Longs Peak is one of two Colorado treks on Outside magazine’s list of “20 most-danger- ous hikes,” which includes volcanos, battle sites and a mountain in China that is rumored to kill more than 100 hikers a year.
Longs Peak and Maroon Bells’ South Ridge share the spotlight with the Pacayo Volcano, where eruptions have killed a handful of people; the Kokoda Track in Papau, New Guinea, which saw intense fighting between Japanese and Australian troops in 1942; and China’s Mount Hua Shan, believed to kill more than 100 people annually, although no official statistics exist.
Longs Peak’s place among the world’s most dangerous hikes might not be totally without merit. According to Boulder County Coroner’s Office records, three people have died on the mountain so far this year and one in 2013.
Rocky Mountain National Park public information officer Kyle Patterson said the percentage of people who summit Longs Peak and make it down safely is very high but added that the mountain can be very unforgiving.
“We really try to emphasize that it’s really a climb and not a hike,” Patterson said, adding inexperienced hikers should not make Longs Peak their first choice.
The Keyhole Route is the most popular way to get to the top of Longs Peak. The distance from the trailhead to the summit is 7½ miles, with the last 1½ miles being the most difficult.
“A lot of injuries on the Keyhole Route occur on the way down from the summit,” Patterson said. “It can be very treacherous and unforgiving depending on where somebody finds themselves in trouble.”
Patterson said many people underestimate Longs Peak, possibly because it’s one of the most popular fourteeners — Colorado features 54 mountains that top 14,000 feet — adding that potential climbers should prepare, know the forecast, avoid getting “summit fever” and not be concerned whether they have to turn around.
“Some people get close to the summit and want to keep going,” she said. “They think, ‘I only have 1½ miles up,’ but that’s by far the most difficult 1½ miles.”
A world of hurt
Here are the 20 most-dangerous hikes on the planet, according to Outside magazine:
Huayna Picchu, Peru
The Maze, Utah
Mount Hua Shan, China
The Kokoda Track, Papau New Guinea
Drakensburg Pass, South Africa
Cascade Saddle, New Zealand
Aonach Eagach Ridge, Scotland
Kalalau, Hawaii
El Caminito del Rey, Spain
Maroon Bells South Ridge, Colorado
Mist Trail, California
Mount Pinatubo, Philippines
Angel’s Landing, Utah
Bright Angel Trail, Arizona
Mount Washington, New Hampshire
Via Ferrata, Italy and Austria
Rover’s Run Trail, Alaska
Devil’s Path, New York
Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
Longs Peak, Colorado
