The Keyhole is a natural entrance to this popular mountaineering route up Longs Peak.

Billowing thunderheads to the west of the Keyhole frame a setting moon on this mid-summer's day when the lightning show starts promptly at noon and avoidance of this storm event is advised.  The Keyhole is a natural notch in the North Ridge of Longs Peak that signals the start of the Keyhole Ridge route, a technical 5.7 rated rock climb that traverses the spine of this precipitous north ridge of gendarmes.

The Keyhole is also the entrance to Longs Peak's most foot-polished granite via the 3rd class mountaineering route that bares the same name.  Starting adjacent to the north face of Colorado's most northern 14er, the Keyhole Route is usually rated "non-technical" by mid-July each summer and for the 4-7 weeks that it remains ice free, there is a daily line of climbers heading for this lofty and "flat as a football field" summit.