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Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle
Sangre de Cristo Mountains from the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado
Kit Carson, Challenger, Crestone Peaks and Crestone Needle
Challenger Peak, Kit Carson and Columbia Point on the left,
Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle on the right,
taken from San Luis Lakes State Park.

The Crestones are among the most challenging mountains to climb in Colorado, the Needle being a bit harder than the Peak. They are also among the most popular with folks who like technical climbs. Humboldt is reputed to be a "walk-up."

All of them can be reached by a forest service road leading 5 miles in to the South Colony Lakes area, southwest of Westcliffe. This road is also reputed to be an axle breaker, surpassed in its' ability to do damage only by the Lake Como Road going up Mt. Blanca.

There's some 3,600 feet of elevation gain between South Colony Lakes and the summit of Crestone Peak. You can hike/climb for several miles around the mountains to get there or you can go straight to the 2,000 foot rock wall and have some fun.

There are also trails leading from the Crestone area on the west side of the Sangres that make certain climbs easier. Private property is a problem to be respected in this area. Most of the 14ers here are in the San Isabel National Forest, although the summits of Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point are on the Baca Grande, which is now owned by the National Park Service. The photos on this page were taken on the western side of the range.

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Crestone Peak from the west
Crestone Peak from the west
Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle
Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle from the south
Crestone Peak
Crestone Peak from near Crestone
Crestone Peak
Crestone Peak from the west
Mt. Cleveland
Mt. Cleveland, south of the Crestones
Cottonwood Creek drainage with Milwaukee Peak behind
Cottonwood Creek drainage with Milwaukee Peak
Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado
Challenger Point, Kit Carson Peak, Columbia Point, Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, left to right
Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle
Marble Mountain, Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Humboldt Peak, left to right
Crestone Peak area mapKit Carson Mountain
Crestone Peak-Crestone Needle area map
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Map courtesy of National Geographic Topo!
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