La Plata Peak

The trailhead parking for this route is about 14.5 miles west from the junction of Highway 24 and Highway 82.This route may be inaccessible in the winter due to no winter highway maintenance past Twin Lakes. Park in the roadside parking area.

Follow the 82C forest road across a bridge. North Fork Lake Creek is beneath you. The trail begins shortly after the bridge as the road reaches a 90 degree turn. The trail is on the left. You’ll reach South Lake Fork Creek just after leaving the road. Near 0.5 miles, the trail forks. Keep right, traveling almost directly south. The trail on the left takes Ellingwood Ridge and involves advanced technical climbing.

You’ll follow a pretty straight trail until treeline, which starts breaking around 1.8 miles, 11,100ft. The trail will become switchbacky and much steeper here. Always stay on the dirt and don’t cut onto the grasses. This terrain is incredibly fragile. The trail remains defined as it switches higher onto the ridge, and then starts taking you south again.

The home stretch becomes increasingly rocky, and maintains a class two difficulty. You may have to use hands or poles to balance as you step over certain rocks. The summit looks over Twin Lakes, Mt. Elbert, and much of the Sawatch Range. Enjoy the views and all the wildflowers along the way! Return back the way you came.