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23h ago

Colorado Fourteener Visitation Edges Up to 265,000 Hiker-Use Days in 2024

Double use on the Decalibron Loop following public-land transfers plus a liability-waiver system drove the modest rebound from 2023 lows

The summit of Mount Bierstadt (14,065 feet) near Georgetown consistently ranks among Colorado's busiest fourteeners, and it saw an estimated 28,000 visitors in 2024, according to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. Quandary Peak was second on CFI's annual list at 26,500 visitors. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Overview

  • Mount Bierstadt and Quandary Peak remained the busiest fourteeners in 2024 with roughly 28,000 and 26,500 hiker-use days respectively.
  • Grays and Torreys combined visits fell to about 18,400 while Mount Elbert dropped to an estimated 17,200 hiker-use days.
  • Use of the Decalibron Loop more than doubled to over 15,000 hiker-use days after Mount Democrat became public land and a digital liability-waiver system was introduced.
  • A modeling revision for typical routes pushed Mount Blue Sky estimates into the 20,000–25,000 range despite looming declines from Summit Lake road closures planned for 2025.
  • CFI’s methodology combines infrared counters, 14ers.com checklists and statistical models and the report estimates a $71.9 million statewide economic impact from 2024 fourteener hiking.