Colorado 14ers Hiking Use Rises 2% to 265,000 Days in 2024

Hiking on Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks experienced a slight increase in 2024, with an estimated 265,000 hiker use days, up 1.9% from 2023, according to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI). This uptick is primarily attributed to the reopening of the Decalibron Loop near Alma, which includes Mounts Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and the Bross bypass, doubling its use compared to the previous year when access was limited. Despite this increase, overall hiking levels remain significantly lower than the pandemic peak of 415,000 hiker days in 2020, with declines noted at several popular peaks such as Mount Elbert and Grays and Torreys Peaks. The report also highlights that while some ranges like the Mosquito and San Juan saw increases, others such as the Sawatch and Sangre de Cristo experienced notable declines, influenced partly by ongoing closures and landowner restrictions. CFI gathers data via infrared trail counters and crowdsourced reports, capturing hiking activity primarily between late May and early October. Popular peaks like Mount Bierstadt and Quandary Peak continue to attract the most hikers, maintaining use estimates between 25,000 and 30,000 hiker days each.