Great views like this are the things that make people want to go to the mountains. Here’s how to get started.
Many people are looking for new challenges these days, and a big chunk of that crowd looks to fill that urge outdoors. For me, that always pointed me toward the mountains. Something about the high country just exudes an energy of adventure that is hard to find elsewhere.
Is this you? Yeah? But where to start?
Well, you’re in luck. It just so happens there are a number of places you can go in Colorado and New Mexico that will fit the bill, even if seeing the world from a mountaintop is something you haven’t done before.
We’ll break it down into categories, based on what your interests are, locations, and a bit more for those of you looking to take the next step in your alpine adventures. So here goes:
FIRST MOUNTAIN, CLOSE TO DENVER
There are several to choose from, as a bunch of high peaks are within 90 minutes of the Denver metro area. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t require a long drive, you can expect a busy trail during the peak hiking season. But you’ll still have a good time.
Mount Bierstadt and its Sawtooth Ridge.
My choice: Mount Biesrstadt. It’s close to the Interstate 70 town of Georgetown, with easy access to the trailhead and a straightforward route. It’s a hike, and the round-trip route is about 7 miles. Standing at 14,060 feet, you’ll need a good set of legs and lungs to get up there. But you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Bierstadt’s Sawtooth Ridge as well as a host of nearby peaks. There are some boulder-hopping on the final stretch, but nothing too demanding. The trail is also dog-friendly, and you’ll likely meet a lot of other altitude seekers along the way.
FIRST MOUNTAIN, COMFORTABLE OVERNIGHT STAY
I’ve got one in mind here that’s close to Breckenridge. If you’d rather forgo the long drive from Denver and still have a comfortable place to stay before and after your summit, then the Breckenridge-Quandary Peak combo is for you.
Quandary Peak.
Like Biesrstadt, it’s an easy-to-follow trail that goes right up the mountain’s east ridge and to the top. Again, about seven miles round-trip, topping out at 14,265 feet. Quandary Peak has incredible views of the nearby Mosquito Range as well as some of the high summits of the Tenmile Range. Again, this will be a busy peak during the summer, but a memorable one as well.
If you have more time and energy, go ahead and check out the loop that includes Mount Democrat, Mount Cameron, Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross, all nearby 14ers in the Mosquito Range. Or just relax and enjoy some time in Breckenridge.
FIRST MOUNTAIN, MORE SOLITUDE
If you can get further away from the bigger cities and find time on a weekday, Huron Peak near Buena Vista, Colorado, is my choice. In fact, of all the first-time peaks on my list, Huron Peak has the most bang for the buck.
Huron Peak.
The mountain is deeper in the Sawatch Range, and if you ask anyone who has been there, they’ll tell you it has the some of the best views you can find. At 14,003 feet, it has commanding vistas of the nearby Three Apostles formation, three dramatic 13,000-foot peaks that make for excellent views and stunning photographs. Because it is farther away from any cities of size, it will also be less travelled than Bierstadt or Quandary. The route is just under seven miles from the four-wheel-drive trailhead, and just over 10 from the two-wheel-drive trailhead.
FIRST MOUNTAIN, BACKPACKING ADVENTURE
There are a lot of choices all throughout the Rockies, but my pick here is in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Head into Red River, and then to the Middle Fork Trail parking lot for a trek up Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico at 13,159 feet.
Summit view from Wheeler Peak.
The trail takes you five miles into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area. At Lost Lake, there are a number of dispersed, primitive campsites. This is not the most heavily traveled route up the mountain – that is on the other side of the mountain near Taos. What you’ll get are great campsites, alpine scenery and plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing (I had bighorn sheep walking through my campsite when I was last there). Get up the next morning and hike the remaining three miles to Wheeler Peak’s summit.
If you’re going to break into high country backpacking, I can’t think of many other places that will top it.
FIRST SNOW CLIMB
Late spring still means there’s going to be snow on the mountains, which a lot of hikers seek to avoid. But if you’re looking to try your hand at traversing and ascending snowy slopes, a good starter route is the Angel of Shavano Couloir on Mount Shavano.
Near the top of Mount Shavano.
Mount Shavano is near Salida and Poncha Springs, and the southernmost of the massive Sawatch 14ers. It’s a hike all the way, but below the saddle between Shavano and a neighboring peak is a gully that fills with snow during the colder months. That’s the Angel of Shavano Couloir.
If you’re itching to learn skills using an ice axe and crampons, this is one of the better places to start. The Angel melts out fast in the spring, but if you hit it at the right time, the couloir links up to snow fields on Shavano’s summit cone that will take you all the way to the top. Learn how to use these pieces of gear, and if possible, go with someone who has done a snow climb before. Mount Shavano is a good introduction to these types of skills.
FIRST MOUNTAIN TO KICK IT UP A NOTCH
When you’ve got to the point where you’re ready to graduate from the walk-up peaks and do a little climbing, some interesting options come to mind. My pick means taking a bit of a drive to southwestern Colorado, but it will be worth the trip. Few peaks have the beauty and challenge in combination with accessibility than Wetterhorn Peak.
Wetterhorn Peak.
Two-wheel-drive access to the Matterhorn Creek trailhead will get you to great campsites, and the route to the top is a little over seven miles. It’s all hiking until you get just under a formation called the Prow, and that’s where the climbing begins. Also called “scrambling,” a Class 3 route (Classes 1 and 2 are hiking only, with varying degrees of difficulty; Class 4 is more difficult unroped climbing, and Class 5 is technical climbing using ropes) will involve using your hands and feet to ascend. It is unroped climbing, but the rock is solid and getting to the top is fun.
The catch: The top section of Wetterhorn is pretty airy and if you’re intimidated by heights, this could be a challenge. But the best way to overcome those fears and push yourself to new levels is to tackle them head-on. Wetterhorn is a good peak to do just that.
So there’s a list you can check out and use to make your spring and summer plans. My guess is that after you do one of these peaks, you’ll want to do more.
Bob Doucette
proactiveoutside 
Great list, Bob! Last time I did Shavano Angel Couloir it required A LOT of bushwhacking. Do you know if those trees have been cleared out a bit?
I don’t, but my guess is that anyone wanting to tackle Shav is going want to prepare for the possibility that the blown-down trees are still there. I havea friend who is talking about doing the Angel this spring, and if I go, it sure would be a good time to go ahead and tag Tab. If that happens, I’ll be sure to note the tree situation. And thanks for sharing the post!
Update: I did a little asking around; the felled trees from that storm were cleared on 2012. You’re good to go!
Great recommendations! Question: My brother and I are going out to Colorado in the first week of June and want to do some backpacking. I realize that’s probably too early for tackling 14ers, but would you recommend some cool areas in the mountains that will be relatively snow free? We’ve got microspikes and are willing to do a little postholing if need be, but neither one of us desire to do any technical snow/ice stuff. So far I’ve been eyeing Lost Creek Wilderness, but was wondering if you had any insider recommendations. We’d need to be within a couple hours of Denver. Thanks so much!
I’d consider checking out the Maroon Bells loop. I’ve heard great things about it. Also, take a look at some of the sections along the Colorado Trail. There are some prime areas of that trail near Salida/Buena Vista, and this is an area where I’ve been before. Really good stuff, and it won’t be as crowded as Rocky Mountain National Park. Lastly, consider the area near Mount of the Holy Cross. Half Moon Creek campsite is a good place to park, and you can hike over the pass and down into the Cross Creek area. Really beautiful stuff, and the views of the peak from the top of the pass are stunning. Camping down at the creek would give you a water source, and you could hike up the shoulder of the mountain for more views without having to commit to a summit. The trailhead is near Minturn.
Those are a few suggestions closer to Denver, though if you have more time and don’t mind driving, there are spectacular hikes in the San Juans. Best of luck planning your trip and have fun!