North Maroon Peak: The other Maroon Bell
North Maroon Peak is the second Bell — the lower twin to Maroon Peak, separated by a sharp Class 5 ridge. Its standard route is a Class 4 climb up the northeast ridge from Crater Lake, on the same loose Maroon Formation that earns the pair their "Deadly Bells" warning.
North Maroon is the second of the famous Maroon Bells. Its 14,019-foot summit sits a saddle and a Class 5.0 ridge away from Maroon Peak; together the two form the most-photographed mountain skyline in Colorado. The strict 300-foot prominence rule excludes North Maroon from "official" 14er status — its prominence over the connecting ridge is only 234 feet — but Colorado climbers count it.
The peak at a glance
- Elevation: 14,019 ft (4,273 m)
- Rank in Colorado: 52th of 56 peaks above 14,000 ft
- Range: Elk Mountains
- County: Pitkin County
- Coordinates: 39.0758° N, 106.9869° W
- Standard route: Northeast Ridge from Crater Lake (Class 4) — 9 mi RT, ~4,500 ft gain
- Public land: Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest
How North Maroon Peak got its name
The "North Maroon" name distinguishes the peak from its higher southern twin. The Bells share a name origin in the deep red Maroon Formation rock that gives the pair their distinctive color. See Maroon Peak for the full naming history.
The standard route
The standard Northeast Ridge route starts at Maroon Lake, ascends to Crater Lake, and continues up the northeast face of North Maroon on a sustained Class 4 line. The "Rock Glacier" approach below the summit pyramid involves loose-rock scrambling on the same rotten Maroon Formation that has earned the Bells their warnings. Helmet essential. About 9 miles round-trip with 4,500 feet of gain.
Other ways up
The Bells Traverse from Maroon Peak to North Maroon — half a mile of Class 5.0 ridge — is the classic linkup. Rope and gear are commonly used.
When to climb
The Colorado fourteener climbing season is short. The standard window runs from late June through mid-September — after the snow has melted off the trail and before the first serious autumn storm. Outside that window, you're committing to a winter ascent: snow travel, avalanche assessment, post-holing through drifts, and route-finding without a visible trail.
Inside the window, the rule that has saved more Colorado lives than any other is be off the summit by noon. Afternoon convective storms build over the high peaks almost daily in July and August. Lightning is the leading weather killer in the Rockies. Plan for a pre-dawn start — most experienced climbers leave the trailhead between 4:00 and 5:30 AM.
Where it sits
What climbers wish they'd known
The Bells warning sign is for both peaks. "Down-sloping, loose, rotten, and unstable" applies to North Maroon as much as to its twin.
Before you go
A 14er is a long, exposed day at altitude. Read these first if you haven't already:
- Planning your first multi-day backpacking trip — same logistics apply to a long single-day summit push.
- How to choose the right trail difficulty — converting class ratings into honest fitness estimates.
- Leave No Trace, in one minute — alpine tundra heals on a geological clock. Stay on the trail.
Looking for the standard route on the map? Browse Colorado trails on the Outdoors App or jump to the Near Me view if you're already in-state.
If you liked this peak
- Maroon Peak — the traverse partner
- Pyramid Peak — the Elk's third Class 4
- Capitol Peak — the Elk Knife Edge
Hero photograph: Eastern slopes of Maroon Peak (left) and North Maroon Peak (right), Elk Mountains. by MostlyDeserts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
