Longs Peak – Keyhole Route
Front Range, CO
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Clean conditions window for Longs Peak — Low avalanche danger, light winds, and three consecutive sunny days. The limiting factor is daylight: 10h 6m with sunset at 4:50 PM means you need to be moving by 3 AM from the trailhead to summit and descend safely. Plan your turnaround hard.
55°/31°F · Sunny
Low (1/5)
0" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
10h 6m daylight · Sunrise 6:44 AM · Sunset 4:50 PM
Full Briefing
Daylight is your primary constraint this weekend, not weather or snow. Sunset hits at 4:50 PM and the Keyhole Route from the trailhead to summit is typically 6-8 hours round trip for strong parties — that math requires a pre-dawn start, no exceptions. Target 3:00-3:30 AM departure from the Longs Peak Trailhead (9,405 ft). Set a hard turnaround time of 12:30-1:00 PM regardless of summit proximity. The upper mountain above the Keyhole (~13,100 ft) has very little margin for error once the light starts going and temperatures drop fast after solar noon in November.
Weather looks genuinely excellent across all three days. Surface winds are forecasted at 1-14 mph WNW/SW — call that 20-28 mph at the ridgeline and summit using a rough 2x multiplier for elevation, which is well within manageable range for experienced mountaineers. Highs in the mid-50s°F at the forecast station translate to roughly 25-35°F at the 14,259 ft summit using standard lapse rates — cold but not dangerous with proper layering. Thursday and Friday look equally clean, with Thursday Night staying mostly clear and Friday Night showing only 2% precip chance. No fronts, no drama.
Avalanche danger is Low across all elevation bands with zero identified problems and effectively no snowpack — SNOTEL stations near the range are showing 0 inches of snow depth. The Cables, the Narrows, and the Homestretch will be on bare rock or possibly thin névé. Expect technical mixed conditions on the upper route: verglas on the fixed cables, iced ledges on the Narrows traverse, and potentially cramponed névé or ice patches on the Homestretch. This is a crampons-and-axe day on the upper mountain regardless of the low danger rating.
Ignore the stream flow data — it's pulling from California gauges unrelated to this route. No relevant crossings on the Keyhole Route. Fire and air quality are non-issues. Wednesday is marginally better than Thursday or Friday wind-wise, so if you want the calmest summit day, go tomorrow. All three days are viable.
Waypoints
Longs Peak Trailhead
Start before 3 AM to summit by noon. Headlamp required.
9,400 ft
Boulder Field
Large boulder field. Last sheltered area before exposed terrain.
12,749 ft
The Keyhole
Iconic gap in the rock wall. Bull's-eye painted markers begin here.
13,199 ft
The Narrows
Exposed ledge traverse. Most committing section of the route.
13,780 ft
Longs Peak Summit
Flat summit at 14,259 ft. Dramatic views of Rocky Mountain NP.
14,259 ft
Route Details
Distance
15.0 mi
Elevation Gain
5,000 ft
Elevation Loss
5,000 ft
Max Elevation
14,259 ft
Estimated Days
1
Trailhead
Longs Peak Trailhead
Best Season
July through September for rock route. Earlier requires snow gear.
Permit Required
Permit required May 1-Oct 15 from recreation.gov. Lottery for peak season dates.
About This Route
The Keyhole Route on Longs Peak (14,259 ft) is Colorado's most iconic mountaineering route and the only 14er in Rocky Mountain National Park. The route combines a long approach with exposed scrambling through a series of named features: the Ledges, the Trough, the Narrows, and the Homestretch. Starting from the Longs Peak Trailhead at 9,400 feet, the approach hikes through subalpine forest and alpine tundra to the Boulder Field at 12,750 feet. From there, the Keyhole—a gap in the rock wall—marks the transition to the technical terrain. Each subsequent section increases in difficulty and exposure. The route should be attempted only in good weather. Lightning is the primary hazard; aim to summit by noon and be off the exposed rock by early afternoon. The Homestretch—a steep slab leading to the summit—is the most dangerous section. In early season, snow and ice on the route require crampons and an ice axe.
Plan This Route
Get a personalized conditions briefing with detailed analysis for your trip dates.
Plan This Route