San Luis Peak Trip Report 07/21/2023

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	San Luis Peak - 14,023 feet
Date Posted	07/21/2023
Modified	07/25/2023
Date Climbed	07/21/2023
Author	ElScurto

San Luis Standard Route
Getting there: We left Denver around 4pm, and GPS quoted us to arrive around 10, but we arrived to the TH around 9:30pm. We took Monarch Pass out to Parlin and then South on CO-114 (I was very impressed since half the road going in was freshly paved - beautiful drive with the sunset!) There were lots of hairpins and some bumps, but it was a very easy road to travel on; I am confident most any clearance car could make it. There were two small creek crossings with concrete built in to help vehicles over. Even with all the precipitation we have had this spring, the water depth was only a few inches. I had read somewhere that people can camp at the trailhead, but we did not think there was ample space. We chose to camp 1/4 mile down the road at the Eddiesville Trailhead, which offered a large field, fire pit and 2 pit toilets. The hike: We started at 6:30am at the Stewart Creek Trailhead and had a pleasant, steady climb for five miles along the creek. There were notes of fallen trees on the trailhead, and we encountered about a dozen or so fallen trees that require crouching and/or climbing over to continue on. The views were fantastic and so were the animal sightings - we saw a beaver, tiny garter snake, chipmunks, a ptarmigan and moose tracks! Nature is metal ð¤ð» Beaver sighting at one of the many ponds To note: the trailhead sign states the distance to San Luis Peak is 5.5 miles, however we logged the distance to the summit as ~6.8 miles with our Garmin. Steward Creek Trailhead Starting at about five miles, we began our climb out of tree line. The grade became much steeper. The trail was well-maintained to the summit with imbedded stone steps in several places, and the trail was even visible through the talus. Earlier summer reports this year mentioned several snow fields but by late July we had none to cross. The summit was surprisingly small! We met up with several folks who had hiked up the Southern approach (I have also done the southern approach, however the standard route is much more pleasant despite its longer length, IMO). The weather was phenomenal, not a gray cloud in site… we had a great day! Side note: Eddiesville Trailhead is right on the Colorado trail, so we had a chance to share donuts, beer and stories with several thru hikers. ð Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

San Luis Standard Route

Getting there:

We left Denver around 4pm, and GPS quoted us to arrive around 10, but we arrived to the TH around 9:30pm.

We took Monarch Pass out to Parlin and then South on CO-114 (I was very impressed since half the road going in was freshly paved - beautiful drive with the sunset!)

There were lots of hairpins and some bumps, but it was a very easy road to travel on; I am confident most any clearance car could make it. There were two small creek crossings with concrete built in to help vehicles over. Even with all the precipitation we have had this spring, the water depth was only a few inches.

I had read somewhere that people can camp at the trailhead, but we did not think there was ample space. We chose to camp 1/4 mile down the road at the Eddiesville Trailhead, which offered a large field, fire pit and 2 pit toilets.

The hike:

We started at 6:30am at the Stewart Creek Trailhead and had a pleasant, steady climb for five miles along the creek. There were notes of fallen trees on the trailhead, and we encountered about a dozen or so fallen trees that require crouching and/or climbing over to continue on. The views were fantastic and so were the animal sightings - we saw a beaver, tiny garter snake, chipmunks, a ptarmigan and moose tracks! Nature is metal ð¤ð»

22166_01 — Beaver sighting at one of the many ponds

To note: the trailhead sign states the distance to San Luis Peak is 5.5 miles, however we logged the distance to the summit as ~6.8 miles with our Garmin.

Starting at about five miles, we began our climb out of tree line. The grade became much steeper. The trail was well-maintained to the summit with imbedded stone steps in several places, and the trail was even visible through the talus. Earlier summer reports this year mentioned several snow fields but by late July we had none to cross.

The summit was surprisingly small! We met up with several folks who had hiked up the Southern approach (I have also done the southern approach, however the standard route is much more pleasant despite its longer length, IMO).

The weather was phenomenal, not a gray cloud in site… we had a great day!

Side note: Eddiesville Trailhead is right on the Colorado trail, so we had a chance to share donuts, beer and stories with several thru hikers. ð

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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