder Field, Goblin's Forest, Battle Mountain) — perfect for splitting the summit attempt over two days. Wilderness permits ($30/night) open March 1 and sell out within hours for peak July–August dates. Bear-resistant canister required.
Type
Designated tent sites
Capacity
20 sites
Designated sites
- Boulder Field (12,760ft — climbers' bivouac, 9 sites)
- Goblin's Forest (10,100ft — forested zone, 7 sites)
- Battle Mountain (11,800ft — alpine zone, 4 sites)
Water source
Boulder Field has a small stream most years through July; Battle Mountain has reliable water year-round. Treat all sources.
Food storage
Bear-resistant canister REQUIRED for all RMNP wilderness camping. Free loaner canisters at the Beaver Meadows backcountry office; reserve when picking up permits.
Fire policy
Campfires PROHIBITED in all RMNP wilderness zones year-round. Backpacking stoves only.
Trail-tested picks for Longs Peak
Curated for this trail's terrain, elevation, and typical conditions.
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