In 1994, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) was established in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and five founding organizations: Colorado Mountain Club, Outward Bound West, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Rocky Mountain Field Institute, and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The mission of CFI is to protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education.

In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, CFI has completed impact studies on all of Colorado’s 54 Fourteeners. Using criteria on resource damage, rate of change, impacts to threatened, endangered, or sensitive species, and U.S. Forest Service priorities at the district level, CFI has identified 35 heavily impacted peaks and basins for priority action. To date, CFI has conducted trail restoration and delineation work on 18 Fourteeners: Mount Elbert, Mount Belford, Mount Oxford, La Plata Peak, Humboldt Peak, Huron Peak, Mount Harvard, Grays and Torreys Peaks, Missouri Mountain, Mount Bierstadt, Quandary Peak, Capitol Peak, Tabeguache Mountain, Mount Sneffels, Wetterhorn Peak, Mount Evans, Pyramid Peak, and Mount Massive.

The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative believes that broad-based community support is critical to the success of its programs. To this end, CFI has developed a number of volunteer programs including weekend field projects, Peak Stewards, Adopt-a-Peak groups, Project Oversight Teams within the Volunteer Leadership Program, or assisting with database management, obtaining donations for volunteer projects, photo archiving, and more.

CFI was recognized at the 6th National Wilderness Conference as a partnership model of national importance for its ability to unite the expertise, experience, and resources of the public and private sectors. The Coalition for Recreational Trails has also recently recognized CFI with an award for its outstanding work on Mt. Bierstadt and Mt. Harvard in the category of Environment/Wildlife Compatibility.

Goals of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Programs

  • Restore damaged and eroded areas to protect sensitive alpine plant ecosystems from further degradation.
  • Establish well-delineated, sustainable hiking routes that maintain the challenge and adventure associated with climbing the peaks, while providing for long-term protection of alpine resources.
  • Educate hikers on sustainable recreation practices and Leave No Trace principles.
  • Maintain and monitor routes and ensure their long-term sustainability.
  • Create a structure for local community awareness and involvement in Fourteener stewardship.