Culebra Peak

One of the few privately-owned 14er summits in Colorado

Hiking Severe

Distance: 22 km
Ascent: 1.6 km
Descent: 1.6 km
Duration: 7-8 hrs

Low Point: 2.8 km
High Point: 4.3 km
Gradient: 18˚

Culebra Peak is one of the only privately-owned 14er summits in Colorado. Thankfully, unlike Bross, legal access to the summit is possible… for a fee. Climbers who are interested in bagging Culebra Peak can contact to Cielo Vista Ranch via their website or by email: CVRProperties@hotmail.com to reserve a spot to climb the mountain. Unfortunately, the fee required to climb Culebra isn't insignificant: you'll have to cough up $150 per person.

The Culebra Group Photo: Mouser Williams

Culebra Peak closeup Photo: David Herrera

Description

Any way you slice it, you'll have to climb Culebra to officially check all the 14ers off your list. Due to its prominence, it's even on the short list of 54 14ers.

Culebra is "one of the most, if not the most, historic fourteener in the state of Colorado, with documents dating back to 1694," according to Grant on SummitPost.org. "This area has only been owned by either the early Hispanic settlers or, until the last 140 years, by Americans. The National Forest Service, and/or the US Government, has never managed this land," he explains.

There's no defined trail up Culebra, but there are a couple of easy Class 2 options for summiting this 14er. The more popular option includes locating a cairn, ascending to a 13,200-foot saddle on the mountain, and following the ridge to the top of the peak. Since the terrain is quite mellow, the off-trail hiking to reach the summit isn't technical or challenging.

Sources: https://www.summitpost.org/culebra-peak/151463 https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=cule1&peak=Culebra+Peak

Difficulty

Severe

Hiking challenging trails where simple scrambling, with the occasional use of the hands, is a distinct possibility. The trails are often filled with all manner of obstacles both small and large, and the hills are very steep. Obstacles and challenges are often unexpected and can be unpredictable.