Colorado 14ers Near Durango
Peaks over 14,000 feet in the San Juan mountain range of the Southern Rockies
Colorado is full of high mountain peaks to climb and explore. There are 58 across the state that qualify as fourteeners or 14ers, with peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation. Fourteeners bring a fun challenge to the table for outdoor enthusiasts and even beginner hikers. They can vary in length and accessibility, making each experience truly unique. In the San Juan Mountains, there are 12 official fourteeners and 2 unofficial or “unranked” fourteeners.
The San Juan Mountains
The mountain ranges in the state of Colorado make up the Southern Rockies, a major subregion of the Rocky Mountains. The primary range in the southwest is the San Juan Mountains, which is home to fourteen peaks over 14,000 feet. Some of the secondary ranges that make up the San Juans include the San Miguel Mountains, Sneffels Range, Needle Mountains, and La Plata Mountains.
View from Windom Peak
The Needle Mountains
The Needle Mountain subrange, adjacent to the La Platas, is one of the closest of the San Juans to Durango. The 14er peaks in this region are usually grouped together and climbed in the same day. The most common way to reach these is via Durango train utilizing the wilderness access stop at Needleton. These peaks are located in the Weminuche Wilderness.
Weminuche Wilderness
View of Sunlight Peak from Windom Peak
1. Sunlight Peak
Sunlight Peak: 14,059 ft. Sunlight Peak is around 28 miles North of Durango. The most common route to access the peak is the South Face route, ranked at a class 4 difficulty level. In total, the trek is 17 miles and involves a 6,000 foot elevation gain. You get a good view of this summit from its neighbor, Windom Peak, which is a great place to watch the sunrise if you ever have the chance.
2. Windom Peak
Windom Peak: 14,092 ft. Windom Peak is more remote than Sunlight Peak and not near any roads. The standard route for this hike is West Ridge, with a distance of 17 miles ranked at a class 2 difficulty. These peaks also gather nicely around Sunlight Lake, one of the many beautiful mountainous lakes you’ll find formed by the Rocky Mountains. In the adjacent photo you can also see how the Needle Mountains got their name; these guys are pointy.
Mt. Eolus and North Eolus peaks next to each other
3. Mt. Eolus & 4. North Eolus*
Mt. Eolus: 14,083 ft. & North Eolus: 14,039 ft. (unofficial) Both are also accessible via Durango Train wilderness access at the Needleton stop. Accessing Mount Eolus is most commonly done via the Northeast Ridge route, with a 6,100 foot elevation gain over a 17 mile, class 3 hike. North Eolus is most commonly accessed via South Ridge, with a 6,000 foot elevation gain over a 16.75 mile, class 3 hike. Choose one to hike and you can access the other from near the summit, adding only around a quarter mile to your trip.
North Eolus is considered an unofficial peak in the category of Colorado 14ers because its prominence is only 212 feet (less than 300), but for the sake of comprehensivity, we are still including it in this list. It is one of the five unofficial fourteeners in the state.
El Diente Peak
San Miguel Mountains
The Wilson Group consists of three 14ers in the San Miguel Mountains located within close proximity of one another within the same massif: Mt. Wilson, El Diente Peak and Wilson Peak. These 14ers are about 13 miles southwest of Telluride in the Lizard Head Wilderness. Many hikers choose to tackle both Mt. Wilson and El Diente Peak in the same day. Wilson Peak is typically done on a separate day, and the summit boasts some of the most vast views you will find in the San Juans.
Mt. Wilson & El Diente Peak seen from Gladstone Peak
5. Mt. Wilson
Mt. Wilson: 14,246 ft Elevation. Mt. Wilson is most commonly accessed on the North Slopes route. This route is approximately 16 miles long with a total elevation gain of 5,100 feet. It is ranked among the top ten most difficult Colorado 14ers to summit. The ascent typically requires an ice axe and crampons and is more of a climb than a hike, recommended only for the experienced. There are some permanent snowfields in this area, and the basin is sometimes referred to as the Navajo Glacier.
View of El Diente Peak
6. El Diente Peak*
El Diente Peak: 14,159 ft Elevation. Due to their close proximity, El Diente Peak is often paired with Mt. Wilson and summited on the same day. It is also accessed via the North Slopes route. This Colorado 14er gets its name from its shape: el diente is spanish for the tooth. One of the more difficult routes among the fourteeners, El Diente’s slope is dramatically steep. The ridge between it and Mt. Wilson is about 3/4 of a mile long and presents a significant climbing challenge.
El Diente’s topographic prominence is 239 feet. Technically speaking, for high peaks to be considered official fourteeners, they must be at least 300 feet higher than the low point. By this rule it would not be considered a separate peak from Mt. Wilson, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the climb. Other “unranked” 14ers in Colorado include Mt. Cameron, Challenger Point, and Conundrum Peak.
Wilson Peak on the left
7. Wilson Peak
Wilson Peak: 14,017 ft Elevation. The highest peak of the Wilson Massif, Wilson Peak is accessed via Southwest Ridge. Starting from the Rock of Ages Trailhead, it’s a 10 mile hike with 3,800 feet of elevation gain. It is ranked at a class 3 difficulty. While this peak and the nearby Mt. Wilson were named after the chief topographer of the area, the indigenous name for the mountain is Shandoka, translated to Storm Maker.
8. Mt. Sneffels
Mt. Sneffels: 14,153 ft.The titular Sneffels Range is dominated by the queen of the San Juans herself, Mount Sneffels. There are two common routes – The Standard Route and The Southwest Ridge. If you start at the upper trailhead, it’s a 3 mile hike gaining 1,750 feet. If you start at the restroom parking area, it’ll be a 6.5 mile hike gaining 2,950 feet in elevation. Mount Sneffels is a class 3, moderately difficult hike.
Alpine Loop 14ers
The southernmost areas of the North-Central region of the San Juan Mountains are referred to as the Redcloud Area and Handies Area, referencing two of the high peaks that dominate the region. Views of these mountains and several hike options can be obtained on the Alpine Loop between Silverton and Lake City.
Alpine Loop
9. Handies Peak
Handies Peak: 14,058 ft. One of the most popular Colorado 14ers in the area, Handies Peak can be reached via Cinnamon Pass on the Alpine Loop. To access this peak, you’ll either need a 4WD vehicle with good clearance or you must park below the trailhead and hike an additional 0.9 miles. If you start at trailhead, it is a 5.5 mile hike, gaining 2,500 feet in elevation. It’s ranked as a class 1 difficulty, making it one of the easiest hikable 14ers in the area.
10. Redcloud Peak
Redcloud Peak: 14,034 ft. This peak and its neighboring Sunshine Peak are often considered a “twofer” of 14ers that are both reachable in a day hike. They are located within the Redcloud Peak Wilderness Study Area, which contains both of these 14ers as well as 30 other peaks over 13,000 feet in elevation. It’s a gorgeous area to explore in the summertime.
11. Sunshine Peak
Sunshine Peak: 14,001 ft. Just about a mile south of Redcloud Peak is Sunshine Peak, located in the same Wilderness Study Area. At just one foot over 14,000, it is the shortest of Colorado’s fourteeners, but its topographic prominence is 481 feet – enough to differentiate it completely from Redcloud Peak.
Uncompahgre National Forest, August 1985
North-Central San Juans
The North-Central region of the San Juan mountain range borders the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Elk Range to the north. This region is comprised of some of the most geologically complex parts of the entire Rocky Mountains range. In addition to the 14ers below, it is also home to severaly noteworthy mountains over 13,000 feet like Coxcomb Peak, Precipice Peak, and Courthouse Mountain.
Uncompahgre Peak at Twilight
12. Uncompahgre Peak
Uncompahgre Peak: 14,309 ft. Located in the Uncompahgre National Forest, Uncompahgre Peak is the sixth highest peak in Colorado and one of the most iconic in the state, due to its distinctive shape; the summit is flatter than most in the Rockies. Its unique name is from the Ute language and means dirty water or red water spring – likely a reference to the hot springs of the area.
View of Wetterhorn & Matterhorn peaks from Uncompahgre Summit
13. Wetterhorn Peak
Wetterhorn Peak: 14,021 ft. The summit of Wetterhorn is known for it spire-like shape and the exciting final scramble required to reach the top. Like it’s neighbor Matterhorn, its name is German in origin and means weather horn. Both peaks are named after similarly shaped mountains in the Swiss Alps.
La Garita Mountains
14. San Luis Peak
San Luis Peak: 14,022 ft. Located just north of the Colorado Trail in the La Garita Wilderness, San Luis Peak is part of Gunnison National Forest. It is the easternmost fourteener in the San Juan Mountains and sits in the remote wilderness. Those hiking the Colorado Trail might choose to summit the peak via one of two fairly straightforward climbs; both options are less than 14 miles roundtrip.
Difficulty: Class Rankings
14ers are ranked on the Yosemite Decimal System, which uses “classes” to rank hikes from 1 (easiest) to 5 (most difficult).
- Class 1: Easier hikes, sometimes on a good trail.
- Class 2: Slightly more challenging hikes with some off-trail trekking.
- Class 3: Hikes requiring you to utilize your hands to hold on to portions of the terrain and more steep climbs.
- Class 4: Difficult hikes involving climbing, handholds and footholds, rope and other equipment.
- Class 5: Technical hikes that will require rope, belaying, rock climbing, and more.
While Colorado 14ers near Durango offer incredible views of the mountain ranges, you’ll want to be careful and prepare your body so you do not experience altitude sickness. Check out our tips for vacationing at a high altitude to find out how to get your body ready.
*Every year the Bureau of Land Management Colorado implements seasonal closures of trail access across the state to reduce disturbance to wintering wildlife. These closures usually take place between December & April. Please see BLM Colorado's interactive map of seasonal closures before planning your outdoor activities.