Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Mt Harvard, elevation 14,424’, is the third highest 14er in the state and the crown jewel of the Collegiate Peaks group near Buena Vista, Colorado. I first summited this peak when I did Harvard-Columbia traverse a few years ago as part of an overnight backpacking trip. This time around my wife and I decided to hike Mt Harvard as a day trip starting from N Cottonwood Creek trailhead on 8/1/2026. It was a perfect weather day. We left the trailhead around 4:30am, and reached the summit by 10am. There were quite a few hikers that day, and summit was kind of busy. After resting for 30 min, we started heading back, with a short detour to check out Bear Lake, which was quite beautiful and well worth the extra 1/2 mile. We got back to the trailhead around 2:30pm. Total stats: 14.5 miles with 4500’ elevation gain
Music:
Longing, by Punch Deck (youtu.be/M5AuiXNFTkE?is=PkHo9H0VSJ3cBoCE)
Adrift, by Punch Deck (youtube.com/watch?v=lxKEc-LE8ro)
0:00 Horn Fork Basin Approach
04:30 Crux of the Hike
05:54 Summit Views
07:58 Bear Lake
Mt Harvard, elevation 14,424’, is the third highest 14er in the state and the crown jewel of the Collegiate Peaks group near Buena Vista, Colorado. I first summited this peak when I did Harvard-Columbia traverse a few years ago as part of an overnight backpacking trip. This time around my wife and I decided to hike Mt Harvard as a day trip starting from N Cottonwood Creek trailhead on 8/1/2026. It was a perfect weather day. We left the trailhead around 4:30am, and reached the summit by 10am. There were quite a few hikers that day, and summit was kind of busy. After resting for 30 min, we started heading back, with a short detour to check out Bear Lake, which was quite beautiful and well worth the extra 1/2 mile. We got back to the trailhead around 2:30pm. Total stats: 14.5 miles with 4500’ elevation gain
Music:
Longing, by Punch Deck (youtu.be/M5AuiXNFTkE?is=PkHo9H0VSJ3cBoCE)
Adrift, by Punch Deck (youtube.com/watch?v=lxKEc-LE8ro)
0:00 Horn Fork Basin Approach
04:30 Crux of the Hike
05:54 Summit Views
07:58 Bear Lake
