Protecting the Alpine

CFI partners with the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and passionate volunteers and donors nationwide to protect and restore the fragile alpine ecosystems on Colorado’s 14ers.

Our Mission

To protect and preserve the natural integrity of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education.

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About Us

Colorado Fourteeners Initiative was formed in 1994 as a partnership of nonprofit organizations, concerned individuals, and public agencies. Our mission is to preserve and protect the natural integrity of Colorado’s Fourteeners after a 1993 study noted significant environmental impacts due to rapidly expanding recreational use.

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

1 week ago

Ever wonder what it’s like to work on top of the world? Check out CBS Colorado’s video on the epic work of the CFI and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps’ North Elbert crew. These legends are building trails, saving ecosystems, and getting paid to hike some of the highest peaks in the country! 💪🌲Curious what life looks like at 13,600’? Watch the interview or read the full story below! 🎥👇Workers from the 14ers Initiative and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps have helped blaze dozens of trails on Colorado's highest peaks -- many more than existed even in 1994. ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

3 weeks ago

🌄 A Huge Shoutout to Our Friends at Osprey Packs! 🎒✨For over two decades, our partnership with Osprey has been nothing short of amazing. Their unwavering support, from cash donations totaling over $39,000 to the generous product contributions, has been instrumental in advancing CFI's trail stewardship efforts.This summer, Osprey employees went above and beyond by joining us for a trail maintenance project in the stunning American Basin on Handies Peak. Not only did they tackle some heavy lifting at high elevation, but they also brought the fun—cooking up tasty meals, serving up libations, and boosting our team’s morale. And to top it all off, they hooked each of our crew members with brand new Osprey packs! 🎒Let’s show some love to a true leader in the outdoor industry and an incredible group of humans. 🙌 Thank you, Osprey Packs, for your continued partnership! 💚 Photos: Leif Johnson and Kahla Sorich ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

4 weeks ago

That time of year again when CFI is applying for a two-year grant from the Colorado State Trails Program that will largely fund our roving trail maintenance crews working with volunteers and doing important trail work. Please take the following survey that provides an opportunity for public feedback about our 2025-26 trail maintenance plan. Thanks! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8003644/14er-Trail-Maintenance-Priorities-for-2025-26 ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

4 weeks ago

When the feedback from our most tenured volunteers say, "worst conditions in a long time," you know it must've been tough. 🌧️🥶 From rain-soaked clothes to bone-chilling mornings, and mud-covered everything... Mount Sneffels threw it all at our crews and volunteers. 🫠 But the team stuck it out and put in some serious work. They installed five check steps, built 180 square feet of backwall, quarried 458 stones, and hauled more than 50 bags of crushed rock. Here’s to surviving the ultimate suck fest and earning those trail cred badges the hard way. Thanks to everyone who volunteered! 💪 ... See MoreSee Less

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Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

1 month ago

📢 Exciting News: We’ve Moved! 🏢We’re thrilled to announce that our team has moved to a new office location! 🎉 As we get settled in, there may be a slight delay in our response time.Please note, our office phone is currently forwarding to our personal cell phones, so thanks for your patience and understanding during this transition. Please note the new mailing address 1526 Cole Blvd, Suite 130, Lakewood, CO 80401. ... See MoreSee Less

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CFI works to preserve and protect the natural integrity of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks through active stewardship and public education.

Four months of new trail construction in 90 second

Four months of new trail construction in 90 seconds. The Lower Shavano crew made tremendous progress on the lower bypass. In July, the second section of new trail opened to the public and the crew began work on a third bypass section. Accomplishments include 2,300’ of new bench cut, 75 stumps pulled, 40 timber checks installed, and countless rocks crushed and bags of dirt hauled. Let’s give them a round of applause for a truly impressive transformation and beautiful trail.

Ever wonder what it’s like to work on top of the

Ever wonder what it’s like to work on top of the world? Check out CBS Colorado’s video on the epic work of the CFI and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps’ North Elbert crew. These legends are building trails, saving ecosystems, and getting paid to hike some of the highest peaks in the country! 💪🌲

Curious what life looks like at 13,600’? Watch the interview or read the full story linked in our bio! 🎥👇

🌄 A Huge Shoutout to Our Friends at Osprey Pack

🚨 We need your voice! 🚨 Help shape the futur

🚨 We need your voice! 🚨
Help shape the future of our trails! CFI is applying for a grant to fund vital trail maintenance for 2025-26, and your feedback matters. Take a quick survey and let us know what you think about our trail plans! 💬🌟

👉 Link in bio to take the survey. Let's keep our trails beautiful together!

When the feedback from our most tenured volunteers

When the feedback from our most tenured volunteers say, "worst conditions in a long time," you know it must've been tough. 🌧️🥶 From rain-soaked clothes to bone-chilling mornings, and mud-covered everything... Mount Sneffels threw it all at our crews and volunteers. 🫠 But the team stuck it out and put in some serious work. They installed five check steps, built 180 square feet of backwall, quarried 458 stones, and hauled more than 50 bags of crushed rock. Here’s to surviving the ultimate suck fest and earning those trail cred badges the hard way. Thanks to everyone who volunteered! 💪

📢 Exciting News: We’ve Moved! 🏢 We’re t

📢 Exciting News: We’ve Moved! 🏢

We’re thrilled to announce that our team has moved to a new office location! 🎉 As we get settled in, there may be a slight delay in our response time.

Please note, our office phone is currently forwarding to our personal cell phones, so thanks for your patience and understanding during this transition.

Please note the new mailing address 1526 Cole Blvd, Suite 130, Lakewood, CO 80401.

Hiking activity on Colorado’s 14ers dropped by 6

Hiking activity on Colorado’s 14ers dropped by 6.8% in 2023, continuing a downward trend since the record-breaking summer of 2020. One of the biggest factors? The closure of the popular Decalibron Loop near Alma due to private landowner liability concerns, causing a significant 55% decrease in use across the Mosquito Range.

Curious about what the factors influencing these changes are? Check out our full report to learn more! 📊🏔️

Link in bio.

A huge shoutout to @sp_global for their incredible

A huge shoutout to @sp_global for their incredible support this year! 🌟 Their team went above and beyond, volunteering on two trail stewardship projects at Quandary Peak this summer. 🏔️

Earlier this year, we were honored to speak at their Denver office about our mission. And, of course, their generous donations and employee match program have been vital in fueling our work.

Our partnership, which began back in 2013 when they were known as Market on Demand and then IHS Markit, continues to thrive. Thank you, S&P Global, for your unwavering dedication! 🙌

Meet our trail crew professionals. See how they co

Meet our trail crew professionals. See how they come to work? Very cutesy, very mindful, very demure. #trailcrew

🔨 Earlier this month, our amazing CFI volunteer

🔨 Earlier this month, our amazing CFI volunteers gathered in the stunning American Basin for a multi-day trail stewardship project on Handies Peak. 🏔️ With some serious grit and a dash of fun, they hauled precut logs about a mile up the trail to build check steps, helping slow water flow and combat erosion of precious alpine soil.

The steep approach has suffered from severe trail braiding and soil loss, and with no rocks available at the site for construction, we had to bring materials up from below treeline. But that didn’t stop our volunteers—they not only crushed the hike but did it in style, rocking some super cute costumes! 🎉💪

A huge thank you to everyone who helped volunteered. Your hard work makes CFI's efforts possible. Photos: @callendermelinda

🎉 Big progress on CFI's Mount Shavano trail rec

🎉 Big progress on CFI's Mount Shavano trail reconstruction project! The lower fixed-site crew has officially opened the second new bypass, marking a significant milestone in this six-year project.

This new section is a major upgrade from the old social trail which ran straight uphill, was littered with loose rocks and roots, and often flooded in the spring. With the first two reroutes below treeline now complete, the crew is shifting focus to the third bypass, which will reconnect with the existing trail near the start of the Angel of Shavano route. 🌟 The team is on track to finish this last section by the end of 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to improve your hiking experience on Shavano! 🥾🌄

Photos: @rolds.photo

🚨 Dream Job Alert! 🚨 Love Colorado's 14ers

🚨 Dream Job Alert! 🚨

Love Colorado's 14ers and have a background in finance? We're hiring a full-time Controller at Colorado Fourteeners Initiative! 🌟 Full-time positions at CFI are few and far between, so this is a rare chance to join our core team and help protect these iconic peaks.

If you're passionate about the outdoors and have 3-5+ years of finance experience, this could be the role for you. Come be part of a team dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of Colorado’s highest summits. 🌲💼

📍 Hybrid/Golden, CO
💰 $80,000 - $90,000 annually, plus benefits

Don’t miss your opportunity to work where your passion for the mountains meets your professional expertise! Learn more and apply today. Link in bio.

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