Longs Peak is one of Colorado’s most iconic mountains. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park northwest of Denver, the 14,259-foot peak attracts thousands of hikers and climbers every year. Let’s explore this amazing mountain through 44 riddles!
Riddles about Getting to Longs Peak
Q: I’m a winding mountain road that leads from Estes Park to the Longs Peak trailhead. What am I?
A: Trail Ridge Road
Q: We’re a pair of trails that start from the Longs Peak trailhead and take you to the summit. One is longer and more gradual while the other is steep and direct. What are we?
A: The Keyhole Route and the Loft Route
Q: I’m an alpine lake located about halfway up the most popular hiking route on Longs Peak. Many hikers stop to rest or filter water at my shores. What lake am I?
A: Chasm Lake
Riddles about Longs Peak’s Geography
Q: I’m the distinctive notch near the peak that gives hikers access to the summit homestretch. What am I called?
A: The Keyhole
Q: We’re a set of sheer cliffs just past the Keyhole that require hikers to scramble up a steep, exposed section of rock using cables and ledges cut into the mountain. What are we?
A: The Ledges
Q: I’m the granite face on Longs Peak leading up to the summit that is nearly vertical, requiring strong climbing skills and special gear to ascend. What notorious climb am I?
A: The Diamond
Riddles about Longs Peak’s History & Lore
Q: I was the first woman to ever climb Longs Peak back in 1871. Who am I?
A: Isabella Bird
Q: We’re a group of adventurers who made the first winter ascent of Longs Peak in February of 1936. Who are we?
A: The Winter Expedition led by Paul Petzoldt
Q: I’m the infamous flying beast said to guard the treasure on top of Longs Peak. Myth says I swoop down on anyone who gets too close. What creature am I?
A: The Guardian of the Peak
Riddles about Hiking Longs Peak
Q: I’m the shortest season for attempting to hike Longs Peak due to intense winter weather and winds. What season am I?
A: Winter
Q: We’re items every hiker needs to safely and successfully climb Longs Peak. We include proper footwear, layers, food, water, and more. What are we collectively called?
A: Gear
Q: I’m the time of day many hikers start their summit attempt in order to get up and down before the afternoon storms hit. What time am I?
A: Pre-dawn
Riddles about Hazards on Longs Peak
Q: My fields start blooming on Longs Peak as summer wanes, signaling to hikers the coming of fall and winter snow. What colorful flowers am I?
A: Alpine wildflowers
Q: We’re a duo of natural dangers on Longs Peak that become especially unpredictable in the afternoon. We’ve caught many hikers by surprise over the years. What are we?
A: Lightning and Rockfall
Q: I’m the elevation gain between the Longs Peak trailhead and summit. At over 5,000 feet, I’m one of the biggest elevation gains of any climb in Colorado. What am I?
A: 5,100 feet
Riddles about Wildlife on Longs Peak
Q: We’re sure-footed creatures often spotted grazing near treeline and along the trails on Longs Peak. With curved horns on our heads, who are we?
A: Bighorn Sheep
Q: I’m the state mammal of Colorado who makes my home among the alpine tundra of Longs Peak. You can recognize me by my yellow-brown coat and my loud whistle. What animal am I?
A: Yellow-bellied Marmot
Q: I’m the predator that patrols Longs Peak, feasting on mice, voles and pika. I have excellent camouflage to match the rocks and I see eight times better than humans do. What hunter am I?
A: The Snowy Owl
Riddles about Longs Peak’s Alpine Environment
Q: We blanket the slopes of Longs Peak in winter, melting off by late spring. In summer, only small patches of us can still be found at the highest elevations. What are we?
A: Snow
Q: I’m a geographical line about 11,500 feet up Longs Peak, above which trees can’t grow due to the extreme conditions. What line am I?
A: Treeline
Q: We’re nimble flowering plants that manage to thrive in the harsh tundra of Longs Peak’s summit, blooming colorful blossoms. What are we?
A: Alpine wildflowers like moss campion and alpine buttercups
Riddles about Longs Peak’s Summit
Q: I’m a small stone shelter built in the early 1900s near the very top of Longs Peak. For years I protected summit-seekers from the harsh alpine environment. What was I called?
A: The Stone Hut
Q: I’m the metal tower erected on the summit that helps hikers get their bearings and offers dizzying 360° views. What landmark am I?
A: The Summit Plaque
Q: We’re the breathtaking mountain ranges visible from the top of Longs Peak on a clear day. We include layers of peaks stretching off into the distance as far as the eye can see! What stunning vista are we?
A: Rows and rows of “Fourteeners” (peaks over 14,000 feet)
Conclusion
From its sheer granite faces to its alpine tundra, Longs Peak offers challenges, lore and boundless beauty. As you journey over its slopes to breathtaking vistas, keep your wits about you with these riddles!
The key to climbing and exploring Longs Peak is coming well-prepared, monitoring the weather and knowing your limits in the extreme alpine environment. But for those who make the epic journey to its summit, magnificent rewards of sweeping views and immense personal accomplishment await!
