While the Rocky Mountains of North America can’t quite compete with the incredible heights of Alaska, they still hold claim to many of the tallest points in the contiguous Unites States. In fact, other than the lonely Mount Whitney in California, the Rockies have all of the highest points in the contiguous U.S., and as such are a paradise for anyone looking to soak in some altitude.
Here are the 5 highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains:
5. La Plata Peak – 14,343 ft / 4372 m
In Spanish, “La Plata” translates to “the silver”, or in this case, “the silver one”. This is both a reference to the significant amount of silver and other precious minerals that can be found in the area, as well as the bright glow that the mountain can reflect when covered in snow. La Plata is part of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area, where more than a few of the nation’s highest peaks can be found.
4. Blanca Peak– 14,351 ft / 4374 m
In the southern part of Colorado’s San Luis Valley, there is a mountain that towers above rolling farmland with grace and majesty abounding. Blanca Peak is the tallest point of the Sierra Blanca Massif, which is a compact gathering of high peaks and ridgelines that is sprinkles with lakes, rivers, streams, and glacially carved gulches. Not far to the north, the Great Sand Dunes National Park offers convenient camping for anyone looking to make the ascent.
3. Mount Harvard – 14,421 ft / 4395 m
Sitting in the same neighborhood as La Plata Peak, Mount Harvard is the third highest point of the North American Rocky Mountains and it is the highest summit of the group of mountains known collectively as the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Mount Harvard, just like its brethren Mount Princeton, Mount Yale, Mount Columbia, and Mount Oxford, were named after the alma maters of the geologists and expedition members that performed the first documented summits.
2. Mount Massive – 14,428 ft / 4398 m
As its name suggests, Mount Massive has one of the larger footprints of all the mountains on this list. In fact, Mount Massive is so wide that it actually encompasses five different individual summits. It actually boasts more physical area above 14,000 feet than any other mountain in the lower 48 states. Colorado locals tell tales about passionate hikers who took it upon themselves to stack rocks on the peak of Mount Massive in an effort to make it taller than its rival, Mount Elbert. Of course, as you will find, the Mount Elbert supporters had no problem destroying the rock stacks and preserving their Mountain’s legacy.
1. Mount Elbert – 14,440 ft / 4401 m
Mount Elbert is the tallest mountain in the Rockies, the highest peak in Colorado, and the second highest mountain in the contiguous United States behind California’s Mount Whitney. The mountain got its name from one Samuel Hitt Elbert, who happened to be serving as governor of the Territory of Colorado when the first ascent of the peak was recorded in 1874. Mount Elbert is a popular mountain for hikers because it offers three different ascent routes with varying levels of difficulty.
