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The Sawatch Range holds more fourteeners than any range in Colorado, and a dozen are within about an hour of Salida. Most standard routes are long, steady walks rather than scrambles. The hard part is the elevation and the weather.
| Peak | Elevation | From Salida | Standard trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Shavano | 14,230 | ~25 min | Shavano/Tabeguache TH (Blank Gulch), FR 252. About 10 mi round trip, 4,500 ft of gain. |
| Tabeguache Peak | 14,158 | ~25 min | Via Shavano. Add it for about 12 mi and 5,600 ft. |
| Mount Antero | 14,271 | ~40 min | Baldwin Gulch, Chalk Creek. Rough 4WD road. |
| Mount Princeton | 14,200 | ~40 min | Mount Princeton Road. About 6.5 mi round trip from the radio towers, 13 mi from the lower lot. |
| Mount Yale | 14,200 | ~50 min | Denny Creek, Cottonwood Pass Road. |
| Mount Columbia | 14,075 | ~50 min | North Cottonwood. |
| Mount Harvard | 14,424 | ~50 min | North Cottonwood. |
| Mount Belford | 14,202 | ~1 hr 10 min | Missouri Gulch. |
| Mount Oxford | 14,158 | ~1 hr 10 min | Missouri Gulch, over Belford. |
| Missouri Mountain | 14,071 | ~1 hr 10 min | Missouri Gulch. |
| Huron Peak | 14,006 | ~1 hr 20 min | South Winfield, Clear Creek Road. |
| La Plata Peak | 14,344 | ~1 hr 20 min | La Plata TH on CO 82. |
Elevations from 14ers.com. Drive times are rough estimates to the trailhead turnoff.
Shavano is the local favorite. The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is rebuilding its trail in a multi-year project that started in 2022. Pick up a free wag bag at the AHRA Visitor Center or the Salida Ranger District before you go.
Know before you go
- Start in the dark. Plan to summit by late morning and turn around when clouds start building, wherever you are.
- Altitude hits visitors hard. Take a day or two in town first, drink a lot of water and go easy on alcohol.
- Carry a CORSAR card. It funds search and rescue in Colorado.
- Snow lingers on north faces into July. Early and late in the season, bring traction.
Resources
Get the free Mount Shavano trail card
A one-page card with the route, key turns, rules, emergency numbers and our gear list. Print it or save it to your phone. We'll send it right away and email you local beta for the activities you pick, a few times a season. No spam.
Common questions
Which fourteener is best for a first-timer near Salida?
Mount Princeton from the radio towers is one of the shorter options at about 6.5 miles round trip, if your vehicle can handle the road. Mount Shavano is the local classic but longer, at about 10 miles and 4,500 feet.
When is fourteener season?
Mostly July through September. Snow lingers on north faces into July, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, so start before dawn.
Do I need a CORSAR card?
It's a good idea. A CORSAR card costs $3 a year and funds search and rescue teams in Colorado.
Keep exploring
Checked October 2026 against the agencies linked on this page. Rules change, so confirm before you go, and stop by the shop at 110 N F Street for the latest.