Mount Shavano

On U.S. 285, one mile north of the U.S. 50 junction near Poncha Springs, turn west onto County Road (CR) 140. This turn is about 21 miles south of Buena Vista, and across the highway from the Salida airport. Measure from here. On CR 140, drive 1.7 miles and then turn right on CR 250. Continue to 2.6 miles where the road turns to dirt. Once you enter BLM land the road becomes rough and rocky. At 5.9 miles, stay left at a junction and continue on FR 252. Reach the signed trailhead at just over 9.0 miles. If the lot is full, there is overflow parking if you continue 0.1 mile beyond the trailhead.

 1 shows much of the route. From the Shavano/Tabeguache trailhead, follow the trail about 0.1 mile to reach a junction  2. Turn right onto the Colorado Trail and continue for 1/4 mile to another junction, then turn left onto the Mt. Shavano trail  3. Follow a wide, rocky section of the trail briefly, then turn right onto the well-defined Shavano trail, which heads north and then west  4,  5. Near 10,600', turn right (north) and traverse up a hillside and around a corner to reach flatter terrain, near 10,750'  6. Stroll northwest, cross a small stream  7, and start uphill again. Pass a notable rock near 10,950'  8 and continue west to reach a corner , near 11,200'  9. You've hiked 2.5 miles, and this is about the halfway point. Next, turn right and continue higher, soon utilizing countless log steps installed to make the trail more sustainable. When you reach 11,800', the trail turns southwest as you approach tree line  10.

Exit the trees and traverse west along Shavano's southeast slopes  11. Near 12,650', reach a set of rock stairs and trail sign  12. Over the past several years, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) constructed a new, more sustainable trail to the summit and it starts here. You may notice that the old trail to the left has been closed off for restoration. Start up the new trail  13. Zig zag about 700 feet up a rocky slope ( 14) before the climb relents at 13,400' and you can finally see the summit  15. Still following the excellent trail, continue west below a saddle as you approach the final pitch  16,  17.

At 13,600', the trail steepens as you work your way higher. Near 13,800', you'll reach a point where CFI is still working on the upper trail, in summer 2026. Until that work is completed, the obvious trail may appear to end  18. For now, just take one of the old, existing trail sections that climbs toward the ridge crest ahead, but be sure to take time to familiarize yourself with this area because you need to return here later. Continue up the rocky terrain ( 19) to reach a flat section on the ridge  20. You're close. Continue slightly right and turn left to gain the summit  21,  22. For your descent, while the final sections are under construction, descend the same way and return to the defined trail. Be careful not to descend directly south toward the saddle between Shavano and "Esprit Point"  23.