Northwest Ridge from Phoenix Peak

Overview

La Garita Peak is an unranked but named summit on the crest of the La Garita Mountains northeast of Creede. It ranks as the range's second-highest point south of Cochetopa Creek, and most people reach it from Phoenix Peak.

You climb Phoenix Peak from East Willow Creek on a faint trail and open grass slopes, then follow the crest southeast about 2.4 miles over two bumps and three saddles. The ridge looks like tundra but is mostly lichen-covered rock, and the last climb is on medium rubble. It is Class 2. Expect wind, and look for glacier-carved cirques and lakes on the northeast side and elk in the parks below.

The loop is about 11.35 miles with 4,075 feet of gain from the upper 4WD trailhead. Parking a regular car lower on County Road 502 adds about 3 miles. The ridge from Phoenix takes about an hour.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

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 returns to the creek's west bank, 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.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Upper trailhead 10,340' · 0 mi

   Walk down the open slope and cross East Willow Creek. There may be an old footbridge just downstream; if not, it's a wet crossing. The trail climbs the bank and turns south.

   Watch for: Creek can run high early in summer.

2. 2

   Side drainage 10,550' · 1.1 mi

   The trail turns east up a side stream. Cross it after an aspen grove, then cross a smaller stream from the south where cairns point the way.

3. 3

   Timberline 10,750' · 2.2 mi

   The trail goes through a rough, rocky stretch and fainter forest marked with cairns, then breaks out of the trees.

4. 4

   Saddle south of Phoenix 13,300' · 4.2 mi

   Cross the stream, pass a big rock pile, and climb a narrow ridge that widens into a tundra slope. Reach the crest at a saddle about half a mile south of Phoenix.

5. 5

   Phoenix Peak 13,895' · 4.7 mi

   Walk north on rubble to the huge summit cairn.

6. 6

   Final saddle 13,300' · 6.6 mi

   Head southeast along the crest, over or around two bumps. The going is slower than it looks on all the lichen-covered rock.

   Watch for: Exposed to wind and storms.

7. 7

   La Garita Peak 13,725' · 7.1 mi

   Climb medium rubble to the rocky summit.

Getting down

Go back to the saddle northwest of the summit and walk down the tundra slopes, full of wildflowers. Willows grow thick lower down, so pick your line while you can still see over them. Aim to meet the trail near where you left it, then follow it out.

If things go wrong

Drop off the ridge on the side you came up; the tundra slopes lead back toward the trail.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up La Garita Peak we list, with its class.

• La Garita NW Ridge this routeClass 2 11.35 mi