Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the highest point in the U.S. state of Colorado and the entire Mississippi River drainage basin . The ultra @-@ prominent 14 @,@ 440 @-@ foot ( 4401 @.@ 2 m ) fourteener is the highest peak in the Sawatch Range and the second @-@ highest summit in the contiguous United States after Mount Whitney . Mount Elbert is located in San Isabel National Forest , 12 @.@ 1 miles ( 19 @.@ 4 km ) southwest ( bearing 223 ° ) of the City of Leadville in Lake County , Colorado .