LAKEWOOD, COLORADO — Colorado’s famed fourteeners saw a slight uptick in hiking use in 2024, with an estimated 265,000 hiker use days recorded statewide, according to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative’s (CFI) latest report. That marks a 1.9% increase from 2023, thanks largely to the reopening of the popular Decalibron Loop near Alma and a revised calculation for Mount Blue Sky.
The Decalibron Loop — a four-peak circuit including Mounts Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and the Bross bypass — saw hiking numbers nearly double after land access agreements allowed the route to fully reopen. CFI estimated 15,300 hiker days there in 2024, up from roughly half that in 2023 when closures limited use.
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Still, these gains were tempered by declines on some of the state’s most-visited peaks. Mount Elbert, Colorado’s tallest, dropped to an estimated 17,200 hiker days, while Grays and Torreys Peak combined fell to 18,400. Mount Bierstadt (over 28,000 hiker days) and Quandary Peak (26,500) remained the top draws.
Changes in how CFI models hiker behavior also played a role in the rankings. For example, by assuming most hikers take the shorter Summit Lake route rather than the full Echo Lake approach, Mount Blue Sky’s estimated use jumped into the 20,000–25,000 range.
The 2024 data also revealed regional shifts. Hiking activity increased sharply in the Mosquito Range (+55%) and rose modestly in the San Juan Mountains, Front Range, and Elk Mountains, while declining in the Sawatch Range, Sangre de Cristo Range, and Tenmile Range.
Economically, fourteeners remain a major driver of mountain tourism, with CFI estimating a $71.9 million statewide impact from associated spending — though that figure is based on older spending studies and is likely an underestimate.
CFI’s estimates combine infrared trail counter data from 23 locations with user-submitted checklists from 14ers.com, modeling seasonal patterns to fill in gaps. These “hiker use days” measure total hiking events, not individual hikers — meaning avid climbers may be counted multiple times if they summit several peaks over the season.
Lessons for Hikers
The data underscores how access changes and route choices shape trail traffic. Hikers can help manage impacts by:
Choosing less-trafficked peaks to spread out visitation.
Checking landowner and seasonal closure information before heading out.
Practicing Leave No Trace principles to protect fragile alpine ecosystems (Learn more from CFI).
To support the volunteers and professionals who maintain access and rescue stranded hikers, consider purchasing a Colorado Outdoor Search and Rescue (COSAR) card and a Keep Colorado Wild Pass.
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