Elevation: 12,998 ft
GPS: 37.6566, -107.6015
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 379,979 total · 2,831/month
Shared By: Matthias Holladay on Mar 5, 2012
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description

Rosebrough's guide, San Juan Mountains a Climbing and Hiking Guide is worth every penny.

Climbers here in the Four Corners are blessed to have such a concentration of mountaineering splendor as there is in the San Juans. This range is comprised of the Needles and Grenadiers, the two areas that form the core of true backcountry mountaineering; the other sub-ranges are the North San Juans and the West Needles. 

The Grenadiers, a row of proud sentinels, are also known as the Quartzite Peaks, while the Needles are a haphazard mix of peaks and passes, culminating in the Sunlight-Windom massif.

Getting There

The easiest and quickest way to get into the heart of these peaks is to take the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad from either Silverton or Durango to Elk Park or Needleton. Alternately, and depending on which areas one intends to visit, one could approach from Beartown, American Basin, Andrews Lake, Molas Switchbacks, Vallecito, Purgatory Flats, etc.

Bats - conservation

See a bat on a route, give a shout. Bats have been reported as high as 12,500'. Climbers for Bat Conservation is working with climbers to understand bat ecology and why bats choose certain cracks and flakes. If you see bats, and want to tell them, here is their email (climbersforbats@colostate.edu) and their website ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Climbers for Bat Conservation is a collaboration between climbers, bat biologists, and land managers to understand where bats roost and where large populations may reside. They are interested in finding bats because a new disease, called white-nose syndrome ( whitenosesyndrome.org/), has killed millions of bats in North America. This collaboration has identified bat roosts throughout the U.S., and as far away as Norway and Bulgaria. CBC was developed by biologists who climb and they are advocates for climbing access and bat conservation. If you see bats while climbing, please let them know by emailing them at climbersforbats@colostate.edu, or visiting their website to learn more ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Rob Schorr

Zoologist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program ( sites.warnercnr.colostate.e…)

Director, Climbers for Bat Conservation

Robert.schorr@colostate.edu 

102 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: San Juans Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at San Juans

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Steep Snow
 32
Snake (Dogleg) Couloir
Trad, Snow, Alpine
Mod. Snow
 12
Naked Lady Couloir
Trad, Snow, Alpine
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a
 50
Southwest Ridge
Trad, Alpine
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b
 22
West Buttress
Trad, Alpine
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b
 9
Lower Ramp
Trad, Alpine
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c
 23
North Face (submitted as Normal…
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a
 23
East Face/Dallas Peak
Trad, Alpine
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R
 159
Wham Ridge
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R
 4
NNE Ridge
Trad, Alpine
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R
 3
Campbell to Hayden 10x13
Trad, Alpine
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 13
Southwest Chimney
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 15
North Buttress
Trad, Alpine
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
 40
Center Shift on Wham Ridge
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 55
Southwest Chimney
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 18
Standard Route, Sunlight Spire
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Snake (Dogleg) Couloir Mt Sneffels
 32
Steep Snow Trad, Snow, Alpine
Naked Lady Couloir Needles > W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
 12
Mod. Snow Trad, Snow, Alpine
Southwest Ridge Mt Sneffels
 50
3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a Trad, Alpine
West Buttress Needles > W Needle Mountains > Snowdon Peak
 22
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Trad, Alpine
Lower Ramp Grenadiers > Arrow Peak
 9
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Trad, Alpine
North Face (submitted as No… Needles > Jagged Mountain
 23
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
East Face/Dallas Peak Dallas Peak
 23
5.3 3+ 10 III 9 VD 3a Trad, Alpine
Wham Ridge Grenadiers > Vestal Peak
 159
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
NNE Ridge Northern San Juans > Wilson Peak
 4
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R Trad, Alpine
Campbell to Hayden 10x13 Northern San Juans > Northern San Juan Tra…
 3
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a R Trad, Alpine
Southwest Chimney Uncompahgre/Big… > Coxcomb Peak
 13
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
North Buttress Mt Sneffels
 15
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, Alpine
Center Shift on Wham Ridge Grenadiers > Vestal Peak
 40
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Southwest Chimney Northern San Juans > Lizard Head
 55
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
Standard Route, Sunlight Spire Needles > Sunlight Spire
 18
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
More Classic Climbs in San Juans »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos