Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak
One of the most easily-accessible trailheads in Chaffee County leads to two of Colorado's famous 14ers.
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
The Sawatch Range is home to the highest concentration of 14ers in the state of Colorado.
Alpine Climbing, Hiking Easy, Severe
Colorado's Sawatch Mountain Range is home to the highest concentration of 14ers in the state! The Sawatch Range boasts 15 peaks over 14,000 feet, including Mount Elbert, the tallest mountain in Colorado at 14,440 feet above sea level. The range also forms the Continental Divide, splitting the watersheds of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This long line of vaulted peaks is, objectively, one of the largest and most majestic collections of mountains in the country, and indeed, the world.
Rubbly, scree-filled summits characterize the peaks of the Sawatch. Unlike other mountain ranges in Colorado that offer aesthetic rock fins and slabs of uplifted granite to climb, the surface of the mountains in the Sawatch are generally loose and shifting, with rocks tumbling around you as you climb and dirt shifting below your feet.
The loose soil and stacked rocks don't make the region any less beautiful, though: the scenery from the tallest mountains in the country is to die for. As you near (and reach) the summit of one of these mountains, you'll enjoy a sweeping panorama of Rocky Mountain peaks spread around you in all directions. Unlike some of the Front Range 14ers that offer views of flat plains, the views from the Sawatch peaks consist of mountains, mountains, and more mountains as far as the eye can see.
The high concentration of 14ers in the Sawatch Range led to the creation of the Nolan's 14 trail running challenge. Nolan's 14 "is a run over the 14 summits over 14,000 ft. in Colorado's Sawatch Range, from Mt. Massive to Mt. Shavano in either direction," according to MattMahoney.net. "You can choose your own route between summits, but the most practical routes have been estimated to be 88 to 106 miles with 44,000 ft. of climb. Cutoff is 60 hours to the last summit," he continues. The only Sawatch summit left out of the challenge is Mount of the Holy Cross. Nolan's 14 is now regarded as one of the most difficult trail running challenges in the world, and as such, has gained a true cult following.
Whether you choose to run 14 of the 15 peaks in a 60-hour window or instead, merely opt to climb one or two at a time like a sane person, the soaring mountains of the Sawatch Range will inspire you with their majesty and rugged beauty!
One of the most easily-accessible trailheads in Chaffee County leads to two of Colorado's famous 14ers.
Easy Alpine Climbing
Buena Vista's backyard 14er offers a challenging climb with a rewarding summit view.
Easy Alpine Climbing
The most scenic and adventurous route to the summit of Mount Antero.
Easy Alpine Climbing
A climb to the summit of the most visibly-impressive 14er in Chaffee County.
Easy Alpine Climbing
Avoid the crowds and utilize route finding skills by trekking the East Ridge route to summit 14,073' Mt. Columbia.
Easy Alpine Climbing
This 14-mile roundtrip hike to the 14,420' summit of Mt. Harvard, complete with a final scramble up the summit-block, is truly a top-notch 14er experience!
Easy Alpine Climbing
An autumn backpacking excursion in Missouri Gulch is the best way to experience the splendor of 14,067' Missouri Mountain.
Easy Alpine Climbing
At 14,433', Mt. Elbert is the tallest mountain in Colorado, and second tallest in the lower 48 states, making its summit a much sought-after destination.
Severe Hiking
The Southwest Slopes route is the perfect way to summit 14,421' Mt. Massive: short, steep and secluded.
Severe Hiking
14,005' Mount of the Holy Cross stands alone as the farthest north 14er in the Sawatch Range.
Easy Alpine Climbing
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Severe Hiking
14,336-foot La Plata Peak's Northwest Ridge Route may be the “standard” route, but it is certainly an above average hike!
Easy Alpine Climbing
Two 14er summits, a beautiful pass, and 6,146' elevation gain over 12.2 miles is a wonderful way to spend a day in the Sawatch Range.
Severe Hiking
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