Colorado 14ers Found WIthin A Few Hours Of Grand Junction

To stand on top of a Colorado 14er mountain, you don’t need to drive all the way across the state, but you will be taking a day trip. From Grand Junction, there are a handful of 14,000-foot peaks within a few hours' drive.

Colorado is home to 58 named 14er peaks. Knowing which mountains are closest can save you valuable travel time and deliver some incredible alpine scenery. Keep scrolling to see which 14ers are within a few hours of Grand Junction, then decide if you want to go for the summit.

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Third Closest 14er to Grand Junction: Wetterhorn Peak

How far are Colorado’s 14er mountains from Grand Junction? Generally, you’ll travel 120 to 150 miles before you’ll be at a 14er trailhead. The closest 14ers to the Grand Valley are in the San Juan Mountains. Among the three closest, Wetterhorn Peak takes third place, with Matterhorn Creek Trailhead located 145 miles from Grand Junction. The 14,021-foot peak is a Class 3 scramble to the top. It’s a bucket-list climb for adventurous hikers if you have the skill set for it. Beginners should start elsewhere.

Colorado's Gold Mountain Fire is burning near this 14er, so you may need to wait to explore this area until conditions improve. Find fire updates here.

Second Closest 14er to Grand Junction: Uncompahgre Peak

Uncompahgre Peak is the second-closest 14er to Grand Junction, with the Nellie Creek Trailhead at 140 miles away. The mountain stands 14,321 feet, with sweeping views of the San Juans from one of the largest summit blocks in Colorado. The standard route is Class 2. You’ll scramble using your hands to make it up the crux of the route; otherwise, it’s a beautiful hike at under 4 miles to the top from the upper trailhead.

Colorado's Gold Mountain Fire is burning near this 14er, so you may need to wait to explore this area until conditions improve. Find fire updates here.

The Closest 14er to Grand Junction is Mount Sneffels

The Tallest Peaks Around Grand Junction — And How to Reach Them — lightphoto

At a distance of about 120 miles, the Mount Sneffels trailhead at Yankee Boy Basin is the closest 14er mountain hike to Grand Junction. This 14er is closest when measured by driving distance, which is the only practical way to plan a day trip. Sneffels rises 14,153 feet over Ouray County, and is known for its steep, rugged summit via the Southwest Ridge (class 3). While this 14er in the San Juans is the closest to Grand Junction, it is not for beginners.

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