Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Standard route · North Slope
Overview
Challenger Point is a fourteener on the ridge west of Kit Carson Peak in the Sangre de Cristo range. It is named for the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, and a memorial plaque sits on top. Most people climb it on the way to Kit Carson, but it is a serious climb on its own. The route hikes to Willow Lake, then climbs the steep north side of the peak above the lake.
The upper north slope is the problem. It is about 600 feet of steep, loose talus and broken rock with many possible lines. Rockfall is common, both from the slope itself and from other climbers. A snow-filled gully often stays well into summer beside the route. Good route-finding keeps the climbing at hard Class 2; wander off line and it turns into loose Class 3 or worse.
From the trailhead the round trip is 13.5 miles with about 5,400 feet of gain. That is a very long day. Many people camp near Willow Lake and climb from there, which makes the summit day about 4 miles round trip with 2,600 feet of gain. Plan on 10 to 12 hours if you do it in one push.
Plan of the day
Start by
From a camp near Willow Lake, leave by 5 a.m. From the trailhead in one day, start by 2 or 3 a.m. Storms build fast over the Sangres, and you do not want to be on the loose upper slope in rain.
Turnaround
If you are not at the top of the rock rib (about 13,200 feet) by 10 a.m., or not through the notch onto the summit ridge by 11 a.m., turn around.
Crux
About 600 feet of steep, loose talus and broken rock between 13,300 feet and the notch in the summit ridge. It is confusing, and rocks move under your feet and hands.
Route-finding
The trail to Willow Lake and up to about 12,300 feet is clear. Above that the path fades along the rock rib, and on the crux slope you pick your own line using cairns. Stay right of the snow gully and aim for the notch. Memorize the top of the slope for the descent.
Water
Willow Creek is near the trail on the approach, and Willow Lake and its inlet stream are good sources. Above about 12,000 feet, water is only from snowmelt early in the season. Filter or treat everything.
Take Colorado 17 to Moffat in the San Luis Valley. At the south edge of town, follow the sign for Crestone and turn east on County Road T. Drive about 11.5 miles to Crestone. Go straight into town, turn left on Alder Street, then right on Galena Avenue.
Galena leaves town and turns to dirt as Forest Road 949. The trailhead is about 2 miles up this road, at about 8,850 feet. The road is rough in places but most vehicles can make it when it is dry. The route enters the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, which has its own rules on group size, camping, fires and dogs; check with the Forest Service before you go.
Trail in the treesTundraScramblingRidgeExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Willow Creek trailhead 8,850' · 0 mi
The trail leaves the parking area and starts climbing right away through dry forest on the side of the Willow Creek valley.
2
Forest switchbacks 10,000' · 1.6 mi
Long switchbacks climb the steep lower hillside. The footing is dirt and rock. Views open back over the San Luis Valley as you gain height.
Watch for: Hot and dry on summer afternoons. Carry enough water for the climb.
3
Upper Willow Creek valley 11,000' · 3.3 mi
The grade eases as the trail heads east up the valley toward the head of the basin. Willow Creek is nearby.
4
Campsites below the lake 11,400' · 4.5 mi
Campsites sit in the trees just below Willow Lake. The trail passes a small waterfall and climbs a short hill beside the lake.
5
Willow Lake 11,564' · 4.75 mi
The lake sits in a cliff-ringed bowl with a tall waterfall pouring in at its east end. Turn left and leave the trees, heading toward that waterfall.
6
Boulder field by the waterfall 11,700' · 4.95 mi
Cross a boulder field along the lake's side as you close in on the big waterfall. The footing is uneven.
7
Stream crossing above the falls 11,800' · 5.1 mi
Cross the stream above the waterfall. Follow cairns and bits of trail across the flat ground above the lake.
Watch for: The stream can be high in early summer.
8
Trail junction 11,850' · 5.25 mi
At a junction, turn right onto the trail toward Challenger and Kit Carson.
9
Ledges and boulders 12,100' · 5.45 mi
The trail zig-zags up through rock ledges and a boulder field on the north side of the peak.
10
Easier ground 12,300' · 5.6 mi
Near 12,300 feet the trail swings left onto gentler slopes.
11
Along the rock rib 12,800' · 5.9 mi
Follow the left side of a large rock rib. The trail becomes faint and the slope steepens. Stay close to the rib as you climb.
12
Top of the rib 13,200' · 6.15 mi
Near 13,200 feet, near the top of the rib, bear left and traverse toward steeper ground. Cross rock slabs to reach the base of the crux slope.
Watch for: Check the time and weather here. This is your turnaround point.
13
Crux talus slope 13,600' · 6.35 mi
About 600 feet of steep, loose talus and broken rock. Look for cairns and pick the easiest line, keeping the moves at Class 2. Stay right of the snow-filled gully and climb toward a notch in the ridge above.
Watch for: Rockfall. Spread out, climb one at a time in narrow spots, and never stand below others.
14
Notch in the ridge 14,000' · 6.6 mi
Go through the notch, then turn left onto the summit ridge. Look back at the notch and remember it; you must come back through it.
15
Summit ridge 14,050' · 6.7 mi
Follow the ridge southeast. Some parts are narrow. If the exposure bothers you, stay just left of the crest. The last tenth of a mile gets a little steeper.
Watch for: Drop-offs on the narrow ridge.
16
Summit 14,081' · 6.75 mi
A small summit with a memorial plaque for the Challenger crew. Kit Carson rises close by to the east across a small saddle.
Kit Carson from the top of Challenger Point · Photo: Fredlyfish4
Here South Crestone Trail goes off straight ahead; an unmarked path goes off to the right. Keep left to follow Willow Lake Trail.
Coming down: Keep right to stay on Willow Lake Trail. Don’t take South Crestone Trail or the unmarked path.
2Mile 0.2 · 8,990'
Turn left to stay on Willow Lake Trail
Here an unmarked path goes off to the right. Turn left to follow Willow Lake Trail.
Coming down: Turn right to stay on Willow Lake Trail. Don’t take the unmarked path.
3Mile 1.6 · 10,000'
Turn left to stay on Willow Lake Trail
Here an unmarked path goes off straight ahead. Turn left to follow Willow Lake Trail.
Coming down: Turn right to stay on Willow Lake Trail. Don’t take the unmarked path.
Landmarks to know
Long forest switchbacks above the trailhead with views over the San Luis Valley.
Willow Lake in its cliff bowl with a tall waterfall at the east end.
The stream crossing above the waterfall and a junction where you turn right.
A large rock rib you follow on its left side up to about 13,200 feet.
A snow-filled gully on the upper slope; stay to its right.
A notch in the ridge at the top of the loose slope.
A memorial plaque on the summit.
Getting down
Go back the way you came. Walk back northwest along the ridge to the notch, go through it, and start down the loose slope. This is where most trouble happens. The slope is wide and many gullies look alike from above. Go slowly, keep the snow gully on your right as you face downhill (the same side of it you climbed), and look for your cairns.
Aim to come down along the rock rib, then follow the trail back to the ledges and the junction above Willow Lake. Do not follow gullies that seem to lead straight to the lake; they can end at cliffs. Knock no rocks loose, since people may be climbing below you. From the lake, the trail back to the trailhead is long but clear.
If things go wrong
Below the rock rib you can turn around easily and follow the trail back to Willow Lake. On the loose upper slope there is no quick escape; the only safe way off is the way you came up. If weather turns while you are on the crux or the ridge, head down right away but carefully, since a fall or a dislodged rock is as dangerous as the storm. If someone is hurt, stop rockfall risk first by getting others out from below, keep the injured person warm, and call 911 if you can get a signal. Rescue from this slope takes many hours.
3D flyover
Press play to fly the North Slope. The graph shows elevation along the way and how much you gain each mile. Open full screen.
For planning only. The line is traced from open map data, not walked in the field, and off-trail parts are drawn straight. Load it in your GPS app to see the route, but navigate with your eyes, a map and the route description.
See the trail on video
A climb of this route filmed by The Virtual sherpa. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play. This video covers Challenger and Kit Carson together.
Other routes
All 3 routes up Challenger Point, with the class and round-trip distance for each.
The moves are not technical, but the distance and gain are serious and help is hours away. Know your pace, carry a headlamp even on a day trip, and be honest about whether you can still make good decisions at hour eleven.
