Mount Harvard Hike

Route Description for Mount Harvard Hike

The Mount Harvard Hike is reserved for experienced hikers who crave a challenge. Due to the grandeur of the peak, it is important to be acclimated to the area’s altitude before your climb! Though this trek can be ventured year-round, we suggest a summer adventure when the peak is nearly clear of snow, and the alpine tundra is littered with wildflowers. Crampons and trekking poles are a must in the fall and winter months! *Note although dogs are permitted on the trail, there is a scramble near the peak that is not very dog friendly, so consider leaving your pup at home for this adventure!

Embark on your adventure along the Mount Harvard Hike from the Horn Fork Basin Trailhead. From here, track west along the Horn Fork Basin Trail, crossing multiple streams before encountering an intersection. Here, veer right, and you will be diverted northwest, up increasingly steep terrain. Follow this path through the woodlands, ignoring intersecting and merging paths until you reach Bear Lake. Here, hook onto Mount Harvard South Slopes Trail and scramble up the technical boulder field up to the summit.

From the peak of Mount Harvard, revel in the sweeping vistas of the neighboring peaks and other snow-capped summits in the Sawatch Mountain Range. Then, rest, rehydrate and enjoy the grandeur of the Colorado wilderness before commencing your descent. When you are ready, retrace your footing along the path all the way back to the trailhead.