Mt. Harvard

At, 14,421 feet, Mount Harvard is the third highest “fourteener” in Colorado. Only neighboring Mount Massive and Mount Elbert, farther to the north in the Sawatch Range, sit taller at only 10-12 more feet.

Mount Harvard is well hidden in the mountain range and it is difficult to see it from the Arkansas River Valley. It sits approximately ten miles northwest of Buena Vista, and one mile northwest of Mt. Columbia.

For those interested in hiking to the Mt. Harvard summit, the most common route is via the North Cottonwood Trailhead, which also serves as the main trailhead for Mt. Columbia.

Directions: In Buena Vista, travel west on Crossman Avenue (which is County Road 350; north of the traffic light) for two miles and turn right on County Road 361. At about one mile, make a left on County Road 365. Drive toward the mountains and once inside the canyon, a 4WD vehicle is recommended. Continue on this dirt road for five miles to the trailhead at the end of the road. The trail ascends the canyon and leads to a junction: A left leads to Kroenke Lake, but hikers should stay right and continue toward Mt. Harvard and Mt. Columbia. The trail travels up Horn Fork Basin, where another spur trail splits, to the left to Mt. Harvard, and to the right to Mt. Columbia. Stay right and continue the ascent, passing Bear Lake and eventually climbing the south ridge to the summit.

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