Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 152 of the 13ers
West Slopes from Broken Hand Pass
Broken Hand Peak, 13,575'
DifficultyClass 2+
Round trip11.4 mi
Elevation gain3,880'
TrailheadSouth Colony
Trailhead elevation9,950'
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 · West Slopes from Broken Hand Pass
Overview
Broken Hand Peak stands east of Broken Hand Pass, above South Colony Lakes, with some of the best views of Crestone Needle anywhere. Trail work has made the approach to the pass easy to follow.
From the pass you drop a little toward Cottonwood Lake, contour, and climb tundra gullies between cliffs and towers of conglomerate rock to a small rocky summit. It is Class 2+.
The round trip from the trailhead is about 11.4 miles with 3,880 feet of gain. The road above the trailhead has been closed since 2009, which added about 2.8 miles each way. Crestolita is a short, harder add-on.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at Broken Hand Pass by 10 a.m.
Crux
Finding the tundra gullies around the cliffs.
Route-finding
Moderate above the pass. Contour south-southeast first, then climb gullies.
Head south out of Westcliffe on Colorado 69. Colfax Lane goes right after 4.5 miles; take it 5.5 miles to where it ends. Go right on the dirt road for a mile to a junction, and keep straight on road 120 a short 0.3 mile more to the 2WD parking (about 8,800 feet).
Vehicles with good clearance and 4WD can continue 2.7 miles to the South Colony Lakes trailhead, where the road has been gated since 2009 (about 9,950 feet). There are parking and camp spots before the river crossing.
RoadTundraTalus 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
South Colony trailhead 9,950' · 0 mi
Cross the footbridge and walk up the old road, closed to vehicles.
2
Old road's end 11,000' · 2.8 mi
At the creek crossing where the road used to end, take either trail to the lower lake. The one along the creek is a bit longer.
3
Lower South Colony Lake 11,650' · 3.9 mi
Pick up the signed trail to Broken Hand Pass, the standard way to Crestone Needle.
4
Broken Hand Pass 12,900' · 5 mi
A well-built trail climbs the last 400 feet of talus to the pass, where a rescue cable rig stands.
5
Contour 12,700' · 5.15 mi
Lose about 200 feet on the far side, following the Cottonwood Lake trail, then contour south-southeast along the peak's flank below some rock outcrops.
6
Broken Hand Peak 13,575' · 5.7 mi
Climb a shallow tundra gully, switching gullies as needed to weave around cliffs and towers of conglomerate rock. The small summit is rocky.
Watch for: Class 2+.
Getting down
For an easy way down, walk the ridge to the Broken Hand-Crestolita saddle, mostly tundra. A path contours north from the saddle to the Cottonwood Lake trail; follow it back up to Broken Hand Pass.
If things go wrong
Broken Hand Pass is close.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past Broken Hand Pass 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 Broken Hand Peak 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.