La Plata Peak

Overview Photos Routes Map Trip Reports FAQ

"La Plata" is Spanish for "The Silver" because of the many silver deposits in the area and nearby ghost towns were prominent mining towns back in the early 1900s. If you drive Colorado 82 over Independence Pass, between Leadville and Aspen, stop at the pass and look south to see La Plata Peak. It's an incredible view of a rugged Colorado 14er. To climb La Plata Peak, the trailhead is just off the side of the paved Colorado 82 highway. But this easy access doesn't mean La Plata gives up it's summit easily. The standard, Northwest Ridge route is relatively short, except that in the 4.5+ mile climb to the summit, you need to gain 4,500 feet of elevation.

Elevation 14,344' (LiDAR)

Prev Elevation 14,336'

CO 14er Rank 5 of 53

Range Sawatch

Forest San Isabel

Lat / Lon 39.02949, -106.47300

County Chaffee

Towns Twin Lakes, Leadville, Buena Vista, Aspen

Planning Weather
Conditions (8/22/2026)
Cell Reception

More Member Ascents (12,174)
GPX Library (28)
Climb Times

Photos

360° Summit Pano

Member Contributed Photos

Peak 127 Aerial Photos 3 Sunrise and Sunsets 5 Wildflowers, plants, trees 3 Waterfalls, lakes, rivers 1 Wildlife in Colorado 5 Rocks, geology 4

Climbing Routes

		La Plata Peak - Northwest Ridge Standard Route Difficulty: Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 4,400' Round-trip Distance: 9.25 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Moderate Route-Finding: Low Commitment: Moderate
		La Plata Peak - Southwest Ridge Difficulty: Class 2 Total Elevation Gain: 3,600' Round-trip Distance: 7.5 mi	Exposure: Moderate Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: Considerable Commitment: Moderate
		La Plata Peak - Ellingwood Ridge Difficulty: Class 3 Total Elevation Gain: 5,900' Round-trip Distance: 9.5 mi	Exposure: High Rockfall Potential: High Route-Finding: High Commitment: High
		La Plata Peak - North Face Difficulty: Difficult Class 2 Moderate Snow Total Elevation Gain: 4,500' Round-trip Distance: 8.75 mi	Exposure: Considerable Rockfall Potential: Considerable Route-Finding: High Commitment: Considerable

Map

Trip Reports

8 Recent Reports	Peaks	Climbed	Added
La Plata - Southwest Ridge By: jared29 Peak(s): La Plata Peak Added: 7/27/2026	La Plata Peak	7/25/2026	7/27/2026	1	5
Ellingwood Ridge to Sayers BM By: Camden7 Peak(s): La Plata Peak, Sayres Benchmark, Unnamed 13440, Ellingwood Ridge Added: 7/22/2026	La Plata Peak Sayres Benchmark Unnamed 13440 Ellingwood Ridge	6/20/2026	7/22/2026	8	25
The closest I ever came to death, DKA at 14,000ft By: MMAfightingClimber Peak(s): La Plata Peak Added: 2/4/2026	La Plata Peak	12/16/2024	2/4/2026	10	8
La Plata Peak - Southwest Ridge By: htownbrewer Peak(s): La Plata Peak Added: 9/18/2025	La Plata Peak	9/9/2025	9/18/2025	3	5
La Plata from the South By: Paul M Peak(s): La Plata Peak Added: 8/1/2025	La Plata Peak	7/31/2025	8/1/2025	6	12
Avoiding Lightning at 14200 ft By: GregoryPeterson Peak(s): La Plata Peak Added: 7/9/2025	La Plata Peak	7/8/2025	7/9/2025	9	6
Quest to 100 / Part 2: Bagging the Big Boys Before the Summer Swarms / #20 to #33 By: notidealbutfine Peak(s): Mt. Yale, La Plata Peak, Pikes Peak, Fletcher Mountain, Mt. Elbert, "Lackawanna", Torreys Peak, Mt. Blue Sky, Mt. Democrat, Mt. Sherman Added: 6/2/2025	Mt. Yale La Plata Peak Pikes Peak Fletcher Mountain Mt. Elbert "Lackawanna" Torreys Peak Mt. Blue Sky Mt. Democrat Mt. Sherman	4/25/2025	6/2/2025	5	44
Memorial Day Ski Weekend 2025 By: ajeski Peak(s): La Plata Peak, Conundrum Peak, Castle Peak, Cathedral Peak Added: 6/7/2025	La Plata Peak Conundrum Peak Castle Peak Cathedral Peak	5/23/2025	6/7/2025	4	21

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Frequently Asked Questions about La Plata Peak

How steep is the standard trail up La Plata Peak?

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.

Can a standard car make it to the standard La Plata Peak Trailhead?

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.

What happens if the standard La Plata Peak parking lot is full?

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.

Can I filter and drink the stream water along the La Plata Peak trails?

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.

Additional La Plata Peak History

Name History 1

Climbing History 0

Mining 0

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