Black Cloud Trail to Mount Elbert Summit

The Black Cloud Trail begins at the Black Cloud Trailhead (~9,716') off Lake County Road 24, north of Twin Lakes and approximately 17 miles from Leadville via US Highway 24 and Colorado 82. The trailhead is not prominently signed and requires attention to locate. From the trailhead, the trail climbs steeply northwest through pine forest and aspen groves along Black Cloud Creek, gaining 1,700 vertical feet in the first 1.7 miles via sustained switchbacks. The route passes a series of cascades and waterfalls as the valley narrows. At approximately 2.7 miles, the switchbacks ease and the trail gains the Southeast Ridge at approximately 11,700'. Head northwest along the ridge to South Elbert (14,134'), an unofficial summit with views back down the drainage and north toward the main summit. Continue northwest along the ridge, descending briefly into the saddle between South Elbert and the main peak, then climbing northwest to the summit of Mount Elbert (14,439'). A faint trail crosses the saddle; stay right across the south ridge of the main peak. The return retraces the ridge and the Black Cloud Creek drainage. Begin early — the lower creek valley can be warm and dry by mid-afternoon.