San Luis Peak

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 9/25/2024, By: Marty-Mac
Info: Excellent sunny and warm conditions until afternoon brought white out snowy conditions, afternoon got at least 3 inches. A few downed trees encountered on our way down. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 8/29/2024, By: kcrow1482
Info: Trail is in great shape, full summer and easy to follow. I left my hiking poles in the parking area of the trailhead on 8/28. They are foldable, primarily black and pink, brand is LEXI. Please let me know if you have them at 719-749-8001. Thanks! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/4/2024, By: Mark Goldstein
Info: Beautiful summer conditions. Peak clear and dry and a very nice view of the San Juan Mountain range. Everyone coming from the south ridge. Saw one paraglider jump off summit and enjoyed the valley. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/21/2024, By: abmarchiani
Info: We camped 1/4 mile down the road past the trailhead. Toilet available. Only 5 cars at trailhead. Low-clearance minivan at trailhead. Along the trail below tree line, you will see beautiful wildflowers, willows, green grass and plants/bushes, beaver ponds, flowing creek, small waterfalls, and maybe a moose (my son saw one in the distance). Above tree line, green vegetation, wildflowers, willows, 13ers, and rocky formations. Straight ahead is not San Luis peak. San Luis sits behind this unnamed peak and you will see your destination after you begin the hike to the saddle. The first 5 miles are very gradual and the last 1.6 miles gains nearly 1700 feet. Great view from the first saddle. The view between the unnamed peak and San Luis to the north is amazing. Wetterhorn Peak and Uncompahgre Peak dominate the north view. Kudos to the family from Utah! A 67-year-old grandpa leading the way for his daughter and several teenage grandkids. What a joy to chat with this upbeat family! 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/20/2024, By: doeeth
Info: Theres no more water on the trail after you leave the stand of trees in the 1st basin you cross into after the first initial pass, so get your water early! Outstandingly beautiful hike with peak wildflowers right now. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/29/2024, By: JQDivide
Info: Trail mostly dry. Flowers starting to bloom. CR 503 still closed, use CR 504, which is probably a smoother ride. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/29/2024, By: JQDivide
Info: Trail mostly dry. Flowers starting to bloom. CR 503 still closed, use CR 504, which is probably a smoother ride. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/24/2024, By: astromuni
Info: Beautiful hike with 99% summer conditions. There were maybe a half dozen very short snow crossings, only a couple of which required any careful stepping. It may be fully dry in another week or so. Not much mud either. We made it to the upper trailhead in an outback without much difficulty. I scraped a couple times coming both up and down, but that would probably have been avoided by being a bit more slow and patient. water crossings were no big deal, despite recent heavy rain. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/23/2024, By: bryanf
Info: The route here was one of the longest that I have done at 14 miles. The elevation gain was moderate at 3600 feet from the trailhead, which means the trail was not very steep. The first nearly 5 miles were fun, easy hiking following the valley left by Stewart Creek. From there, we crossed the valley and the creek, and we began to switch back up to the ridgeline between San Luis Peak and the nearby Organ Mountain. Once we reached the Northeast ridge, the trail flattened out for a while before climbing again up some small talus. At this point, I noticed the clouds were moving East and pretty fast. Some of them were looking gray and dense. We hurried our way along another flat section before struggling up the homestretch to the summit. We spent maybe 20 minutes on the summit, taking pictures, drinking water and making a couple of phone calls. (yes, we had a signal!) At this point, it began to hail, so we packed up our stuff and rushed down from the top, passing a couple of trail runners who were on a loop. The hail picked up and came down hard for 15 minutes. This is the first time Ive experienced hail on a mountain climb! We kept moving and it began to slow down before stopping completely. From then on, it was overcast and the skies kept threatening to rain the entire way back, but it never broke out entirely. Times: Started at 7:10 am (Started at the Eddiesville Parking lot) Summitted at 11:50 am Left Summit at 12:15 pm Returned at 3:45 pm Snow: - One 100ft stretch of snow when switchbacking up to the ridge - Two 20ft sections of snow when crossing the bowl up to the summit. One was avoidable, but the other was less avoidable and a tiny bit sketchy. - Recommendation: No snow traction required. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/19/2024, By: j12miskin
Info: Made it to the 4wd trailhead in an outback. About a dozen snow crossings, almost all of which were very short, one or two of them are nice to have poles on, no spikes necessary. Summit ridge was very windy almost the entire time. Trail is pretty muddy/watery at times with runoff. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/19/2024, By: dean20170
Info: Mostly dry, but 13 snowfields to cross in both directions. With many thaw/freeze cycles, they're very hard in the morning (can't dig boot in at all), then slushy on the way out. Still, just used poles. Might consider going around the cornice at top of 2nd saddle vs glissading down...too hard packed to control speed. Pretty brutal wind going up the final shale part...much less wind if you drop off the side just 30' from the cairns. Be aware of frozen runoff in the trail in the morning. 2 moose fairly close to 4WD trailhead. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/21/2024, By: WinterisClimbing
Info: Almost summer conditions! For the trailhead on the south ridge, I can see how it's subaruable when it's dry, but it's pretty muddy and it has a couple stream crossings. 4wd vs awd isn't the issue here I'd say clearance is the biggest. Couple of snow fields on the trail, solid on the way up and post hole on the way down. One section on the 2nd pass that has a pretty steep snowfield. Overall get out there and enjoy it! 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/19/2024, By: Novicewhofailsmore
Info: Started fr lower TH. Should have drove to 4X4 TH but I didnt see the entry road. Lower TH makes summit and back 14 miles vs 11.5. I got within 1 1/2 miles fr summit. Didnt trust my stamina. Beautiful day, 9.8 miles hiked. Started at 9am as main road to TH is closed in Creede for rockslide. Diverted to west side of loop to get to TH. Snow in spots and another hiker told me the summit was very windy. Beautiful scenery whole way and San Luis Peak is gorgeous to look at. Moose poop is everywhere so b cautious. Next time Ill get it 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/14/2024, By: nubelc
Info: Like previous person said, mostly summer conditions. Around 4 snowfields which can easily be traversed as they are less than 20 feet long. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/12/2024, By: wmagnuson7
Info: The trail is in near summer conditions. 85% summer conditions, 10% muddy/wet and 5% snow fields. I would leave ice axe, snowshoes and spikes at home. Gaiters and poles optional. This was 14'er #23 and this was my favorite to this point! The trail is incredible and the scenery is gorgeous God Bless!