Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 144 of the 13ers
East Face from South Zapata Lake
Twin Peaks A North, 13,584'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip11.85 mi
Elevation gain4,630'
TrailheadSouth Zapata Creek
Trailhead elevation9,075'
Conditions on the summit
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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 · East Face from South Zapata Lake
Overview
Twin Peaks has two summits west of South Zapata Lake; the north one is higher. It looks out west over the San Luis Valley.
Leave the trail just below the lake and climb grassy slopes with some willows to a flat spot on a sub-ridge. Then follow tundra and talus to the south summit and walk the ridge north to the high point. It is Class 2 with no exposure.
The round trip from the trailhead is about 11.85 miles with 4,630 feet of gain. You can do it in one long day, but many people backpack to the lake and climb the peaks around it. California Peak and Ellingwood Point can also be reached from the lake.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on the sub-ridge by 11 a.m.
Crux
A stiff climb on grass and talus.
Route-finding
Easy. Aim for the sub-ridge running east from the south summit.
Take US 160 west from Blanca for roughly 6 miles and turn right onto Colorado 150 toward Great Sand Dunes. After about 10.8 miles, turn right (east) on the Zapata Falls road (BLM 5415). From the dunes visitor center, it's about 9 miles south on 150.
The graded gravel road climbs 3.6 miles, with several switchbacks, to the Zapata Falls campground and trailhead. Cars are fine. There's a day-use and backpacker lot, vault toilets and a small first-come fee campground with no water.
Trail in the treesTundraOff-trail, no set pathRidgeTalus 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
Zapata Falls trailhead 9,075' · 0 mi
Walk up the old road toward the falls. The South Zapata Lake Trail forks right, up onto the ridge above the falls; signs have been poor, so watch for it.
2
Creek crossing 9,400' · 0.8 mi
A little above the falls, cross South Zapata Creek. Wade if there's no log or bridge; it runs fast in June.
Watch for: Swift water in early summer.
3
North Fork junction 10,300' · 2.25 mi
The trail climbs steeply to a small ridge, then contours up the east side of the valley below some cliffs. Stay on the main trail where Trail 868 turns east.
4
Upper crossing 11,360' · 3.6 mi
The trail crosses the creek to the west side. There's a sheltered campsite in the trees here, the best cover in the valley.
5
Last big trees 11,800' · 4.2 mi
The forest ends about 3/4 mile below the lake; willows take over.
6
Leave the trail 11,850' · 4.6 mi
The trail leaves the trees, crosses a rockfall and passes one last clump of trees. Just south of it, head west and southwest up grassy slopes.
7
Flat on the sub-ridge 12,660' · 5.2 mi
Climb through the basin north of the sub-ridge to a flat spot on it.
8
South summit 13,500' · 5.6 mi
Follow the ridge west on tundra and talus.
9
Summit 13,584' · 5.95 mi
Walk the crest north to the higher north summit.
Getting down
Walk northeast along the ridge, then drop east and contour southeast above the cliffs and outcrops to rejoin your route near the flat spot. Descend as you came.
If things go wrong
The sub-ridge leads straight back down to the trail.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the South Zapata Lake Trail the route is trailless. 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
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
Other routes
Every way up Twin Peaks A North we list, with its class.
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.