Near Mount Princeton
Mt. Princeton Summit view of Tigger Peak
Near Mount Princeton
Mt. Princeton on 7/17/19.
Near Mount Princeton
The turnoff for Mt. Princeton can be seen to the right, with the Jeep road continuing to the left. 13er Tigger Peak is dead ahead. The route goes below and to the right of this mountain.
Near Mount Princeton
The route, seen from just below the summit. The switchbacks on the trail are covered with snow, so the path is slightly different with summer conditions. Tigger Peak and the Arkansas Valley are seen in the foreground.
Near Mount Princeton
Hiking Mt. Princeton

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Mount Princeton

3.8 (24 Ratings)
A short, steep fourteener made unusual by its access: most of the elevation gain happens by vehicle, on a rough road that climbs to nearly 11,000' before the trail even starts. What's left is a rocky, direct push to one of the most abrupt summits in the Sawatch Range.
6.6
mi
Distance
5,239
ft
Gain
extreme
Difficulty
Regional Classic
A must do route for the area handpicked by local experts.
Dogs AllowedFall ColorsViewsWildflowersWildlife
Access Issues
No permit is required; Mount Princeton sits outside designated wilderness. The final 3.2 miles of road are rough, narrow, and demand high-clearance 4WD. Sedans and low-clearance vehicles should start from the lower, 2WD-accessible trailhead at 8,900' instead, adding about 6 miles and 1,900 vertical feet round trip. This road is closed in the winter, and conditions are variable year-round.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
6.59mi
Distance
5,239ft
Elevation Gain
0ft
Elevation Loss
65%
Max Grade
14,200ft
High Point
8,958ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
The route begins and ends at the radio towers (10,832') on Mount Princeton Road and reaches the summit of Mount Princeton (14,200'). From the radio towers, continue up the 4WD road as it switchbacks up the east side of unranked Tigger Peak (13,300'). Near 11,700', the road swings to the ridge's south side. At about 11,800', turn right onto the Princeton Trail where it splits from the road, just before the road bends left. At 11,900', the trail crosses to Tigger's north side, opening a view of the remaining climb. Head west across rocky terrain, crossing gullies that can hold snow into early summer, then reach easier ground on Princeton's east slopes. Continue to the saddle between Mount Princeton and Tigger Peak at about 13,000'. Crux: from the saddle, follow the marked trail along the ridge to the summit; the final stretch requires Class 2 scrambling over large boulders. Descend the same route.
History & Background
Mt. Princeton, while first summited in 1877 by an alumna of its namesake, was named years prior by Harvard graduate - and Wyoming high point namesake - Henry Gannett.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
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