San Luis Peak • Hike • Colorado • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Jul 08 2022

ShatteredArm

Guides 12
Routes 192
Photos 863
Triplogs 356

42 male

Joined Nov 30 2015
Phoenix, AZ

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

Run/Jog		Jul 08 2022
		ShatteredArm • Triplogs 356

Run/Jog	12.08 Miles	3,369 AEG

Run/Jog	12.08 Miles	3 Hrs 44 Mns	3.34 mph
	3,369 ft AEG	7 Mns Break

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Eddiesville TH to San Luis Pass - CT #20

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Decided to check out San Luis Peak as much to visit the eastern San Juans, where I'd never ventured, as to summit the actual peak. Since I was up in the CB area, it seemed like a convenient opportunity to head down that way. Beetles have picked in mixed conifer forests in the Creede area clean at this point, and it looks like they're settling into the greater Lake City region.

Found a decent campsite about a mile south of the Equity Mine (active operation it seems), one of several in the area. Decent camping up there. Started for the peak at 7AM from Willow Creek TH (somehow not feeling the 5/6 of a sixpack I drank at my 10,500k foot campsite), took the steeper shortcut to connect with the CT. From here, there was a few hundred foot drop into some mature woods that I'm sure looked really pretty before the beetles ravaged them. Then a good stretch of runnable terrain with a couple little climbs up to saddles.

Once on the south ridge of San Luis, it gets nice and steep, and the mile+ hike to the summit took something like 35 minutes. TH to summit in 1:57, which I think is probably my fastest-paced 14er summit (thanks to the flat stretches), and possibly my fastest overall. Took in the views, which included the Elks, the main part of the San Juans, Sawatch, and the Sangres. It's not the most exciting 14er, but its isolation provides for a nice unobstructed overview of the SW corner of Colorado.

The way down provided for some nice easy running in the flat stretches, and a climb back up to the first saddle that I didn't really appreciate. Took the long way back (to San Luis Pass, then down Willow Creek trail). That last beer was fortuitously still cold when I finished.

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Sep 25 2021

DixieFlyer

Guides 99
Routes 1,485
Photos 16,072
Triplogs 1,375

male

Joined Jan 07 2017
Fountain Hills,

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

Hiking		Sep 25 2021
		DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,375

Hiking	11.40 Miles	3,501 AEG

Hiking	11.40 Miles	6 Hrs 6 Mns	2.32 mph
	3,501 ft AEG	1 Hour 11 Mns Break

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I have been wanting to hike San Luis Peak for a while, and I decided to head that way after hiking a couple of peaks in SE Utah.

I started the hike at the West Willow Springs TH and took the south ridge up to the summit. I chose this route mainly because it was easier to get to than the standard route: the TH was only 9-10 miles from Creede. Most of the drive from Creede is on a well graded dirt road that virtually any car can drive on, but a 4WD vehicle is needed for the last 1.5 miles or so.

I enjoyed the hike -- it was basically a class 1 walk on an easy-to-follow trail. The aspen trees were at their peak, which was a nice bonus!

There weren't many people on the trail even though it was a Saturday.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Grayleaf willow Quaking Aspen

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] White Tailed Deer

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bondholder Meadows San Luis Peak

Wildflowers Observation Light
There were a few wildflowers, but the aspen fall color is at its peak!

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Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there

2 archives

Sep 08 2017

toddak

Guides 13
Routes 38
Photos 1,651
Triplogs 577

60 male

Joined Nov 15 2005
Jackson, CA

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

Hiking		Sep 08 2017
		toddak • Triplogs 577

Hiking	16.50 Miles	4,000 AEG

Hiking	16.50 Miles	8 Hrs 30 Mns	1.94 mph
	4,000 ft AEG

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Hiked up Stewart Creek to the summit then back down Cochetopa Creek on the CT/CDT for a nice loop. No beaver sightings, but saw a couple moose (how can something so huge vanish into the forest so easily?). Loooong drive in to Eddiesville but the road is good, with two shallow creek crossings.

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Jul 22 2016

DallinW

Guides 1
Routes 105
Photos 1,740
Triplogs 228

33 male

Joined Feb 26 2015
Gilbert AZ

San Luis Peak Trail, CO

Hiking		Jul 22 2016
		DallinW • Triplogs 228

Hiking	2.82 Miles	1,395 AEG

Hiking	2.82 Miles	1 Hour 43 Mns	2.38 mph
	1,395 ft AEG	32 Mns Break

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San Luis Peak

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This one is a gimme if you're doing the Colorado Trail. Given how hard the THs for this peak are to access, it would be a shame NOT to do it if you're already on the CT.

We woke up at 5am about 7.5 miles away from the saddle at around 10,300ft. Because the daily mountain monsoon thunderstorms had started, we quickly headed for the saddle of San Luis where the CT and San Luis Peak Trail intersect. We started with blue bird skies but we knew they wouldn't last for long.

After hitting the saddle at about 12,600ft, we dropped the packs, ate some snacks, grabbed the essentials (water and camera), and made for the summit.

We made it up in 40 mins, not a particularly hard 14er. The hardest part was carrying our packs to the saddle.

The views on top are expansive. Crested Butte area to the north, Colliegate Peaks to the northwest, Saguache Park to the west, and the San Juans in ever other direction.

We could see most of the sections of the CT we've been working through. Colliegate West all the way to where we were, and beyond to where we are going next in the San Juans.

The blue bird skies changed to dark clouds as we took a break on the summit. Hail on the way down, thunder/lightning by the time we reached the saddle/CT again, all before noon.

From there we put in another 10 miles on the CT with another ~2,500ft of AEG, while dodging thunderstorms on the ridgelines and passes.

Honestly, bagging this peak was probably the easiest part of our day. Just do it if you ever get the chance.

In Lake City now, less than 130 miles of CT left.

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Sep 24 2013

Jim

Guides 73
Routes 176
Photos 10,174
Triplogs 2,324

46 male

Joined Sep 08 2006

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

San Luis Peak

San Luis Valley, CO

Hiking		Sep 24 2013
		Jim • Triplogs 2,324

Hiking	13.00 Miles	3,800 AEG

Hiking	13.00 Miles	6 Hrs 15 Mns	2.08 mph
	3,800 ft AEG

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A bit stiff after "sleeping" on the cold ground with a low of 21 degrees, and the snow and mud made hiking quite hard at altitude. It was a very pleasant day, and excellent winter views made distant peaks like Uncomphagre, the Grenadiers, the Sawatch, the Crestones and Blanca Massif, all very nice to see. First time in snow in almost a year. Didn't miss it, but it was 90 a couple of weeks ago. Very nice area, and a moose was spotted. The hike felt like an early December hike on Humphrey, and not an early Fall hike in Colorado, but I suspect last year's warm, dry, sunny weather might have been rare.

I had wanted to hike this for some time, both because I liked the look of it, it reminds me of "home", there is bristlecone there, and I got to use my car to get to it. It was necessary on the muddy drive in. Helped leaving, too. I was happy that I didn't have problems at altitude, as I live lower now than I have in the previous 6 years, but I did not have the strength I used to have up high. It could have been from the cold, the snow, or just being stiff from camping.

Being in snow was fun, but also not. Knee deep with summer pants, summer shoes, but I had wool socks. Makes me question if I really want to do a peak, Humphrey or any other, in winter. Maybe I'll get used to it, but I tend to forget the hardship and remember the beauty of a winter summit. Cold air, slippery snow and the challenge of it are better experienced when training in it. Today was fun, but in January on another mountain? I don't know.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bristlecone Pine

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Moose Sheep

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Sep 23 2013

Jim

Guides 73
Routes 176
Photos 10,174
Triplogs 2,324

46 male

Joined Sep 08 2006

Stewart Creek, CO

Hiking		Sep 23 2013
		Jim • Triplogs 2,324

Hiking	5.00 Miles	600 AEG

Hiking	5.00 Miles	2 Hrs 30 Mns	2.00 mph
	600 ft AEG

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San Luis Peak

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Got to the trailhead and despite the cold wind, I opted to go for a short hike. I went up to the creek crossing, and turned back from there. This first few miles is the most level of the San Luis Peak Hike. It felt more like January, than September. Got back and set up camp, and remembered that I don't really like camping, especially in the cold. It was cold!

	Stewart Creek	Heavy flow	Heavy flow
	Lots of beaver dams and huts. Tons of water, but you'll want to filter.

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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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