There are three main routes to ascend the mountain, all of which gain over elevation. The standard route ascends the peak from the east, starting from the Colorado Trail just north of Twin Lakes. The long North (Main) Elbert Trail begins close to the Elbert Creek Campground, and gains about . The trail is open to equestrians, mountain bikers and hunters during season. An easier, but longer route, the South Elbert Trail, is long, climbing at a less-punishing gradient than the North Elbert Trail, approaching from the south and then climbing the eastern ridge.