Mount Elbert Trailheads: North vs South Parking and Access

Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest peak at 14,433 feet, has two separate drive-up trailheads on opposite sides of the mountain, and they are not interchangeable. The North Trailhead (often called the Northeast Trail) sits off Halfmoon Road, reached from US-24 and CO-300 southwest of Leadville, while the South Trailhead sits off Lake County Road 24 just east of Twin Lakes village. Pick the trailhead that matches your planned route before you leave the house, since the two access roads do not connect to each other near the mountain. This page covers the roads, parking and current access status for both; for route descriptions, mileage and elevation gain on the trail itself, see our Mount Elbert hiking guide, or browse our best hikes near Leadville for other options nearby.

Quick answer

• North Trailhead (Halfmoon Road / Forest Road 110): reached via US-24 and CO-300 southwest of Leadville, then about 5 miles of easy 2WD dirt road; a lot for about 30 cars with overflow along one side of the road, and it fills on summer weekends.
• South Trailhead (Lake County Road 24): the closer option from Twin Lakes; from the US-24/CO-82 junction, about 3.75 miles west on CO-82 then 1.5 miles north on Lake County Road 24 reaches the main 2WD paved lot, with room for about 20 cars, plus a rougher 4WD extension continuing 1.8 miles to an upper trailhead at roughly 10,400 to 10,500 feet with about 15 spaces.
• Fees: no day-use parking fee is posted at either trailhead; commercial or organized groups need a permit from the Leadville Ranger District in advance.
• Winter: the last few miles of both approach roads close to cars each winter. A revised Forest Service closure order for the Willow Fire took effect October 1, 2026, so check current status before you drive out (links below).

North Trailhead: Halfmoon Road and Forest Road 110

From Leadville, the route to the North Trailhead runs south a few miles on US Highway 24, west on CO-300, then onto County Road 11, which becomes Halfmoon Road (Forest Road 110) for about 5 miles to the signed Mount Elbert Trailhead entrance. 14ers.com rates the access road easy 2WD dirt, and the trailhead sits at about 10,040 feet. The lot holds roughly 30 cars with overflow parking along one side of the road, and it is known to fill early on busy summer weekends, so arriving before sunrise matters more than the drive itself.

South Trailhead: Lake County Road 24

For guests staying at The Big Mack, the South Trailhead is the more direct option. From the junction of US-24 and CO-82, drive about 3.75 miles west on CO-82 toward Twin Lakes, turn right (north) onto Lake County Road 24, and continue about 1.5 miles to the South Elbert Trailhead. The main lot is paved and holds about 20 vehicles. Drivers with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle can continue another 1.8 miles on Forest Service Road 125.B to an upper trailhead at roughly 10,400 to 10,500 feet with about 15 spaces. Per 14ers.com's East Ridge route page, starting there instead of the lower lot saves roughly 800 feet of gain and about 3.75 miles round trip on the standard route: 4,200 feet over 11.25 miles round trip from the upper trailhead, versus 5,000 feet over 15 miles from the lower lot. The 4WD road has a rough section around the half-mile mark and a small stream crossing near 1.6 miles; if you are not confident in the vehicle, stop at the lower, paved lot instead.

Fees, permits and what the road signs mean

Neither trailhead charges a posted day-use parking fee: the Forest Service's trail pages do not list one, and 14ers.com's trailhead guides mark both approaches fee-free. The one permit requirement that does apply is for commercial outfitters and organized groups, who must obtain a permit from the Leadville Ranger District in advance. For everyone else, the only real gatekeeping is physical: read the signs at the lot before you park, since roadside parking is restricted in many stretches near both trailheads and a blocked access road can strand other hikers and emergency vehicles.

Current closures: the 2026 Willow Fire

The Willow Fire started west of Leadville on June 28, 2026. By the most recent InciWeb update, dated September 16, 2026, it was about 80 percent contained near 7,534 acres. Both Mount Elbert trailheads were closed for stretches of the summer and have since reopened: 14ers.com's trailhead status pages record the North Trailhead, Halfmoon Road and the standard NE Ridge route reopening August 19, 2026, and the South Elbert Trailhead reopening August 14, 2026. A revised Forest Service Willow Fire Area Closure order, #02-12-01-26-39, took effect October 1, 2026 for the Leadville Ranger District and was still the forest's listed active Willow Fire alert as this page was checked, so confirm exactly which roads and trails it covers before you drive out. Check the Forest Service's alerts page for that order and its map, the InciWeb Willow Fire page for containment updates, and Lake County's Willow Fire recovery page for county road and community updates. Mount Massive, just north of Halfmoon Road, has its own separate closure status; see our Mount Massive trailhead guide before planning a trip there instead. None of this is static heading into fall; recheck close to your travel date rather than trust an older post.

Winter access to each trailhead

The two trailheads behave differently once snow closes in. On the North side, Halfmoon Road is usually closed to cars a short distance past where it turns to dirt, about 5 miles below the summer trailhead; beyond that point travel is on foot, skis or snowmobile, which adds roughly 10 miles round trip before the hike even starts. On the South side, winter closure begins at the start of the 4WD road (Forest Service Road 125.B), so cars can still reach the lower paved lot, which is also why the South Trail is generally treated as the standard winter route up the mountain. For broader road and weather context before a winter trip, see our winter at Twin Lakes guide, and build in extra time for altitude acclimatization either season; see our altitude sickness guide for Twin Lakes and Leadville before a 14,000-foot push.

Drive times from Twin Lakes

The South Trailhead is the short drive: from the village of Twin Lakes, head east on CO-82 toward the US-24 junction, then follow CO-82 and Lake County Road 24 to the lot, roughly 10 to 15 minutes. The North Trailhead is farther around: continue east on CO-82 to US-24, go north toward Leadville, then west on CO-300, County Road 11 and the 5 miles of Halfmoon Road, which typically runs 35 to 45 minutes depending on road conditions and where you park. These times are approximate; add time for washboard, snow or a detour around a closure. If you are coming straight from Denver, build the mountain drive into your schedule using our Denver to Twin Lakes and Leadville drive guide.

Trailhead questions

Which trailhead is closer to Twin Lakes?

The South Trailhead on Lake County Road 24, by a wide margin. It is a short drive from The Big Mack, while the North Trailhead requires backtracking toward Leadville first.

Can I drive a regular car to either trailhead?

In summer, yes, to both main lots: the North Trailhead's dirt road and the South Trailhead's lower 2WD lot are built for standard vehicles, though higher clearance handles washboard and ruts more comfortably. The South Trailhead's upper 4WD extension on Forest Service Road 125.B is a different story and should be left to high-clearance 4WD vehicles. In winter, Halfmoon Road usually closes about 5 miles short of the North Trailhead, while on the South side you can drive only to the lower paved lot; the 4WD road beyond it is closed. See the winter access section above.

Is there a fee or permit to park?

No day-use fee is posted at either trailhead. The only permit requirement is for commercial or organized groups, who need authorization from the Leadville Ranger District in advance.

How do I know if the road or trail is open on my travel dates?

Check the Forest Service's alerts page and the InciWeb Willow Fire page within a day or two of your trip. Both trailheads reopened in August 2026 after fire-related closures, and a new Forest Service closure order took effect October 1, 2026, so the safest plan is to recheck right before you drive out rather than trust an older post.

Whichever trailhead your route calls for, The Big Mack puts you minutes from the South Trailhead and well under an hour from the North Trailhead, with a hot tub and a full kitchen waiting at the end of a long summit day. The 4-bedroom, 2-bath house sleeps 12 across three king rooms and a downstairs bunk room, so the whole climbing group can stay together and sort gear in one place before an early alpine start. Check your dates and book direct.