Stewart Peak

From Lake City head south on Colorado 149 for 10 miles. Just before Slumgullion Pass turn left (north) into FS 788 (Los Pinos-Cebolla Road). Start measuring from this point. Continue for 15.2 miles until you reach a 3-way junction where you will turn south ((right) and continue on FS 788. Go straight(left) at mile 16.4, climb east, cross Pinos Pass at mile 21.0 and turn south (right) onto FS 790 at mile 22.1. Turn east and cross Los Pinos Creek at mile 27.2 and reach the Trailhead at mile 28.5

If coming from the north, turn south onto Colorado 114 from U.S. 50 (33.0 miles west of Monarch Pass or 7.5 miles east of Gunnison). Go 20 miles south on Colorado 114 and turn right onto Saguache County NN14 (BLM 3083). Go 3.5 miles south on Saguache County NN14 and turnright (west) into BLM 3084, which continues as FS 788. Start measuring from here. Go straight (left) at mile 8.8 and continue on FS 790, which is also called Big Meadows Road. Pass Blue Park, go straight (right) at Big Meadows at mile 19.0 and continue on FS 790. Pass Willow Park at mile 21.5 and reach Cebolla Trailhead at mile 22.8

This is not the standard route up Stewart Peak, but it provides a shorter approach and some very nice high alpine hiking. After leaving the trail at 1.2 miles there isn't an established trail, so a map and/or GPS is required.

Start hiking south up the Cebolla Trail through quickly rising forests. After 0.2 miles you will cross a small stream ( 1) which is easy to hop over. The next 0.3 miles wind through thinning forest until the trees suddenly end in a huge field around 11,950' ( 2). There will be a gently rising slope filled with willows and the 13er Baldy Chato rising above. Start to hike on a decent trail which winds through the willows following a straight line marked by posts rising above the willows( 3). After 0.7 miles on this trail (around 12,450') the willows will let up and you will see some rock piles ( 4). This is where you are going to turn left, leave the established trail, and hike up Baldy Chato. You are aiming for for the middle of the upper ridge until you reach 13,300' ( 5) and traverse the around Baldy aiming for the saddle on the south side. Part way up the slopes the terrain gets rockier ( 6).

Once you wrap around Baldy Chato you will see Stewart Peak rise up and the rest of the route ( 7).  8 shows the route on the ridge from the last saddle at 13,500'.You will follow the ridge south. You can stay lower on the slopes and the rises along the ridge to save a little elevation, but its much more enjoyable to stay closer to the ridge itself. Where the ridge starts to turn east you will traverse and gently climb up to the final saddle at 13,500' ( 9). From this final saddle you will climb another .4 miles up to the summit by picking your favorite line ( 10).From the summit, you can get great views of the 14er San Luis Peak ( 11).

IMPORTANT: This route enters the La Garita Wilderness area. Wilderness areas have special regulations and restrictions for party size, dispersed camping, campfires, etc. Also, dog owners should read the wilderness information carefully because some wilderness areas prohibit dogs to be off-leash and/or limit how close dogs can be to lakes and streams. If you have questions about the wilderness area, please contact a U.S. Forest Service office for the National Forest(s) listed above.