Hiking Missouri Mountain, Iowa Peak and Emerald Peak in Colorado's Collegiate Peaks Wilderness

I hiked Missouri Mountain, Iowa Peak and Emerald Peak in early November 2025. These three mountains are located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in Colorado near Leadville and Buena Vista. All three are among the 100-highest peaks in Colorado (though Iowa is technically unranked because it is a sub-summit of Missouri) and Missouri stands the highest of the three at 14,071 feet.

This hike is relatively easy as it starts on a good trail up Missouri Gulch and into the basin. After turning right at a junction towards Elkhead Pass, the easy trail follows a creek before ascending above treeline and veering towards Missouri Mountain. The ascent up Missouri is steep, but on a good trail, even with the little bit of snow on the trail. After a long traverse along the summit ridge, I finally reached the summit.

After topping out on Missouri, I headed down an easy ridge towards Iowa Peak and, while there is not much of an official trail after Missouri Mountain, the hiking is on very easy terrain. From Iowa Peak, it was a similar route on good, unmarked terrain down to the saddle with Emerald and up that peak.

After summiting Emerald Peak, I headed down into Missouri Basin (not to be confused with Missouri Gulch), crossed a frozen pond, and went up Elkhead Pass to return to Missouri Gulch for the descent to the trailhead.