Climbing the Five Fourteeners Near Lake City, Colorado

Written By The North Face Lodge

Five of Colorado's fourteeners (peaks over 14,000 feet) are close to Lake City: Handies, Redcloud, Sunshine, Uncompahgre, and Wetterhorn. A lot of our summer guests come to climb one.

If it's your first fourteener, pick Handies. If you're comparing peaks, start with the table below.

Which peak should you climb?

  • Your first fourteener: Handies Peak. It has a good trail to the top and the least climbing of the five.

  • Two summits in one day: Redcloud and Sunshine, connected by a ridge. Plan on about 12 miles.

  • The tallest peak in the San Juan Mountains: Uncompahgre.

  • Experienced and comfortable on steep rock: Wetterhorn. Don't make it your first.

  • Not ready for 14,000 feet this trip: Take a walk through town or along Henson Creek.

The five peaks at a glance

PeakDifficultyRound tripElevation gainTrailheadRoad to the trailhead
HandiesClass 15.75 miles2,500 ftAmerican Basin, just over 20 miles from townRough dirt road, then 4WD for the last mile
RedcloudClass 29 miles3,700 ftSilver Creek, about 20 miles from townMost vehicles can make it; higher clearance helps
Redcloud + SunshineClass 212.25 miles4,800 ftSilver CreekSame as Redcloud
UncompahgreClass 27.5 miles3,000 ftNellie Creek, about 9 miles from town4WD for the last 4 miles, with two creek crossings
WetterhornClass 37 miles3,300 ftMatterhorn Creek, about 12 miles from town4WD for the last 0.7 miles

  • Class 1 is a hiking trail.

  • Class 2 is rough, rocky ground where you'll use your hands for balance.

  • Class 3 means climbing rock with your hands, often with a drop below you. Elevation gain is the total height you climb; 3,000 feet is about 300 flights of stairs.

Handies Peak

The trail passes Sloan Lake, and the wildflowers in American Basin usually peak in mid to late July. Without a 4WD, you have two options. Park at the American Basin turnoff and walk the last stretch of road, which adds about 2 miles round trip and 300 feet of climbing. Or start at the Grizzly Gulch trailhead, across the lot from Redcloud's trailhead, which most cars can reach. That route is about 8 miles round trip with 3,650 feet of gain.

Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks

A ridge connects the two summits, so many climbers do both. Sunshine barely clears 14,000 feet, making it one of the lowest fourteeners in Colorado. On the way back from Sunshine, return over Redcloud. The shortcut that drops off the saddle between the two peaks looks inviting, but it's steep and loose, and hard to climb back out of once you're in it. Twelve miles at this elevation is a long day, so save it for later in your trip.

Uncompahgre Peak

At about 14,300 feet, Uncompahgre is the highest peak in the San Juans and the sixth highest in Colorado. Its north face is a cliff about 700 feet tall. The standard route is trail most of the way, with a short stretch of loose rock near the top. Without a 4WD you'll walk Nellie Creek Road too, and the round trip grows to 15 or 16 miles.

Wetterhorn Peak

The trail is easy to follow until the last few hundred feet. Then the route goes up a rock gully and a steep final pitch with a long drop below. Only climb what you know you can climb back down. Without a 4WD, park at the lower lot where Matterhorn Creek meets North Henson Road; it adds about 1.4 miles round trip. This isn't a peak for dogs.

Getting to the trailheads

Two roads out of town reach all five peaks. County Road 30 runs south past Lake San Cristobal to the trailheads for Handies, Redcloud, and Sunshine. Henson Creek Road (County Road 20) runs west to Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn. Both are part of the Alpine Loop, and both turn to dirt outside town.

No high-clearance vehicle? There's an OHV rental just down the street from the lodge. Please check local updates about OHV rules. Colorado doesn't accept permits from other states.

Mistakes we see every summer

Starting too late

Thunderstorms build over the San Juans most summer afternoons, and lightning is the biggest danger once you're above treeline (around 11,500 to 12,000 feet here). Be on the summit by late morning and heading down by noon. On the longer routes, that means leaving the trailhead before sunrise. If you hear thunder, turn around, even if the top looks close.

Not planning for rain

A clear sky at 5 a.m. tells you nothing about 1 p.m. Pack a rain jacket every day, plus a warm layer to wear under it. Wet and windy at 14,000 feet gets cold fast, even in August. Rain also makes the dirt roads slick, so give yourself extra time on the drive out.

Climbing the day you arrive

Lake City sits at nearly 8,700 feet, and every trailhead starts higher. Most people coming from lower elevations get winded on stairs and sleep poorly the first night. Give yourself a night or two in town before you climb, and drink more water than usual. On the trail, a bad headache, nausea, or dizziness can mean altitude sickness. Head down.

Underestimating the road

Handies, Uncompahgre, and Wetterhorn all have rough 4WD stretches before the trailhead, and Nellie Creek Road crosses the creek twice. A regular car can get stuck or damaged, and parking lower adds miles to your hike. Check the table above before you pick a peak.

Picking Wetterhorn first

It's a beautiful mountain, and the photos make it look doable. The class 3 finish is where people get in over their heads. Climb Handies or Uncompahgre first.

What to pack

  • Rain jacket and a warm layer

  • More water and food than you think you'll need

  • Sunscreen and sunglasses; the sun is stronger up high

  • A map downloaded to your phone, since cell service can drop out once you leave town

  • A headlamp for the pre-dawn start

Before and after your climb

Every room has a coffee maker with free coffee, so you can have a cup before a 4 a.m. start. On a rest day, the Lake City Bakery opens at 7 a.m. and sits right by the entrance to our parking lot.

All 14 rooms are on the first floor. Loading the car in the dark and hauling a pack back in after a long day doesn't involve any stairs. When you get back, take a seat on the deck. It has the best view of the town and the mountains in Lake City.

July and early August fill up fast, so book early.

Check out our rooms here!

Our Rooms


Sources

The North Face Lodge
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