Region
Most climbed route
Highlights
- Traversing the ridge between the two peaks is a more difficult option, considered one of the four great Colorado 14er traverses.
- The summit is fully panoramic with a sense of extreme airiness and excellent views of the Great Sand Dunes off to the south.
- The standard route is a day hike from South Colony Lake, over Broken Hand Pass, and up and down the south side of the peak.
- The awe-inspiring Crestone Peak towers above the surrounding Sangres and exudes a palpable sense of adventure.
Latest summits
"Dang I love the Sangres! Crestone Needle being my favorite climb to date, I highly anticipated this one. We backpacked in to South Colony Lake the night before, got a couple hours of “sleep”, and then headed up Broken Hand Pass to catch the sunrise. After heading down the other side of the pass to the alpine lake, we started up the endless Red Gully, which I only have one sarcastic picture of. It was a beast, and of course worse on the way down. The final summit push was awesome, exposed but solid block to the top. The more I climb the more I favor technical solid holds over less challenging scree fields. This one ended up being one hell of a haul, with 5700’ gain over 14.5 miles RT. The kick is the pants was having to climb back up broken hand pass on the return, after coming back down the red gully. Being my first 14er of the year it literally took all day, and I ended up with what is hopefully temporary nerve damage in my left big toe. Cheers! " — LGH-Dan • Aug 16, 2019
"We rapped off the Needle in snow flurries and were mostly fogged in getting brief glimpses of where we were headed. As we solved the route as the weather eased and we found our way to the red gully and climbed to the summit with open views. As we summited the clouds returned and we took a few minutes to enjoy the top before making our way down. " — Yosemike • Sep 18, 2013
Photos
Awards
Challenges
About peakery awards
Log successful summits on peakery to earn awards:
Peak Badges: Earn a special badge for each unique peak you summit. See all of your badges on your Badges page.
First Ascent Award: Only 1 available per peak. Goes to the first peakery member to log a successful summit of a peak. Snag this award and the peak will forever bear your name.
King of the Mountain Award: Only 1 available per peak. Summit a peak more times than any other member. Beware: this award can be lost!
Summit Steward: Summit a peak at least 5 times to become one of its Summit Stewards. As Steward of a peak, you’re encouraged to keep that peak’s info up-to-date on peakery and spread goodwill on your future climbs up the peak.