The longer but more gradual of Massive's two main approaches, climbing through forest to the cirque between the main summit and South Massive before a final ridge push.
The Mount Massive Trailhead shares the Halfmoon Creek access road with the Mount Elbert trailhead, sitting about a mile past it. From Leadville, take Highway 24 south a few miles to County Road 24A (Halfmoon Drive), turn west, and follow the gravel road past the Elbert lot to the Massive lot. From the trailhead around 10,050–10,100 feet, the route follows the Colorado Trail north for roughly 3 miles to a signed junction around 11,250 feet. Leave the Colorado Trail here and climb west on the Mount Massive Trail, breaking out of the trees into willows and rolling tundra. The trail continues into the cirque between the main summit and 14,000-plus-foot South Massive, reaching a prominent saddle. From the saddle, follow the ridge north to the true summit; the final section crosses enough loose rock and talus to justify the route's Class 2 rating.
Return to the saddle below South Massive the same way rather than cutting straight down the slope toward the trail junction — shortcutting this section has badly eroded the tundra, and land managers ask hikers to stay on the established switchbacks.