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Spanish Peaks


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Submitted By: Ben Bruestle on Mar 1, 2006
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
Latitude: 37.1709  Longitude: -104.5064 
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Spanish Peaks


Description 

Known to the natives as the Wahatoya (Breast of the Earth), and a sacred site to Navajos, these ancient volcano remnants are worth a visit if not only for the scenery. Colorado's only range that runs east-west. Impressive, intrusive dikes radiating from the twin peaks like spokes on a wheel hold promise; too bad they are mostly on private land. The area known for its phenomenal color display in the fall. Look for climbing opportunities on the Dakota Sandstone at North and Monument Lakes. A beautifully undeveloped part of the state. West Spanish Peak also holds a few virgin snow climbs/ski descents as does the nearby Culebra Range.


Getting There 

Located off State Route 12, The Highway of Legends, between LaVeta (The Vein) and Trinidad.


Amenities 

As far as Eats and Drinks in the area goes, try the "Dog Bar" in nearby Cuchara. Rover doesn't even need to stay in the car


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Spanish Peaks:
Elephant Ears   5.7     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   The Stonewall : North Lake South
El Segundo   5.8     Trad, Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   The Stonewall : North Lake South
Ronin's Revenge   5.9     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   The Stonewall : North Lake North
The Secret   5.10a     Trad, TR, 1 pitch, 50 feet   The Stonewall : North Lake North
Truck Stop Crank   5.10d     Sport, TR, 1 pitch, 40 feet   The Stonewall : North Lake South
Browse More Classics in Spanish Peaks

Comments on Spanish Peaks Add Comment
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By John McNamee
Administrator
From: Littleton, CO
Mar 2, 2006

Ben, thanks for updating this section.

By Richard M. Wright
From: Lakewood, CO
Jan 24, 2008

The intrusive granitic dikes found around West Spanish Peak actually arise on Mount Mestas, Mount Lincoln, Sheep Mountain, and randomly around La Veta pass. The dikes can be up to 100 feet high and have seen some random climbing and rappelling exercises over the years. Even the local Boy Scouts have a merit badge for rapping the dikes. Much of the land through which the dikes run is BLM or National Forest and not private. From my own recon of the area, my impression is one of variable quality granite, often enclasted with sedimentary boulders and pebbles, but amenable to some level of climbing. Some of the outcrop dikes can be very overhanging, but the main lines running off West Spanish Peak are not. That said, some of dikes are as long as 14 miles (sic!), and could turn up a host of good climbs on excellent granite. If you are really into chasing down the possibilities, the dikes are readily visible on Google Earth.