Colorado elevation study to impact ‘Mile High’ marker at the capitol steps

By Murphy Huston on May 8, 2024

As our understanding of elevation and sea level continue to evolve, Colorado could see some change including the official elevation of two of our mountains and the location for the “Mile High” marker at the steps of the state capitol.

With elevation being measured in a new way, official designations of some locations around the U.S. are set to change in 2026. That means two Colorado 14ers, mountains that are over 14,ooo feet, aren’t as high as we think. The marker indicating the 5,280-foot elevation marker on the steps of the state Capitol building will have to be moved, again.

Colorado has more 14ers than any other state in the union with 53. With this new data, Huron peak is now the shortest 14er at a few inches shorter than Sunshine Peak. Colorado also has more land above 10,000 feet than the rest of the country combined.

The so-called “Mile High Marker,” the engraving and plaque at the Capitol steps indicating the exact location of one mile of elevation, will now have to move a few feet. It was last moved for a similar reasons in 2003. The marker was on the 18th step, put there in 1969, but was moved down because it was too high, back to step 13. Now, it will be moved back up a few steps