Is it possible to hike a 14er in Colorado and not see a soul?

Colorado is crowded, and it is getting more and more crowded by the day. Between the amazing scenery and 300 plus days of sunshine each year, the secret is out that the Centennial State is a sweet spot for outdoor lovers.

Colorado’s population has grown to more than 5.7 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent numbers. Combine that with the pent-up pandemic demand to get outside and Colorado’s trails are getting as crowded as shopping malls.

Specifically, Colorado’s famed 14,000-foot peaks, known as 14ers among locals, are seeing more traffic than ever before. For the 2020 hiking season, it is estimated that more than 400,000 people tackled the state’s 14ers, according to The Know Outdoors.

So that leads to the question for many who get outside to try to escape the crowds, is it possible to hike a 14er today and not see a soul? Believe it or not, yes it is! You just have to know how and when to hike.

Here are five tips on how to avoid the lines on Colorado 14ers and enjoy some solitude on your climb.

1. Go in the winter – Perhaps the No. 1 way to beat the crowds is to hike 14ers in the winter. This requires additional gear, such as crampons and ice axes, but the views are sublime and getting down is much quicker if you ski or glissade.
2. Go in the shoulder season – If winter sounds a little too extreme for your taste, try the shoulder season – spring or fall. You still may need some additional gear as snow or mud may be prevalent in the early season, however avoiding the peak summer season will go a long way in avoiding those crowds.
3. Take an alternate route – There is always more than one way to skin a cat, or in this case, climb a mountain. As with any mountain, 14ers have different trails to the summit. Often the longer or harder routes are filled with fewer people. So if you are willing to put in a little more effort, the reward is fewer people to block your views.
4. Go farther away – The majority of the 14ers people hike are near Denver in the Front Range. If you are willing to drive a little farther to some of the more remote areas of the state, such as the San Juans, not only will there be fewer people to contend with, but you get to explore some new wilderness as well.
5. Hike at night – With the caveat here of safety first, you likely don’t want to tackle a class 5 pitch in the dark, however you often have to start 14ers by headlamps in the early morning anyway. Hiking through the night to the summit as the sun rises will ensure you get the mountain to yourself.