Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 249 of the 13ers
East Ridge from Gibson Creek
Spread Eagle Peak, 13,436'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip7 mi
Elevation gain4,300'
TrailheadGibson Creek
Trailhead elevation9,140'
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 Ridge from Gibson Creek
Overview
Spread Eagle Peak is a rugged Sangre 13er west of Westcliffe. From the Gibson Creek trailhead you follow the trail into Gibson Creek, leave it to climb steeply through forest to the east ridge, and follow the ridge over a false point to the summit.
It is Class 2+, with some rugged sections on the upper ridge that you bypass on the right.
The round trip is about 7 miles with 4,300 feet of gain.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on the flat area at 12,700 feet by 10 a.m.
Crux
The rugged upper ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. Leave the Gibson Creek trail where it curves left and climb south up the forest to the ridge. There's no trail.
From Westcliffe, drive south on Colorado 69 and turn west on County Road 160, across from the gas station. After 6 miles, turn right on County Road 164, go 1.5 miles, then left on County Road 172. The Forest Service boundary (often the winter closure) is 0.3 mile up, and the trailhead 0.2 mile beyond.
Trail in the treesOff-trail, no set pathRidgeScramblingTundraExposed 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
Gibson Creek trailhead 9,140' · 0 mi
Follow the trail west along fenced private land. At the Rainbow Trail junction, go straight toward Gibson Creek.
2
Gibson Creek 9,400' · 0.7 mi
Cross the creek and continue west.
3
Leave the trail 9,800' · 1.4 mi
Where the trail curves left, leave it and climb steeply south through the forest.
4
East ridge 10,400' · 1.8 mi
Reach the ridge crest and turn right up it.
5
Treeline 11,800' · 2.5 mi
Follow the forested ridge southwest to treeline. It narrows with views south.
6
Saddle 12,100' · 2.8 mi
Turn right along the defined ridge to a saddle.
7
Flat area 12,700' · 3 mi
Stay near the crest over harder ground to a broad, flat area below a point.
8
False point 13,100' · 3.25 mi
Climb about 400 feet to the top of the point.
9
Summit 13,436' · 3.5 mi
Follow the rugged ridge west, going around a few rough spots on the right, to the final pitch and the top.
Getting down
Return the same way.
If things go wrong
The east ridge leads back down.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the Gibson Creek 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 Spread Eagle Peak we list, with its class.
East Ridgethis routeClass 2 7 mi
Spread Eagle SW RidgeClass 2+ 5 mi
Spread Eagle South Ridge from Hermit PassClass 2 5.5 mi
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.