Mount Sneffels

14,150 ft · #29 highest in Colorado · San Juan Range

Class 3 — scrambling6.75 mi round trip2,900 ft gain

Elevation

14,150′

Difficulty

Class 3

Distance

6.75 mi

Elev. gain

2,900′

Nearest town

Ouray

County

Ouray

Range

San Juan

Rank

#29

Mount Sneffels is the iconic peak rising above the Sneffels Range north of Telluride, instantly recognizable from the famous Dallas Divide viewpoint. The standard South Slope route involves a class 3 scramble through a notorious 'V-notch.'

Standard Route

From the Yankee Boy Basin trailhead (4WD access), the trail climbs through wildflower-filled basin to Lavender Col at 13,500 feet. From there, climb steep scree to the base of the V-notch — a 30-foot class 3 chimney that's the route's crux. Past the notch, easier scrambling leads to the summit. 6.75 miles round trip.

What to Expect

The V-notch has loose rock that other climbers can knock down on you — wear a helmet and avoid climbing directly below others. The scree slope below the notch is the unpleasant section that grinds most climbers down.