Crestone Peak
Encyclopedia
Crestone Peak is the seventh highest peak in the U.S. state
of Colorado
. It is the second highest peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range
after Blanca Peak
. It rises in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
above the east side of the San Luis Valley
along the boundary between Saguache
and Custer
counties, approximately 5 miles (8 km) east of the town of Crestone
. It shares its name with the nearby Crestone Needle
, another fourteener
of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The high peaks of Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle
, Kit Carson Mountain, and Humboldt Peak
are often referred to collectively as the Crestones
, as they are generally accessed from common trailheads.
of Crestone Peak Needle start from a base camp at South Colony Lakes, east of the peak, accessed from the Wet Mountain Valley
on the northeast side of the range. The route ascends from the lake, northward to a large relatively flat area called "The Pool Table" (a few large rocks lie on the tundra) or the "Bears' Playground." Then it ascends a long gully on the northwest side of Crestone Peak, which involves some rockfall
danger (hence a climbing helmet is suggested). Crestone Peak is one of the more dangerous fourteener climbs in Colorado; accidents occur often in the Crestones, some caused by falls or lightning (a daily summer occurrence in the Sangre de Cristos).
Alternatively, the Cottonwood Creek route begins in the San Luis Valley and approaches the Crestones
from the west. The route follows Cottonwood Creek to Cottonwood Lake. From there, the South Face route of Crestone Peak is accessible.
From Crestone Peak, it is a mildly technical (Class 4—rope recommended) ridge scramble
to the summit of Crestone Needle; similarly in the other direction. However Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle are more commonly climbed separately.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It is the second highest peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range
Sangre de Cristo Range
The Sangre de Cristo Range, called the East Range locally in the San Luis Valley, is a narrow mountain range of the Rocky Mountains running north and south along the east side of the Rio Grande Rift in southern Colorado in the United States...
after Blanca Peak
Blanca Peak
Blanca Peak is the highest peak of the Sierra Blanca Massif at the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the U.S. State of Colorado. It is the fourth highest peak of the Rocky Mountains, and the eighth highest peak in the contiguous United States....
. It rises in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is a long and narrow wilderness area covering much of the Sangre de Cristo Range centered about Saguache County and Custer County, Colorado. Smaller areas are located in the counties of Fremont, Alamosa, and Huerfano. All of the wilderness area is located on U.S...
above the east side of the San Luis Valley
San Luis Valley
The San Luis Valley is an extensive alpine valley in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico covering approximately and sitting at an average elevation of above sea level. The valley sits atop the Rio Grande Rift and is drained to the south by the Rio Grande River, which rises in the San Juan...
along the boundary between Saguache
Saguache County, Colorado
Saguache County is the seventh most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county name comes from a Ute language word meaning “blue earth” or “water at blue earth”. The county population was 5,917 at U.S. Census 2000...
and Custer
Custer County, Colorado
Custer County is the tenth least populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 3,503 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Westcliffe.- History :...
counties, approximately 5 miles (8 km) east of the town of Crestone
Crestone, Colorado
Crestone is a statutory town in Saguache County in Southwestern Colorado, United States. The population was 73 at the 2000 census. It is a small village at the foot of the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Range, in the northern part of the San Luis Valley. Crestone was a small mining town, but...
. It shares its name with the nearby Crestone Needle
Crestone Needle
Crestone Needle is one of the fourteeners of Colorado, in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Range. It is part of a group of four fourteeners known as "the Crestones", headed by Crestone Peak and also including Kit Carson Mountain and Humboldt Peak.While not as high as Crestone Peak, and connected...
, another fourteener
Fourteener
In mountaineering terminology in the United States, a fourteener is a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet above mean sea level. There are 547 fourteeners in the world. The importance of fourteeners is greatest in Colorado, which has the majority of such peaks in North America...
of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The high peaks of Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle
Crestone Needle
Crestone Needle is one of the fourteeners of Colorado, in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Range. It is part of a group of four fourteeners known as "the Crestones", headed by Crestone Peak and also including Kit Carson Mountain and Humboldt Peak.While not as high as Crestone Peak, and connected...
, Kit Carson Mountain, and Humboldt Peak
Humboldt Peak (Colorado)
Humboldt Peak is a high peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado. It is the least challenging climb of the Crestone group of fourteeners, which include Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, and Kit Carson Peak...
are often referred to collectively as the Crestones
Crestones
The Crestones are a group of four 14,000 foot peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Range above Crestone, Colorado, comprising:*Crestone Peak *Crestone Needle *Kit Carson Mountain...
, as they are generally accessed from common trailheads.
Climbing
Generally climbsClimbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
of Crestone Peak Needle start from a base camp at South Colony Lakes, east of the peak, accessed from the Wet Mountain Valley
Wet Mountain Valley
The Wet Mountain Valley is a high elevation mountain valley located in Custer County in south-central Colorado. The towns in the valley are Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, which are at an elevation of just under 8,000 feet...
on the northeast side of the range. The route ascends from the lake, northward to a large relatively flat area called "The Pool Table" (a few large rocks lie on the tundra) or the "Bears' Playground." Then it ascends a long gully on the northwest side of Crestone Peak, which involves some rockfall
Rockfall
Rockfall or rock-fall refers to quantities of rock falling freely from a cliff face. A rockfall is a fragment of rock detached by sliding, toppling, or falling, that falls along a vertical or sub-vertical cliff, proceeds down slope by bouncing and flying along ballistic trajectories or by rolling...
danger (hence a climbing helmet is suggested). Crestone Peak is one of the more dangerous fourteener climbs in Colorado; accidents occur often in the Crestones, some caused by falls or lightning (a daily summer occurrence in the Sangre de Cristos).
Alternatively, the Cottonwood Creek route begins in the San Luis Valley and approaches the Crestones
Crestones
The Crestones are a group of four 14,000 foot peaks in the Sangre de Cristo Range above Crestone, Colorado, comprising:*Crestone Peak *Crestone Needle *Kit Carson Mountain...
from the west. The route follows Cottonwood Creek to Cottonwood Lake. From there, the South Face route of Crestone Peak is accessible.
From Crestone Peak, it is a mildly technical (Class 4—rope recommended) ridge scramble
Scramble
Scramble may refer to:* Scramble , a 1981 arcade game* Scramble , an enemy of the Marvel Comics Canadian superhero team Alpha Flight* Scramble , a 1970 British drama film...
to the summit of Crestone Needle; similarly in the other direction. However Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle are more commonly climbed separately.
See also
- List of Colorado fourteeners
- Mountain peaks of ColoradoMountain peaks of ColoradoThis article comprises three sortable tables of the major mountain peaks of the U.S. State of Colorado.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface...
- Mountain ranges of ColoradoMountain ranges of ColoradoThe following table lists the major mountain ranges of the U.S. State of Colorado.-Mountain Ranges:-See also:*4000 meter peaks of Colorado*Colorado mountain passes*Geography of Colorado*Lists of mountains*Mountain peaks of Colorado...