Pyramid Peak Trail

For those hardcore adventurers that are after a challenging and exhiliarating journey through the rugged terrain of the Elk Mountains, the Pyramid Peak Trail will take you up to the summit of one of the toughest fourteeners in Colorado for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

Setting out from the car park at the Maroon Bells Recreation Area, you will head to the southwest along the Crater lake trail and skirt around the shoreline of Maroon Lake. After crossing over a small but rocky ravine, you will follow the trail to the left across West Maroon Creek and begin hiking up the steep switchback trail leading southeast up the mountainside.

After a tough uphill slog that features a large amount of elevation gain, you will arrive at the cirque just below Pyramid Peak. Here, the path will be tricky to follow, as you will need to traverse some large boulder fields that will certainly provide a bit of a leg burn. After traversing these, you will continue on towards the vertical north face of the peak, where you will climb up a steep gully to reach the top of the ridge.

Following along the cairns, you will carefully make the final push up to the summit of Pyramid Peak, where you will experience panoramic views across the mountainous terrain of Colorado. After taking in the views, carefully head back down the same way that you came on the return leg to the car park.