コスティラ郡のおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Important Tip: Use 14ers.com for driving directions—not AllTrails! AllTrails will take you to the wrong gate. This hike was absolutely amazing. The views were stunning, and wildflowers were everywhere. Walking across open tundra without a defined trail felt wrong. The ranch was super welcoming—make sure to arrive by 6 a.m. to avoid missing your hike. The road up to the upper parking lot wasn’t too bad overall, but the final descent into the parking area is steep and rocky, with medium to large rocks—so be prepared.

Wear good footware

Culebra Peak is a beautiful mountain, 14,047 ft high in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. From the summit you can see Red Mountain, and have a clear view of the expanse of the wilderness area. This is the only privately owned 14-er mountain in the United States, located in Cielo Vista Ranch, and the fee to hike this trail is $150. The ranch allows hikers between January to July. If you wish to go, you can book your ticket here: https://www.cielo-vista-ranch.info/product/hiking/

The trail to Culebra Peak is exposed, but not dangerous, peak reached by a consistent uphill hike. One of the things to consider is the snow at the beginning of the year, that makes the terrain more difficult to navigate. The trail is not very well-marked; it’s pretty much finding the way up until you reach the ridge, and then just following it to the summit. A more direct route is possible by crossing the stream below the parking lot area, and then hiking southeast up Culebra's northwest slopes.

Blanca Peak is a very menacing, 14350 ft summit, in Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Reaching the peak is usually combined with a trip via Ellingwood Point, as the summits are close to one another. The trail to Blanca Peak is highest and less technical than Ellingwood. Some alpine hiking experience is required to get to this summit.

Ellingwood Point is a 14048ft summit, reached only by a challenging hike in mostly rocky terrain. The ridge to the Ellingwood Point is one of the most challenging parts of the traverse to Ellingwood and Blanca Peak. Part of the terrain is class 3 climbing, but there’s no need for special gear to do it. However, for your safety, it’s better to have some experience with alpine hiking and is also recommended to check if the weather is stable before you go.

Lake Como sits at 11745 ft, at the base of Little Bear Peak and Blanca Peak. It's a green water lake surrounded by forest, with scenic alpine views. The road leading to the trailhead, Mount Blanca Road, is risky to access by regular vehicle, it's recommended to go with a 4x4.