La Plata Peak - 14,344 Feet

The standard Northwest Ridge route is steep and unrelenting. Unlike some 14ers that feature a long, flat approach valley, La Plata forces you to climb roughly 4,500 vertical feet in a relatively short 4.75 miles to the summit. The middle section of the trail consists of a relentless staircase of steep, high-friction rock switchbacks that will test your knee durability and quad strength, making it feel much tougher than its Class 2 rating suggests.

Yes. The standard Northwest Ridge route begins at the La Plata Peak Trailhead located directly off Colorado Highway 82 on the way up Independence Pass. The turn-off and parking lot are fully paved and easily accessible to all standard 2WD passenger vehicles. You do not need a 4WD vehicle to access this trailhead.

The trailhead parking off Highway 82 holds about 10-15 cars and fills up early on summer weekends. If it is full, you are permitted to park legally along the paved shoulder of Highway 82. However, you must ensure your vehicle is completely off the road to avoid getting ticketed or towed by the state patrol.

No, you should avoid drinking the stream water here. The waterways around La Plata Peak, including the South Fork of Lake Creek and local gulch streams, suffer from severe natural and historical mining contamination. They carry high concentrations of toxic heavy metals that standard backcountry backpacking filters and chemical tablets cannot remove. You should pack in all the fresh drinking water you will need for the entire day.