Capital Peak

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF CAPITAL PEAK

I my opinion, the Capital Peak overlook is one of the most beautiful place in the whole state of Colorado. This special place will simply take your breath away!

When you finally make it to the top of a pretty serious dirt road (very narrow at the end with lots and lots of bumps) and arrive at the Capital Peak overlook/trailhead, you are greeted by one of the most stunning vistas you will ever see. Made up of Aspen trees, green forests, creeks, S shaped valleys and the Capitol Peak mountain range in the distance. This place seems almost imaginary (like it was from a painting or a Hollywood studio). If that is not good enough, during the fall months the Capitol peak glows red at dusk as the last light of the evening fades away. As you can tell, I really like this location.

Images and location summary by Tim Wier

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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH CAPITAL PEAK SUMMARY

Trail Difficulty - MODERATE TO HARD

I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 3.5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to the location is an easy 50yd walk, but the road to this location can be a bit challenging (especially the last mile or so).

I would strongly suggest a high clearance vehicle because the last mile or so drives through a very narrow dirt road with lots of very high berms. If you get high centered on one of the berms, it would be almost impossible to turn around.

The first time I drove to this location (I got sketchy directions from a guy I met at Maroon Bells) I thought the guy was playing a game on me and had sent me on a wild goose chase. I kept driving because there was no way to turn around. Finally, at the top of this dirt road appears a parking area. And then you turn to the left and WOW!!

Photography Tips

As mentioned, this is a beautiful vista but you have to get real lucky to capture an epic image here. You need: the right time of year, the right light, snow on the mountains, clouds, and for the sun not to be blocked by clouds at sunset.

If you are here in the fall, you may need to visit several times to make sure the Aspens on the left side of the mountain are just right. The grove changes colors at different time compared to the surrounding areas and getting it just right can be a …

What Lens(es) Do You Need

There are dozens of compositions at this location – so I would bring lenses that range from 24mm to 135mm. This shot was taken with a 70mm lens.

GPS Coordinates & Elevation

xx°27'5.80"N xxx°50'16.64"W

9,253 Ft. Elevation

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