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Front Range Range · Colorado 13er · No. 442 of the 13ers

North Slopes from Montezuma

Santa Fe Peak, 13,181'

DifficultyClass 2
Round trip7 mi
Elevation gain2,400'
TrailheadSanta Fe Peak Road (Montezuma)
Trailhead elevation10,800'

Conditions on the summit

Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,181'…
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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.

Colorado 13er · North Slopes from Montezuma

Overview

Santa Fe Peak rises above the old mining town of Montezuma. The route simply follows the rough Santa Fe Peak road up Morgan Gulch to a saddle and on up the peak's slopes, leaving it just below the summit.

It is Class 2 on a 4WD road nearly the whole way. With a capable vehicle you can drive higher and shorten the hike.

The round trip is about 7 miles with 2,400 feet of gain from the lower parking.

Plan of the day

Start by

By 7 a.m.

Turnaround

Be at the Morgan-Santa Fe saddle by 10 a.m.

Crux

Nothing hard.

Route-finding

Easy. Stay on the road, or take a more direct line south at the junction above 12,600 feet.

Water

None. Bring what you need.

Getting to the trailhead

Trailhead

Santa Fe Peak Road (Montezuma)

Find it on a map

From US 6 at Keystone, follow the Montezuma Road roughly 5.5 miles to Montezuma itself. At a stop sign in the middle of town, turn left (east) on road 264, the Santa Fe Peak road. After about a mile, past houses, there's good roadside parking. The road gets rougher as it switchbacks up Morgan Gulch; drive as high as your vehicle allows.

Where to sleep

Base towns and camping for this climb

Georgetown & Idaho Springs About 12 mi away as the crow flies · 4 campgrounds listed · free camping: Stevens Gulch Road (Grays & Torreys) Lodging & camping → Breckenridge & Blue River About 12 mi away as the crow flies · 2 campgrounds listed · free camping: McCullough Gulch designated sites Lodging & camping →

Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.

Before you go

Check these the week of your climb.

Official forecast

The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.

NWS point forecast →

Directions to the trailhead

Santa Fe Peak Road (Montezuma). Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.

Get directions →

Roads and highways

Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.

COtrip road conditions →

Closures and fire rules

Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.

Forest Service alerts →

Snow on the route?

From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Avalanche forecast →

Cell signal

Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.

FCC coverage map →

Less traffic, less margin

This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.