The class rating tells you a lot about the route.

The class rating tells you a lot about the climbing difficulty you will face. However it’s important to remember that it doesn’t tell you about the quality of rock, weather forecast or snow conditions, so it’s still important to do your research. Here’s what are the classes of 14ers:

Class 1 – Hiking

Class 1 peaks such as Quandary Peak and Mt Elbert have a firm trail that you can hike all the way to the summit. These routes are the easiest class, with no scrambling or climbing – you won’t ever have to use your hands. Note that some class 1 hikes can still be difficult due to their length and inaccessibility.

Class 2 – Scrambling

Class 2 peaks make up the majority of the Colorado 14ers. Some famous examples include Mount Bierstadt, Mount Harvard, and Humboldt Peak. These routes include mostly hiking, with shorter sections where hands must be used to navigate up and over scree, rocks and boulders. Class 2 routes have minimal exposure where falls aren’t likely to be severe or deadly, but they still take longer than a class 1 hike.

Class 3 – Advanced scrambling

There is a significant increase in risk levels between class 2 and class 3 peaks. These peaks, like Longs Peak and Mount Sneffels feature more exposed scrambling where a fall may be fatal. The climbing skill required is limited, but a mistake could result in serious injuries or death. Be ready for these peaks before you attempt them. 

Class 4 – Simple Climbing

The line between class 4 and 5 peaks is hazy, and it differs from person to person. Generally, class 4 peaks like Maroon Peak and Little Bear Peak include steep, exposed climbing where ropes aren’t used. This means class 4 routes are actually more dangerous than roped class 5 climbing. Only expert peak baggers should attempt these ascents.

Class 5 – Technical Climbing

While none of the 14ers require Class 5 technical climbing to ascend, there are many great technical climbs on these peaks. The Diamond on Longs Peak and Ellingwood Arete on Crestone Needle are among the most well known.

Be wary of the increasing risk with each class.

While class ratings are helpful for understanding the general difficulty level of a 14er, they can be deceptive. Specifically, the difficulty and risk level increase exponentially with each rating. A class 2 route is only marginally more dangerous than a class 1 peak. However a class 3 route is significantly more dangerous than a class 2 alternative. Bring a buddy the first time you climb a class 3 or 4 peak and research the route well.

Starting Out New? Start with a class 1 or 2.

If you’re new to 14ers, the easiest way to stay safe is to stick to a class 1 or 2 route. This still means more than 30 different fourteeners are open to you! With time and experience scrambling, you can move on to more challenging peaks, but with less danger of an accident occurring out of inexperience.

What are the classes of 14ers?

To summarize: What are the classes of 14ers?

• Class 1 peaks are a hike to the summit
• Class 2 peaks include sections of easy scrambling
• Class 3 peaks include dangerous sections of scrambling
• Class 4 peaks include dangerous sections of simple climbing
• Class 5 peaks include sections of technical roped climbing.

Now that you can answer the question, “What are the classes of 14ers,” get out there and start bagging those peaks!

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