Colorado 14ers: Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle and Humbolt Peak
Scale three lofty summits on this route in the sheer contours of the Sangre de Cristo Range, including the signature, knobby face of Crestone Peak.
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-Mapped by Lisa Heckel
Trail Facts
- Distance: 16.6
Waypoints
HUM001
Location: 37.964485168457, -105.561065673828
Head N between South Colony Lakes; traverse the lower SW slopes of Humboldt
CCH001
Location: 37.9645004272461, -105.546005249023
From 4WD parking area, head SW on old road toward the rocky E face of Broken Hand Peak
HUM002
Location: 37.9694709777832, -105.567901611328
Start switchback climb to Humboldt’s W ridge; views of Upper South Colony Lake (to the W) provide a picturesque backdrop
CCH002
Location: 37.9617004394531, -105.55770111084
Continue N into Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. In .2 mi., turn L to climb Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak
HUM003
Location: 37.9709396362305, -105.567398071289
Continue climb to ridge; more great views of South Colony Lakes and Crestone Needle
CCH003
Location: 37.9634284973144, -105.559555053711
Keep L @ Y. To climb Humbolt Peak, bear R and head NW
HUM004
Location: 37.9733581542969, -105.568199157715
Veer R on ridge; follow switchback trail toward false summit
CCH004
Location: 37.9637908935547, -105.562400817871
Skirt the S shore of Lower South Colony Lake. Follow climber’s trail to begin ascent up small bowl to Broken Hand Pass, which lies between the rising pillars of Broken Hand Peak and Crestone Needle
HUM005
Location: 37.9754981994629, -105.558700561523
Continue NE over false summit to reach Humboldt’s true summit
CCH005
Location: 37.9593238830566, -105.570030212402
Scramble up a narrow couloir with seasonal snow to reach Broken Hand Pass
HUM006
Location: 37.976188659668, -105.555000305176
Humboldt Peak (14,064 ft.): Look to the SW for dramatic Crestones skyline, a stark contrast to E views of flat, Wet Mountain Valley
CCH006
Location: 37.9587593078613, -105.571098327637
Turn R @ Broken Hand Pass to summit Crestone Needle’s S face. To tackle Crestone Peak, continue straight for descent to Cottonwood Lake
CCH007
Location: 37.9593391418457, -105.572196960449
Traverse the ridge’s W side, following climber’s trail; great views overlooking Cottonwood Lake
CCH008
Location: 37.9619293212891, -105.574203491211
Turn L on saddle to reach the E and W couloir
CCH009
Location: 37.961799621582, -105.575103759766
From the E (right) couloir, cross over to W (left) couloir; continue Class 3 climb to summit ridge
CCH010
Location: 37.9628715515137, -105.575698852539
From the top of the couloir, begin NW scramble to the Needle’s summit
CCH011
Location: 37.9645309448242, -105.576499938965
Crestone Needle (14,197 ft.): Reward yourself with rare, eye-level views of jagged Crestone Peak to the NW and Humboldt Peak to the NE
CCH012
Location: 37.9581108093262, -105.576202392578
Head W; traverse the grassy banks of Cottonwood Lake under rocky slopes
CCH013
Location: 37.958251953125, -105.583106994629
Head N to begin ascent of Crestone Peak’s S face
CCH014
Location: 37.9619293212891, -105.583999633789
From the bottom of the red couloir, scramble up rocky face on E side of couloir
CCH015
Location: 37.9669609069824, -105.584503173828
From the top of the red couloir, turn L for final scramble to the summit
CCH016
Location: 37.966869354248, -105.585296630859
Crestone Peak (14,294 ft.): Savor the sky-high perspectives from this rugged summit; stark, barren peaks drop dramatically to the flat San Luis Valley to the W and Wet Mountain Valley to the E
