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
Phoenix Peak is the high point of the La Garita Mountains north of Creede. It rises above a huge sweep of open, rolling country with few people. The climb is Class 2: a trail through forest along a side creek, then open grass and tundra slopes to the main ridge, and a short walk on rubble to the summit. There is no exposure.
The hardest part is finding your way. The trail is faint in places and marked by cairns, and once you leave the trees you pick your own line up wide-open slopes. Clear weather makes it easy; clouds make it hard. You are above treeline for a long time, which is the main danger in a storm.
From the upper 4WD trailhead, plan on 5 to 7 hours. If you park lower with a regular car, add about 3 miles round trip. The peak suits hikers who have done a few Class 2 summits and can read a map. You can extend the day along the ridge to La Garita Peak to the southeast.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m. from the upper trailhead. Most of the route is open tundra with nowhere to hide from lightning.
Turnaround
If you are not at the ridge saddle south of the summit by 11 a.m., or storms are building, turn around.
Crux
Route-finding more than climbing: following the faint, cairned trail through the forest and choosing a good line up the open slopes. The last half mile is rubble on the ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. The trail fades in the trees and has a few confusing stream crossings. Above treeline you set your own course. Watch the terrain on the way up so you can find the trail again on the way down.
Water
East Willow Creek at the start and the side stream you follow for the first couple of miles. Filter it. Nothing reliable above the upper stream crossing.
From Highway 149 in Creede, turn north on Main Street and drive through town. The road climbs into a narrow canyon on graded gravel. At a fork about 1.2 miles past the Forest Service office, stay right onto County Road 502 along East Willow Creek. Follow it up the valley. After the road crosses back to the west side of the creek, it starts to climb. At the first switchback, about 3.5 miles past the fork, cars should park on the outside of the curve at just under 10,000 feet.
With a high-clearance 4WD, take the rough road that leaves the switchback heading north-northeast. It crosses a small forested ridge, drops down a couple of curves, then works around a knoll above the creek. After crossing Whited Creek, the upper trailhead is soon reached at about 10,340 feet, 1.7 miles from County Road 502. Much of the land along County Road 502 is private, and camping is limited.
Trail in the treesRidgeTalus 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
Upper trailhead 10,340' · 0 mi
From the end of the 4WD road, the trail drops down an open slope toward East Willow Creek.
2
East Willow Creek crossing 10,300' · 0.1 mi
Cross the creek. There may be an old footbridge a short way downstream; if not, expect a wet crossing. On the far side the trail climbs a bank and turns south.
Watch for: Creek can be high in early summer.
3
Side drainage 10,400' · 0.5 mi
The trail curves east into an unnamed drainage and follows it upstream on the north side.
4
Aspen grove crossing 10,500' · 1 mi
Stay on the north side until a steep bank blocks the way. Just after an aspen grove, cross to the south side of the stream.
Watch for: The trail may not match older maps here.
5
Stream junction 10,550' · 1.1 mi
About 100 yards later a smaller stream comes in from the south. Look for cairns, cross it, and keep heading east on the trail.
Watch for: Easy to follow the wrong stream. Stay heading east.
6
Rocky stretch 10,650' · 1.6 mi
The trail crosses a rough, very rocky section, then goes back into forest. It gets fainter but has frequent cairns. It stays well above the stream on the south side.
Watch for: Watch for cairns; the path fades.
7
Timberline 10,750' · 2.2 mi
The trail comes out of the trees into open grass. From here you choose your own route. Note this spot well; you will need to find the trail here on the way down.
8
Rock pile 11,100' · 2.5 mi
Where the trail bends southeast and the stream heads northeast, cross back over the stream. Head toward a large, man-made pile of rocks, then continue east to a bench.
9
Narrow ridge 11,800' · 3 mi
From the bench, climb a narrow ridge on the east side of a small drainage. The footing is grass and embedded rock.
10
Broad tundra slope 12,800' · 3.7 mi
The narrow ridge fades into a broad, open tundra slope. Keep climbing toward the main ridge crest, using grassy lines as much as you can.
Watch for: In clouds this slope has few features. Use a compass or GPS.
11
Ridge saddle 13,300' · 4.2 mi
Reach the main ridge at a saddle about half a mile south of the summit. The ground drops into cirques and small lakes on the north side.
12
Summit 13,904' · 4.7 mi
Walk north along the ridge crest over rubble and small talus to the top. A very large rock pile marks the summit. Wason Park spreads out to the south and long valleys stretch to the north.
Landmarks to know
The East Willow Creek crossing just below the upper trailhead.
An aspen grove where the trail crosses to the south side of the side stream.
Cairns at a small stream coming in from the south.
A very rocky stretch of trail before the forest thins.
A large man-made rock pile above timberline.
A saddle on the main ridge half a mile south of the summit.
A huge rock pile on the summit.
Getting down
Retrace your route. From the summit walk south along the ridge to the saddle, then drop down the broad tundra slope. The biggest risk is coming down the wrong drainage. Aim for the narrow ridge and the rock pile, then look for where the trail leaves timberline.
In the forest, follow the cairns back west. Pay attention at the stream junctions near the aspen grove so you stay on the correct side of the creek. If you parked at the lower switchback, remember you still have the 4WD road to walk out.
If things go wrong
The whole upper route is open, so in a storm your best move is to drop quickly down the tundra slopes toward timberline and the trees near the side stream. Avoid the north side of the ridge, which has cliffs above the cirques. This is a remote area with few other hikers and often no cell signal. If someone is hurt, keep them warm, note your location, and send for help or use a satellite messenger. Call 911 if you can get through.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
About the last 2 miles are off-trail, and the mapped trails don't line up with the route we describe. 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 Phoenix 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.