Capitol Peak is a 15.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Snowmass Village, Colorado that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The trail is primarily used for hiking, rock climbing, and backpacking and is best used from July until September. Dogs are allowed to use this trail. [10]

Among the most beautiful of the Colorado 14ers, Capitol Peak owes its shapely lines, faces and ridges to glacial chiseling and smoothing. While the Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak are roadside attractions and photographed often from a roadside overlook, spectacular Capitol Peak …

Proceed cautiously on this 15.9-mile out-and-back trail near Snowmass Village, Colorado. Generally considered a highly challenging route, it should only be attempted by experienced adventurers. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

Capitol Peak is notorious among the Colorado fourteeners for being the most difficult of the fifty-eight peaks to ascend. The challenges on this mountain abound. There’s a long, 8.5 mile approach hike requiring backpacking skills. The rock is …

This long hike ascends a pretty valley through aspen groves and spruce-fir forest interspersed with meadows to Capitol Lake, an alpine jewel nestled beneath the massive west face of Capital Peak (14,130-ft.). Distance from Trailhead: 12.8 miles (round trip) Ending/Highest Elevation: 11,580-ft. Elevation Gain: 2,105-ft.

From the Capitol Creek trailhead views stretch south to majestic Capitol Peak (14,130-ft.), a massive sentinel towering over the Capitol Creek Valley. This hike traverses the valley’s aspen groves, spruce-fir forests and meadows to visit scenic Capitol Lake, an azure jewel cradled beneath the Peak’s monumental west face.

Sitting in a basin at the northern base of Capitol Peak (14,131 ft.) the lake is among the most scenic alpine lakes in the State of Colorado. Hikers, backpackers and climbers are treated to spectacular breathtaking views of Capitol Peak and the jagged rocky peaks and ridges of its companions as they make their way up the valley from the trailhead.

Capitol Peak is a 14,130 foot mountain in the Elk Range of Colorado most well known for its difficult and dangerous ridge and knife edge of class 4 hiking. Below we will cover each of the trail options, information about camping, roads, trail maps …

Following the Capitol Creek Trail after the Ditch Trail joins it, one will arrive at Capitol Lake (elevation 11,592′) after another 3 miles of hiking. Camping at Capitol Lake is in a limited number of designated sites only, and this is the usual base camp for those who wish to climb Capitol Peak early the following day.

Hike through cattle grazing grounds to Capitol Lake before spending hours talus-hopping, traversing, and scrambling along Capitol's famous "Knife Edge" and ridge. This mountain isn't regarded as Colorado's hardest 14er for nothing! This is a challenging "hike," and truly pushes the limits of the term.