Best of the Best: Family-friendly 14ers

Family and kid friendly 14er peaks in the foothills of Colorado

A “14er” is a mountain peak that scales more than 14,000 feet. There are 58 14ers in Colorado. Many are not great for families or kids, so as you dream about summiting one of the highest peaks in all of North America, be considerate of the difficulty and requirements before jetting out with your wee ones.

A general rule of hiking above tree line (11,500 feet) where trees do not protect you from intense weather or lightening, is you should be hiking down the mountain by 1 p.m. That means you need to be summiting the mountain by noon, which means you have to start real early to get to the peak.

Here are a few 14ers you can try with your family to get your feet wet and not have to start hiking with small children at 2 a.m.!

Mt. Blue Sky

Located just outside of Evergreen, you can drive up to the top of Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans). You need a reservation, but you can take your time making the long drive up to the summit where there is historical remains of an old burned-down restaurant. From there, there’s a short 200 yard hike to the actual summit where you can see for miles and claim you’ve conquered a famous Colorado 14er (with minimal effort!).

Pikes Peak

A bit further away outside of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak is one of the more famous 14ers in Colorado. You can drive to the top year-round and they also have a cog-wheel train that can shuttle you up to the top. At the top there is a gift shop where you can stay and enjoy the view for awhile. It may be the easiest way for kids to experience the incredible view of a 14er.

Grays Peak

Located just outside of Georgetown, you can drive up to the trailhead of Grays peak and from there it’s a 7.2 mile hike to the summit. This would be more of an adventure for young families, but since it’s so close it’s worth a try. The added bonus is if you’re feeling even more adventurous you can hike the ridge to Torrey’s peak nearby and add two 14ers to your list!

Mount Bierstadt

Located off Guanella Pass just outside of Georgetown, you can drive to the trailhead at 11,669 feet, making for a climb of 2,850 feet and 7 miles to the summit. It’s a popular trail in the summer so be prepared, but is doable for familes.

Mount Democrat

Mount Democrat is a little further out from the foothills, past Breckenridge, but it’s worth the drive as it is one of the more easy hikes for families. It’s only a 3.8 mile roundtrip (out and back) hike. It does have an elevation gain of 2,047 ft but it’s mostly a casual slope that is doable for kids.

Mount Sherman

Another hike past Breckenridge is Mount Sherman. Along Four Mile Creek Road you can take the 4.6 mile hike, up nearly 2,000 vertical feet to this peak. It’s one of the easiest 14ers and full of mining history but it does require some considerable hiking.

>>See all the 14ers in Colorado.

More Info on Towns

Click here to learn more about each of these towns in the foothills of Colorado