Solo hiking The Keyhole route on Longs Peak, the only 14er in Rocky Mountain National Park at 14,259 feet (4,346m) on September 30, 2023. In this video, I focus on the areas from the Boulder Field to the summit, the areas that are more dangerous to give you an idea of what to expect if you decide to climb this mountain.
This is more than just a regular hike, here is how the Park Service describes it..."The Keyhole Route is NOT a hike! It is a climb that crosses enormous sheer vertical rock faces, often with falling rocks, requiring scrambling, where an un-roped fall would likely be fatal. The route has narrow ledges, loose rock, and steep cliffs. The terrain requires good route-finding and scrambling skills. Use caution, as injuries requiring rescue are very dangerous and take many hours, if not days, to evacuate."
The trail from the trailhead (9,400 feet) to the Boulder Field (12,750 feet) is 6 miles and climbs 3,360 feet. The hike to the Boulder Field is similar to other high altitude hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, so I didn't show much of it in this video, it's the area past the Boulder Field and that sets this one apart from many other hikes in the park. If this is going to be your first attempt at Longs, I'd recommend Hallett Peak as a good warmup hike before trying Longs.
Once past the Boulder Field, you make your own way across the large boulders up to The Keyhole rock formation. At The Keyhole it's important to evaluate the weather and your own physical condition. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoon and you don't want to be caught in storms past this point. Storms can develop very rapidly as seen in this video. Also make sure that you feel good, if you are suffering any symptoms of altitude sickness it's probably best to just relax at The Keyhole, take in the great view, then head back down at try for the summit another day. Some of the best views of the hike are here, so it's still a good hike without going to the summit. The mountain will always be there.
From The Keyhole you will follow "The Ledges", a series of ledges across to "The Trough". The route isn't too hard to follow if you follow the red & yellow bull's-eyes painted on the rocks. Next you need to scramble up The Trough which climbs up 600 vertical feet of loose rock, this is the most physically demanding part of the climb. At the top of The Trough are some large rocks that are the most technical part of the hike. They don't have very good hand or foot holds. Next comes "The Narrows", these ledges start out very narrow as the name suggests. Be very careful here, it's a long way down and it can be very windy here. The beginning is the most narrow part but it has some good handholds and it gets a bit wider as you get towards the end. "The Homestretch" is the final section of the climb, it's made up of smooth slabs of rock that climb up 200 feet. There are some cracks for your hands and feet. This video shows ideal conditions for The Homestretch. I have been on this when it's wet and when there is some ice, and it's not fun. When you get to the summit, you will notice how large and flat it is, be sure to walk around and enjoy the different views!
Directions to Trailhead:
Park at the Longs Peak Trailhead located south of Estes Park off Peak to Peak Highway (Hwy 7). You can also take the North Longs Peak trail starting at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, this will add some distance over the east trail.
Round Trip Distance: 14 miles (22.5km) round trip from trailhead.
Elevation Gain: 4,934 feet (1,504m)
Difficulty: This is a difficult and strenuous hike with Class 3 rock scrambling with areas where falls could be fatal. This hike can be done safely if you use good judgement.
Conditions:
Partly cloudy, starting temperature around 39 degrees but warmed up into the 50s. Storms later in the hike.
Camera equipment used:
GoPro HERO8 Black (4K30 Wide FOV)
