DENVER, COLORADO – Recent updates from the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) have fine-tuned the elevations of Colorado’s iconic fourteeners, ensuring that while no peak has lost its status, the hierarchy of heights has seen some notable changes. This recalibration, conducted using advanced GPS technology, not only retains the count of 58 peaks over 14,000 feet but also redefines their exact altitudes with impressive precision.
Derek van Westrum, a physicist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration based in Boulder, led the study that meticulously measured each mountain’s height down to the centimeter. This level of detail—about 10 times more precise than previous measurements—was possible thanks to sophisticated GPS devices placed atop these towering summits.
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The findings have shown slight decreases in the recorded heights of several peaks. For example, Mount Elbert, Colorado’s tallest mountain, now stands at 14,337.6 feet, slightly shorter than before. Huron Peak, previously listed at 14,010 feet, now barely makes the cut as a fourteener at 14,004.1 feet.
While the project was primarily aimed at updating national elevation data for broader geographical and environmental applications, it has also refined our understanding of these popular hiking destinations. “It allows you to do water engineering projects, to know which way water is going to flow,” van Westrum explained, highlighting the practical applications of these updated measurements in floodplain mapping and urban planning.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
The adjustments in height have sparked interest and relief among the climbing community, as all peaks have maintained their fourteener status. Van Westrum likened the potential loss of a fourteener to a “Pluto moment,” referring to the demotion of Pluto from planetary status, which could have disappointed many enthusiasts.
Looking ahead, these revised measurements are preliminary, as the NGS anticipates further refinements with the upcoming national vertical datum changes. This ongoing process underscores the dynamic nature of geodesy and its critical role in both scientific research and outdoor recreation.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
New 14er Elevation Measurements
| Name | Elevation (feet) |
|---|---|
| Mt. Elbert | 14,437.6 |
| Mt. Massive | 14,423.9 |
| Mt. Harvard | 14,421.7 |
| Blanca Peak | 14,348.5 |
| La Plata Peak | 14,343.0 |
| Uncompahgre Peak | 14,315.8 |
| Crestone Peak | 14,296.8 |
| Mt. Lincoln | 14,290.6 |
| Grays Peak | 14,275.5 |
| Castle Peak | 14,272.3 |
| Torreys Peak | 14,270.1 |
| Quandary Peak | 14,269.9 |
| Mt. Antero | 14,269.0 |
| Mt. Blue Sky | 14,266.1 |
| Longs Peak | 14,255.9 |
| Mt. Wilson | 14,254.1 |
| Mt. Cameron | 14,245.9 |
| Mt. Shavano | 14,228.3 |
| Mt. Princeton | 14,200.1 |
| Mt. Belford | 14,199.6 |
| Mt. Yale | 14,197.0 |
| Crestone Needle | 14,194.8 |
| Mt. Bross | 14,177.9 |
| El Diente Peak | 14,173.2 |
| Kit Carson Peak | 14,165.2 |
| Maroon Peak | 14,161.5 |
| Tabeguache Peak | 14,157.0 |
| Mt. Oxford | 14,156.3 |
| Mt. Sneffels | 14,153.3 |
| Mt. Democrat | 14,152.3 |
| Capitol Peak | 14,136.3 |
| Pikes Peak | 14,107.0 |
| Snowmass Mountain | 14,101.7 |
| Windom Peak | 14,087.0 |
| Mt. Eolus | 14,085.0 |
| Challenger Point | 14,084.6 |
| Mt. Columbia | 14,072.6 |
| Missouri Mountain | 14,069.2 |
| Humboldt Peak | 14,066.6 |
| Mt. Bierstadt | 14,064.5 |
| Sunlight Peak | 14,059.0 |
| Handies Peak | 14,055.9 |
| Ellingwood Point | 14,054.9 |
| Culebra Peak | 14,053.2 |
| Mt. Lindsey | 14,053.2 |
| Mt. Sherman | 14,040.4 |
| North Eolus | 14,039.8 |
| Little Bear Peak | 14,039.5 |
| Redcloud Peak | 14,036.0 |
| Conundrum Peak | 14,034.7 |
| Pyramid Peak | 14,027.1 |
| Wilson Peak | 14,020.4 |
| San Luis Peak | 14,020.2 |
| North Maroon Peak | 14,019.9 |
| Wetterhorn Peak | 14,018.9 |
| Mt. of the Holy Cross | 14,005.2 |
| Sunshine Peak | 14,004.5 |
| Huron Peak | 14,004.1 |
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