Route 1*
Trail Begins: 8,400' Elevation. Parking available at beginning of Harvard Trail, Forest Road 138. 4WD may continue 3.5 miles to Wilderness boundary. From there continue 1 mile to Colorado Trail, Forest Trail 1776. Cross the Colorado Trail and continue up the Frenchman Creek drainage 2.5 miles. Head WNW 1.5 miles up the ridge to the summit.
Trail Ends: 14,420' Elevation at summit of Mount Harvard, 3rd highest in the state.
Access: From Leadville travel 24 miles south on US Hwy 24 to Chaffee County Route 396. Travel SW 0.5 miles to Forest Road 138.
Use: Rte 1,
Route 2*
Trail Begins: 9,l00 Elevation. Parking available on Pine Creek Road, Forest Road 123. 4WD may continue 1/2 mile to road closure, From there follow Pine Creek Trail 2.5 miles to the Colorado Trail. Cross the bridge and continue up the valley 2.5 miles to Little John's Cabin. From Little John's Cabin cross the creek to the forge and head SE 1 mile on the South Pine Creek Trail to the top) of the ridge. Follow the 2 miles SW to the summit.
Trail Ends: 14,420' Elevation at summit of Mount Harvard.Access: From Leadville travel south on US Hwy 24 to Granite. Continue 4 miles south to Cold Camp. Turn off highway 0.25 miles past Gold Camp onto Forest Road 123.
Use: Rte 2, High

Mt. Elbert

Mt. Elbert at 14,433 ft. elevation is the highest point in Colorado. It is the second highest mountain in the adjacent 48 states. Samuel H. Elbert (1833-1899) was an outstanding and widely known civic leader in the Territory and State of Colorado. Mt. Elbert, Elbert County, and the town of Elbert, Colorado were all named in his honor. Elbert served as Colorado's Territorial Secretary, Territorial Governor and State Supreme Court Justice. Active in the formulation of mining legislation and reclamation projects, he promoted concepts of conservation and irrigation which were ahead of his time.
Technical ability or special mountain climbing experience is not required to climb Mt. Elbert. Good physical condition is important; however, the ascent and return requires a good full day of strenuous hiking. At this elevation where the air is thin, you will require extra energy.
Stick to the trail. Don't shortcut trail switchbacks as this causes erosion. Take a few extra minutes to pack out whatever you pack in. Better yet, pack out a few pieces of someone else's litter too.