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.
Centennial 13er · South Ridge
Overview
California Peak is a high, rounded summit in the Sierra Blanca group of the Sangre de Cristo Range, northwest of Blanca Peak. This route starts at the Lily Lake trailhead at the head of the Huerfano valley, leaves the trail early, and climbs west past a quiet tarn called Lost Lake into a high basin. From there, loose chutes lead up to the ridge, which you follow to where it meets the south ridge and then north along the summit ridge to the top.
The climbing is Class 2. Most of it is tundra and open slopes, but the chutes below the ridge are loose talus and scree, and there is no trail from the meadow to the summit. The biggest landmark to steer by is a huge rock glacier spilling off the east face of California; you stay south of it the whole way.
Plan on 6 to 9 hours for the 10.5-mile round trip with about 4,500 feet of gain. It suits hikers who have done a few Class 2 peaks and are comfortable finding their own way. The views of Blanca, Lindsey and the Huerfano valley are some of the best in the area.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5:30 or 6 a.m. You are above treeline from Lost Lake to the summit and back, which is several hours of open terrain.
Turnaround
If you are not on the ridge above the chutes by 11 a.m., or storms are building over Blanca, turn back from there.
Crux
The steep chutes of loose talus and scree between the Lost Lake basin and the ridge, where rocks roll easily.
Route-finding
Moderate. The Lily Lake trail is easy, but from the meadow to Lost Lake there is no trail; use the small creek from Lost Lake as a guide and stay south of the big rock glacier. On the ridge, the summit is past several humps.
Water
Huerfano Creek near the trailhead, the small creek draining Lost Lake, and Lost Lake itself. Filter all water. Nothing on the ridge.
From I-25, take exit 52 and follow Highway 69 west to Gardner. Just west of town, turn left onto County Road 550. The pavement ends after about 7 miles. About 4.8 miles later, stay left on Forest Road 580 through a state wildlife area. The road then passes through private ranch land; stay on the road and follow the signs for the Upper Huerfano trailhead.
Past the ranch entrances the road narrows and gets rough. Some cars park at a cattle guard in an open meadow, but the last miles to the Lily Lake trailhead at about 10,725 feet are best done with a high-clearance vehicle. The road has been closed by a landslide in the past, so check with the Forest Service before you go. Dispersed camping is found on National Forest land in the last couple of miles; do not camp on private land.
Trail in the treesOff-trail, no set pathTundraRidgeTalus and screeExposed 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
Lily Lake trailhead 10,725' · 0 mi
Start on the Lily Lake trail at the end of the road. Blanca Peak rises at the head of the valley to the south.
2
Large meadow 10,800' · 0.4 mi
The trail soon opens into a large meadow along Huerfano Creek. Look west: the huge rock glacier coming off the east side of California is easy to spot. Your route goes up south of it.
3
Leave the trail 10,850' · 0.7 mi
Near the south end of the meadow, leave the trail and head west toward the slopes. Look for the small creek that drains Lost Lake.
Watch for: No trail from here to the summit.
4
Tree swaths 11,200' · 1.4 mi
Climb west through open swaths in the trees on the north side of the Lost Lake creek. These openings cut down on bushwhacking. Keep the rock glacier to your right (north) and do not get onto it.
Watch for: Rock glaciers are slow and unstable. Stay south of it.
5
Steeper slopes 11,600' · 2.2 mi
The slope steepens as the trees thin. Keep following the creek upward, bending a little southwest toward the basin.
6
Lost Lake 12,000' · 2.9 mi
Reach Lost Lake, a small, quiet tarn in a basin. Rock glaciers line the south side of the basin, and a strip of tundra leads up and west. This is the last water.
7
Upper basin 12,400' · 3.4 mi
Walk up the tundra above the lake. Look up to the ridge on the north side of the basin: several chutes with rock outcrops between them lead to it.
8
Base of the chutes 12,700' · 3.8 mi
Pick a chute with the least loose rock. The footing is talus and scree.
Watch for: Loose rock rolls easily. Spread out or climb side by side.
9
East ridge 13,100' · 4.1 mi
Top out on the east ridge of California. The view opens north over the Huerfano valley. Note this spot for the way down.
Watch for: Mark this spot. Other chutes lead to cliffs.
10
Ridge junction 13,500' · 4.6 mi
Follow the more defined east ridge west and up to where it meets the south ridge. The ground is tundra with rubble.
11
Summit ridge 13,700' · 5 mi
Turn north along the summit ridge. It rolls over a few small humps on tundra and rock.
Watch for: Strong wind on the ridge.
12
Summit 13,854' · 5.25 mi
Reach the top. You get a clear look at Mount Lindsey across the valley, Blanca Peak and its neighbors to the south, and the San Luis Valley to the west.
Landmarks to know
The large meadow near the start of the Lily Lake trail.
The huge rock glacier on the east side of California, which you keep to your north.
Open swaths in the trees along the small creek from Lost Lake.
Lost Lake, a small tarn with rock glaciers on the south side of its basin.
Rocky chutes on the north side of the basin leading to the east ridge.
The junction of the east and south ridges.
Several small humps along the summit ridge.
Getting down
Retrace your route: south along the summit ridge to the junction, then east along the east ridge to the top of the chute you climbed, near 13,100 feet. Be sure you have the right chute; others can end at rock bands. Go down slowly on the loose scree and keep your group close together.
From Lost Lake, follow the creek down to the northeast, then bend more east so you stay off the big rock glacier. Stay north of the creek but south of the rock glacier and use the openings in the trees. You should come out near the south end of the big meadow on the Lily Lake trail, then walk north back to the trailhead. Another option is to descend the north ridge to the Huerfano trail and walk the road back; know that route before you try it.
If things go wrong
The Lost Lake basin is the nearest lower ground. In a storm, get off the ridge by the chute you climbed and head down to the lake and then into the trees along the creek. Do not try unknown chutes. If someone is hurt, keep them warm, move out of any rockfall line, and send for help. Call 911 if you have a signal. The trailhead is remote and on a rough road, so help will take time.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
About the last 1.5 miles are off-trail up the ridge, with no set trail to follow. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
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.
Jump to
Other routes
Every way up California Peak we list, with its class.
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Snow, ice, a washed-out road or an afternoon storm can make it a very different climb. Check recent conditions the week you go and turn around when the day tells you to.