Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 465 of the 13ers
From UN 13,552 via South Crestone Basin
UN 13,159, 13,159'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip11.95 mi
Elevation gain5,720'
TrailheadWillow Lake
Trailhead elevation8,850'
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 · From UN 13,552 via South Crestone Basin
Overview
UN 13,159 is a low 13er north of Mount Adams with big views of Challenger, Kit Carson, the Crestones and Adams, and down to both Crestone Lakes. It is usually added to UN 13,552 from Willow Lake.
From UN 13,552 you walk toward Mount Adams, drop into the basin above South Crestone Lake to avoid a big field of loose boulders, and climb an easy ridge. It is Class 2 on tundra, small scree and a little rock.
The round trip from the trailhead with UN 13,552 is about 11.95 miles with 5,720 feet of gain. Most people backpack to Willow Lake and climb from there.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on UN 13,552 by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
Getting around the boulder field on Mount Adams.
Route-finding
Moderate. Drop into the basin north of the Adams saddle rather than contouring across the boulders.
Water
Willow Creek, the lake and side streams. Filter it.
Take Colorado 17 to Moffat in the San Luis Valley. At the south edge of town, follow the sign for Crestone and turn east on County Road T. Drive about 11.5 miles to Crestone. Go straight into town, turn left on Alder Street, then right on Galena Avenue.
Galena leaves town and turns to dirt as Forest Road 949. The trailhead is about 2 miles up this road, at about 8,850 feet. The road is rough in places but most vehicles can make it when it is dry. The route enters the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, which has its own rules on group size, camping, fires and dogs; check with the Forest Service before you go.
Trail in the treesTundraRidgeExposed 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
Willow Creek trailhead 8,850' · 0 mi
Cross Crestone Creek (logs, or wade in high water). The trail climbs an open hill, switchbacks through forest, crosses a ridge and contours high above Willow Creek.
2
Waterfall 10,900' · 3.8 mi
Switchback more steeply south, cross Willow Creek below a big waterfall and climb a rubbly slope as the trail swings east.
3
Willow Lake 11,564' · 4.75 mi
A waterfall pours into the far end of the lake. Camp in the signed sites away from the shore, mostly above the north side. It's busy on weekends.
4
Side stream 12,000' · 5.05 mi
Take the climbers' trail along the north shore, then head north up through trees and steep grass.
5
UN 13,552 13,552' · 5.95 mi
Cross the side stream, follow the valley above the willows, climb an east ridge to the south ridge and walk north to the top.
6
Adams saddle 13,050' · 6.35 mi
Walk down the east-northeast ridge toward Mount Adams.
7
South Crestone basin 12,550' · 6.75 mi
Head north, losing about 500 feet into the basin above South Crestone Lake. Early-season snow can speed this up.
8
Saddle 12,750' · 7 mi
Walk north on easy tundra to the saddle between Mount Adams and UN 13,159.
9
Summit 13,159' · 7.15 mi
Follow the ridge northwest, stepping around one rocky outcrop, to a gently sloping top.
Getting down
Drop south down a scree slope near the summit to the basin, regain the UN 13,552-Adams saddle, then head south down into the Willow Lake basin, picking a way through the willows.
If things go wrong
From the Adams saddle, the basin to the south leads back to Willow Lake.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above Willow Lake 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.
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.