East Ridge from Saddle Creek

Overview

Conejos Peak is one of Colorado's most southern 13ers, about 33 miles north of the New Mexico line in the South San Juan Wilderness. It's a long drive from most cities, but the hike itself is an easy tundra walk in a quiet, beautiful area. Expect cattle and sheep grazing in summer. Newer survey data added 4 feet to its height.

Trail 722 climbs along the north side of Saddle Creek, crosses the main fork, and switchbacks up to a pass on the east ridge at about 12,020 feet. From there a faint trail follows the broad, grassy ridge to the top. It's Class 2 at most, with no exposure. A shorter, more direct line up the basin is possible, but it means fighting chest-high willows and is not worth it.

The round trip on Trail 722 is about 8.6 miles with about 2,100 feet of gain. The direct basin line cuts it to about 5.6 miles. Mileage and gain are our estimates.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

Head to Alamosa, then go south on US 285 to Antonito. About a mile south of the town center, US 285 swings off to the left; keep right on Highway 17, the road toward Chama, New Mexico, and La Manga Pass. The highway crosses the Conejos River in just under 5 miles and then runs along its north bank for several miles.

Where the highway bends southwest at a small settlement, turn right on County Road 250, the Conejos River Road. If the highway crosses the river again and starts up toward the pass, you've gone too far. Follow this graded dirt road northwest up the valley, which can take up to half an hour, and turn left on Forest Road 105 (Saddle Creek Road) about 0.9 mile before Lake Fork Campground.

Forest Road 105 climbs through switchback pairs at about 1.7 and 3.1 miles. At about 4.8 miles, Forest Road 100 splits off on a sharp curve; stay on 105, which turns west. Drive 1.8 more miles to the next sharp, hairpin curve and park; this is the trailhead. The last stretch past Road 100 is rocky and slow. 4WD isn't needed, but a car with more clearance than usual is. You can car camp at the trailhead. Lake Fork Campground (vault toilets, by the river, reservable) and primitive spots along County Road 250 are other choices. Coming from Treasure Creek, you can also take Forest Road 250 south from near Stunner Campground over Stunner Pass (about 4 miles) to Platoro, then follow the Conejos down past Lake Fork Campground to Road 105.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Saddle Creek trailhead 11,150' · 0 mi

   Start west on Trail 722 from the hairpin curve. Stay on the north side of Saddle Creek, stepping over some downed trees.

2. 2

   First crossings 11,250' · 0.6 mi

   Cross a side stream on a solid bridge, then another on loose logs.

   Watch for: The log crossing can be wobbly.

3. 3

   Main fork crossing 11,400' · 1.3 mi

   The trail crosses the main fork of Saddle Creek and heads into a grassy side basin.

4. 4

   East-ridge pass 12,020' · 2.9 mi

   Follow the many switchbacks up to a pass on the east ridge.

5. 5

   Big cairn 12,700' · 3.6 mi

   Turn west and walk the wide tundra ridge on a faint trail, passing a large rock cairn.

6. 6

   Summit 13,176' · 4.3 mi

   A gentle final rise leads to the top. Look north to Summit Peak, The Unicorn and Montezuma Peak, and down to Tobacco Lake.

Getting down

Going back on Trail 722 is easiest. For variety, walk a short way down the north ridge, then drop east into the big Tobacco Lake basin and follow Saddle Creek down to the morning's trail near the main crossing.

If things go wrong

The east-ridge pass and Trail 722 are close.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Conejos Peak we list, with its class.

• Conejos Peak East Ridge this routeClass 2 5.6 mi