Blanca Peak

Overview Photos Routes Map Trip Reports FAQ

Blanca is the 4th highest peak in Colorado and towers over the San Luis Valley, in the southern, central portion of the state. This massive "valley" covers 8,000 square miles, with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Sangres) to the east and the San Juan Mountains to the west. If you visit Alamosa or Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, it doesn't matter which part of the state you drive from because once you reach the San Luis Valley, you'll be able to see the might Blanca Peak. Climbing Blanca is no small feat. While the standard route has a trail almost all the way to the top, it still requires over 6,000 feet of elevation gain because the trailhead is quite low. Blanca is not a 14er you start out with — there are over 30 easier Colorado 14ers. When you do get to Blanca, be sure to include Blanca's little brother, Ellingwood Point but be careful of the dangerous Little Bear Peak.

Elevation 14,350' (LiDAR)

Prev Elevation 14,345'

CO 14er Rank 4 of 53

Range Sangre de Cristo

Forests Rio Grande / San Isabel

Lat / Lon 37.57753, -105.48569

Counties Alamosa, Huerfano, Costilla

Towns Fort Garland, Blanca, Alamosa

Planning Weather
Conditions (8/6/2026)
Cell Reception

More Member Ascents (6,511)
GPX Library (30)
Climb Times

Other 14ers in Group

Little Bear Peak Peak

Ellingwood Point

Photos

360° Summit Pano

Member Contributed Photos

Peak 64 Aerial Photos 3 Sunrise and Sunsets 3 Wildflowers, plants, trees 1 Waterfalls, lakes, rivers 8 Rocks, geology 4

Climbing Routes

		Lake Como Approach Difficulty: Class 1 Total Elevation Gain: 3,900' Round-trip Distance: 11 mi	Exposure: Low Rockfall Potential: Low Route-Finding: Low Commitment: Low
		Blanca Peak - Northwest Ridge Standard Route Difficulty: Difficult Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 6,500' Round-trip Distance: 17 mi	Exposure: Considerable Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: Moderate Commitment: Considerable
		Ellingwood Point - South Face Standard Route Difficulty: Difficult Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 6,200' Round-trip Distance: 17 mi	Exposure: Considerable Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Considerable
		Little Bear Peak - West Ridge and Hourglass Standard Route Difficulty: Class 4 Total Elevation Gain: 6,200' Round-trip Distance: 14 mi	Exposure: High Rockfall Potential: High Route-Finding: High Commitment: High
		Combo: Blanca and Ellingwood Difficulty: Class 3 Total Elevation Gain: 6,800' Round-trip Distance: 18 mi	Exposure: Considerable Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Considerable
		Combo: Little Bear + Blanca Traverse Difficulty: Class 5 Total Elevation Gain: 8,000' Round-trip Distance: 17 mi	Exposure: Extreme Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: High Commitment: Extreme
		Ellingwood Point - Southwest Ridge Difficulty: Class 3 Total Elevation Gain: 2,200' Round-trip Distance: 15 mi	Exposure: High Rockfall Potential: High Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Considerable
		Ellingwood Point - North Ridge via South Zapata Creek Difficulty: Easy Class 3 Total Elevation Gain: 5,200' Round-trip Distance: 12.5 mi	Exposure: Considerable Rockfall Potential: High Route-Finding: High Commitment: High
		Little Bear Peak - West Ridge Indirect Difficulty: Class 4 Total Elevation Gain: 6,200' Round-trip Distance: 14 mi	Exposure: Extreme Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: High Commitment: High

Map

Trip Reports

8 Recent Reports	Peaks	Climbed	Added
Quest to 100 / Part 4: Late Summer Deception and I Cannot Read Metric / #53 to #69 By: notidealbutfine Peak(s): Grizzly Peak, Mt. Hope, Uncompahgre Peak, Wetterhorn Peak, Cronin Peak, "Phoenix Peak", Redcloud Peak, Handies Peak, Little Bear Peak, Mt. Lindsey, Mt. Oklahoma, Blanca Peak, Ellingwood Point, Sunshine Peak, Unnamed 13838 Added: 12/15/2025	Grizzly Peak Mt. Hope Uncompahgre Peak Wetterhorn Peak Cronin Peak "Phoenix Peak" Redcloud Peak Handies Peak Little Bear Peak Mt. Lindsey Mt. Oklahoma Blanca Peak Ellingwood Point Sunshine Peak Unnamed 13838	8/31/2025	12/15/2025	5	14
Blanca ..getting in and out By: ryanchrys Peak(s): Blanca Peak, Ellingwood Point Added: 10/22/2025	Blanca Peak Ellingwood Point	10/21/2025	10/22/2025	9	14
6 Peaks in 7 Days By: texaseagle16 Peak(s): Mt. Lindsey, Blanca Peak, Ellingwood Point, Little Bear Peak, Mt. Massive, Mt. of the Holy Cross Added: 8/15/2025	Mt. Lindsey Blanca Peak Ellingwood Point Little Bear Peak Mt. Massive Mt. of the Holy Cross	8/4/2025	8/15/2025	5	50
Blanca X Ellingwood Traverse - Ridge Direct By: chrishjunge Peak(s): Blanca Peak, Ellingwood Point Added: 8/13/2025	Blanca Peak Ellingwood Point	8/12/2025	8/13/2025	5	26
Tour de 14ers Bikepack - Summer 2025 By: Cool Hand Luke Peak(s): Mt. Elbert, Blanca Peak, Uncompahgre Peak, Mt. Lincoln, Castle Peak, Mt. Blue Sky, Mt. Wilson, All 58 14ers Added: 8/11/2025	Mt. Elbert Blanca Peak Uncompahgre Peak Mt. Lincoln Castle Peak Mt. Blue Sky Mt. Wilson All 58 14ers	6/16/2025	8/11/2025	15	50
Ellingwood Point Southwest Ridge + Blanca By: Mjarjoura Peak(s): Ellingwood Point, Blanca Peak Added: 7/31/2025	Ellingwood Point Blanca Peak	7/30/2025	7/31/2025	3	7
Solo Winter LB-Blanca Traverse By: bthulick Peak(s): Little Bear Peak, Blanca Peak Added: 7/15/2025	Little Bear Peak Blanca Peak	2/6/2025	7/15/2025	11	19
Como Se Dice Self-Inflicted Stockholm Syndrome By: HikesInGeologicTime Peak(s): Blanca Peak, Ellingwood Point, Hagar Mountain, Little Bear Peak Added: 5/20/2025	Blanca Peak Ellingwood Point Hagar Mountain Little Bear Peak	6/7/2020	5/20/2025	4

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Frequently Asked Questions about Blanca Peak

What makes Lake Como Road up to Blanca and Ellingwood so notorious?

Lake Como Road is widely considered the most brutal, vehicle-destroying 4WD road in Colorado. It features extreme, named rock obstacles like "Jaws 1 through 4" that will instantly high-center or flip standard SUVs. Unless you possess a highly modified, rock-crawling rig with massive tires and locking differentials, you must park standard 2WD or vehicles at the lower lot (around 8,000 feet) and normal 4WD vehicles near 9,000 feet, and backpack the remaining 5 to 7 miles up the unrelenting, loose-rock road to reach Lake Como. However, some stock 4WD vehicles crawl as high as 10,000 feet on the road and park along the road.

Are Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point suitable for beginner 14er hikers?

No, both peaks sit at the upper limit of Class 2 difficulty and should not be attempted by beginners. Above 13,400', the trails completely dissolve into boulder fields and talus. The final summit pushes require route-finding, steady balance over shifting rock blocks, and a high level of physical stamina to manage the elevation gain.

Can I climb both Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point in the same day?

Because both peaks wrap around the same upper basin, most climbers bag them as a single "doubleheader" day trip from a base camp at Lake Como. That means first packing in to Lake Como and setting up a camp. On peak day, the standard method is to ascend Blanca Peak first via its Northwest Ridge, drop back down the trail to the high ridge saddle at 13,800 feet, and then navigate the rugged traverse across the connecting ridge to Ellingwood Point. This saves you from having to descend all the way back to 13,400 feet to start the second peak.

Do I need a bear canister or special food storage when camping at Lake Como?

While bear canisters are not legally mandated, hanging your food or using an animal-proof container is highly recommended. The Lake Como basin is heavily populated with aggressive marmots, mice, and porcupines that will easily chew through tent fabric and backpacks to reach food or salt from sweat-stained gear. Bears also frequent the drainage, so all food, trash, and scented items should be secured well away from your sleeping area.

Additional Blanca Peak History

Name History 1 Climbing History 1

Mining 0

Geology 1

More Information 0

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