Standard Route

This is the established normal route to the summit of Mount Harvard and is the line most commonly described in Colorado climbing references. It is a non-technical alpine ascent, but it is still a long high-altitude climb with substantial talus, steep hiking, and route-finding in the upper mountain. The route is usually climbed from the south side via the Cottonwood Creek/Harvard Lakes approach. Late-season snow can linger on the upper slopes and make the final climb more serious. The route is exposed to weather and lightning risk, especially because much of the ascent is above treeline. No fixed protection or technical climbing is normally required in standard conditions.