Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point

Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point are the two fourteeners above Willow Lake on the western face of the Sangre de Cristo, climbed together from the town of Crestone in a long Class 3 day. Challenger comes first up a loose north slope; Kit Carson follows by way of the Avenue, a broad ledge that wraps the mountain with a thousand feet of air off its edge. Most parties camp at Willow Lake and make it two days.

From the Willow Creek trailhead at about 8,900 feet, the trail climbs long switchbacks through aspen and pine, then along Willow Creek, to Willow Lake at 11,580 feet, 4.5 miles in, with a waterfall pouring into its head. The trail rounds the north shore and climbs the drainage above the lake to the base of Challenger's north face.

The Challenger slope is a cairned Class 2+ gully of scree and ledges gaining about 2,000 feet to the summit ridge and the top at 14,081 feet. From there, descend southeast to the saddle and follow Kit Carson Avenue, the wide ledge, around the north and east sides of Kit Carson to a gully that climbs Class 3 rock to the summit at 14,165 feet. The return regains Challenger, so the day carries about 6,250 feet of total gain and 15 miles from the trailhead.

From the town of Crestone, follow the signed gravel road east about 2 miles to the Willow Creek trailhead; passenger cars manage it. The lot is small and fills on summer weekends. No fee or permit for day use. Camping at Willow Lake is restricted to designated sites and needs no permit.

No dogs on this one; the Avenue and the loose gully are no place for them, and the record here reflects that. Not a kid hike. Helmets for the gully, where parties above send rock down, and an early start to be ahead of them. Carry a filter; the lake is the last water. The waterfall at the lake's head is the campsite view. Crestone has a general store and cafes; Alamosa, an hour away, has the rest. The Kit Carson peak page and the Challenger Point page have the planning detail, and the Sangre de Cristo page covers the range.