The Laramie Mountains are part of the Front Range and rests just north of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Mummy Range. With one exception, this mountain range consists mostly of gentle summits below 11,000 ft. The highest summit is just slightly higher than 11,000 ft. This range extends north into Wyoming and is easily visible from I-25.
The Rabbit Ears Range lies west of Rocky Mountain National Park and splits North Park and Middle Park, while resting between the northern Gore Range and the southern Park Range.
The Gore Range is often referenced and revered as one of the most isolated and rugged mountain ranges in Colorado. Broken into two sections, north and south, the Gore Range sits just west of Vail and extends northwest to Steamboat Springs to the west of the Rabbit Ears Range. Several rugged summits above 12,000 ft. and 13,000 ft. call the Gore Range home, yet no summit surpasses the 14,000 ft. mark, making the Gore Range a rarely travelled part of Colorado. Due to the obscure nature of the Gore Range, most summits inside its confines are not officially named; however, Colorado mountaineering legends Robert Ormes and later Gerry Roach have dubbed several of the summits here and the names have remained as local folklore.
Disected by the Gore Range, the Williams Fork Mountains are split into two sub-areas - east and west. The eastern part of this mountain range comprises the western edge of the Front Range, just north and west of the Eisenhower Tunnel and the western part of this mountain range is just north of the Flat Tops. The east Williams Fork Mountains are just west of the Vasquez Mountains and consist mostly of very gentle slopes and easy summits. Due to their proximity to the rugged Gore Range and because of the fact that there are very few high summits in this range, spectacular views and solitude are not uncommon here.
The Mummy Range mostly lies within Rocky Mountain National Park, and encompasses over 160 square miles of rugged glaciated summits, six of which are above 13,000 ft. The Mummy range is part of the Front Range, and shares similar characteristics as its neighbors to the southwest, the Never Summer Mountains.
A small mountain range just over 15 miles in length from north-to-south, the Never Summer Mountains sit within the Front Range, with the western section sitting within the Never Summer Wilderness Area and the southern portion of the Never Summer Mountains within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park. No summits within this mountain range surpass the magical 13,000 ft. mark; however, the range offers several exceptional climbing opportunities, typically within relative solitude. Like other mountain ranges in this part of Colorado, the Never Summer Mountains were impacted by glaciation and therefore many of these summits have cirques and other rugged geologic features. Specifically, the Nokhu Crags in the northern area of this mountain range characterize the rugged and rotten rock that can be found here, especially in the northern parts of the mountain range. Popular summits in this range are Mount Richthofen and Howard Mountain.
Rocky Mountain National Park lies within the Front Range and is home of one of the most popular 14'ers - Longs Peak. Several lesser known 13'ers and 12'ers are scattered throughout Rocky Mountain National Park, making it one of the most popular hiking destinations in Colorado. A hiker could spend months in Rocky Mountain National Park and not complete all 359 miles of trails. Two smaller sub-ranges are with in Rocky Mountain National Park, including parts of the Mummy Range and the Never Summer Mountains. Special considerations must be made before planning a trip to this area. A breakdown of the rules and regulations for Rocky Mountain National Park can be found here.
Also known as the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, the Indian Peaks lie within the Front Range, just south of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Due to its proximity to the Denver and Boulder area, the Indian Peaks are one of the most heavily accessed Wilderness Areas in Colorado. According to wilderness.net, the United States Congress designated the Indian Peaks Wilderness in 1978 spanning a total of 77,711 acres. Additionally, roughly 35% of this area is above treeline and the area is home to about 50 lakes. Summit elevations range from 8,300 to just over 13,500 feet, offering a wide range of climbing opportunities all year-round, including some challenging class 3 and 4 variations. In places, this range is rather rugged due to the glaciation that has occured to the mountains here.
Spanning approximately 30 miles, the Tarryall Mountains are south of the Kenosha Mountains, north of the Puma Hills, and are a sub-range of the Front Range. The Tarryall Mountains are home to several intriguing summits, including Bison Peak and McCurdy Mountain within the Lost Creek Wilderness Area. This mountain range features some very unique rock types and does not disappoint the average appreciator of geologic formations. Another popular feature within this mountain range is Tarryall Reservoir, a popular fishing and camping destination during the summer months.
The Wet Mountains are one of the less heralded ranges in Colorado; however, they deserve some real attention from any series hiker or climber for several reasons. For starters, the summits of the Wet Mountains offer incredible views of the Sangre de Cristo range to the south and west. Secondly, the Wet mountains are home to one of the most prominent summits in all of Colorado - Greenhorn Mountain. Lastly, due to the lack of uber-high summits, the Wet Mountains are rarely travelled and offer solitude in the wonderfully fertile San Isabel National Forest. The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area, a relatively new and small wilderness area created in 1993, lies within the Wet Mountains.