Longs Peak Hiking Guide

Questions

Do you need a permit to climb Longs Peak?

Not for a day climb. To camp at the Boulder Field you need a Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness permit ($36 a trip in summer 2026), picked up in person with a bear canister. In 2026 you also needed a timed-entry reservation to drive into the park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 22 to October 12, unless you arrive earlier.

How long is the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak?

The Park Service says 7.5 miles to the summit and 15 miles round trip, 10 to 15 hours. My first day, from the trailhead with a detour to Chasm Lake, was 8.4 miles by my GPS; the second, from the Boulder Field to the summit and down, about 8.5.

How hard is Longs Peak?

Up to the Boulder Field it's a long, steady trail. Above the Keyhole it's a scramble on rock with big drops, at over 13,000 ft, and the Park Service says it's not a hike: a fall there can be fatal. I found it less scary than the videos I'd watched, but I'd done harder scrambles before.

When is the best time to climb Longs Peak?

The route is most often free of snow and ice from about mid-July to mid-September. That's also thunderstorm season, so start very early and be back below tree line by noon. I went in late June, with some ice and snow still up top.

Can you camp at the Boulder Field on Longs Peak?

Yes, with a wilderness permit: nine sites inside stone windbreaks at 12,760 ft, about 6 miles from the trailhead, with a privy and water from Boulder Brook. A hard-sided bear canister is required.

Is there water on the Keyhole Route?

There are brooks along the trail and Boulder Brook at the Boulder Field (treat it). Above the Boulder Field there's none: the Park Service says to carry 3 to 4 quarts.