Crestone Peak

14,294 ft · #7 highest in Colorado · Sangre de Cristo Range

Class 3 — scrambling13 mi round trip5,500 ft gain

Elevation

14,294′

Difficulty

Class 3

Distance

13 mi

Elev. gain

5,500′

Nearest town

Westcliffe

County

Saguache

Range

Sangre de Cristo

Rank

Crestone Peak is one of the four 'Crestones' in the Sangre de Cristos and one of the most beautiful 14ers in Colorado. The standard South Face route involves a class 3 climb up the famous Red Couloir — a steep, exposed gully with solid conglomerate rock.

Standard Route

From the South Colony Lakes trailhead (4WD access recommended), the trail climbs to Cottonwood Lake then ascends the South Face via the Red Couloir. The couloir is class 3 with good rock but real exposure. 13 miles round trip, 5,500 feet of gain.

What to Expect

The Crestones' rock is conglomerate (cobblestones cemented in a matrix) — surprisingly grippy and solid compared to most Colorado peaks. The Red Couloir is the route's most exposed section. Most climbers combine Crestone Peak with Crestone Needle via the difficult class 5.2 Ellingwood Arête, or do them on separate days.