After our summit of Quandary Peak last July, we decided that if we climb another 14er, it would be Mt Elbert, the highest peak of Colorado 14ers. Due to covid-19, the trip became the only viable option for us this summer, and we would drive to Mt Elbert, a 1600 mile round trip.
For such a long distance trip, as always we stop somewhere in the middle, but closer to destination, to make the drive more manageable and have side trips.
Day 1 home to Walsenburg CO, 9-hour 40 minutes’ drive
Lodging in town
Day 2 Stop point to Mt Elbert (Leadville) ~ 3 hour drive
Options for a side trip near Walsenburg in the morning
Option 1: Beaver Creek State Wildlife area 2h 40m to Leadville, CO (selected)
Highway 50 --> 67 North --> right turn CR 123 --> left turn CR 132 drive all the way to the end of the road to trail head (note: Google map would lead to a quarry - private property and no access to the trails)
beautiful scenery, beaver creek is marvelous: clear water, smoothed rocks, birds, trees, (no sighting) other wild life
Option 2: Great Sand Dune NP or Alamos National Refuge
Option 3: Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
Check-In at hotel
Lodging 1 near twin lakes - beautiful place
Lodging 2 at Leadville (selected) closer to North Trail – the standard trail
Day 3 acclimation (twin lakes) or climbing Mt Elbert weather permitting
Acclimation despite good weather - too many activities in Day 2
Visited Twin lakes and walked shoreline - awesome vista - lakes, and views of Mt Elbert, Mt Massive and the mountain range.
Visited Turquoise Lake - managed recreation area is located at the western end of the lake via CR 9.
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Just five miles west of Leadville is Turquoise Lake, the area’s most popular boating destination. With 780 surface acres, 14,000-foot mountain views, and a very accessible boating ramp, people come from all over Colorado to enjoy Turquoise Lake’s majesty.
Went back to hotel early to prepare for summit Mt Elbert
Day 4 acclimation (AVA Rafting & Zipline and Clear Creek Reservoir) or climbing Mt Elbert weather permitting
Climb Mt Elbert
Get up at 4:30am - light breakfast
Arrived at trail head 5:50 am
Summit Mt Elbert at 10:20 am!
Day 5 acclimation (Turquoise lake and National fish hachary)
or climbing Mt Elbert weather permitting
Changed plan - visit Arkansas River headwaters' recreation area in Salida
beautiful river side trail, great place for bird watching, and water sports (kayaking, rafting and surf boarding) (note - did not have water activities)
Day 6 return via
Garden of Gods 2 hour from Mt Elbert
Garden of God is a park of various rock formation - great for people who has never been to Utah. I was not impressed by the rock formations there because I have been to Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon.
Besides we visited there at a wrong day - a national holiday, at a wrong time (11am), the most crowded time of the year.
Drive to Amarillo for the night ( 5h 45 m)
Day 7 Return home from Amarillo
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