Southern Rocky Mountains | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Peak | Mount Elbert |
Elevation | 14,440 feet (4401.2 m) [1] |
Coordinates | 39°07′04″N106°26′43″W / 39.1178°N 106.4454°W |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
States | Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming |
Parent range | Rocky Mountains |
The Southern Rocky Mountains are a major subregion of the Rocky Mountains of North America located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming, the central and western portions of Colorado, the northern portion of New Mexico, and extreme eastern portions of Utah. The Southern Rocky Mountains are also commonly known as the Southern Rockies, and since the highest peaks are located in the State of Colorado, they are sometimes known as the Colorado Rockies, although many important ranges and peaks rise in the other three states. The Southern Rockies include the highest mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains and include all 30 of the highest major peaks of the Rockies.
The Southern Rocky Mountains are generally divided from the Western Rocky Mountains by the Green River and the Colorado River below the Green River. The Southern Rockies are divided from the Central Rocky Mountains by South Pass in Wyoming and the drainage running east from the pass down the Sweetwater River and the North Platte River; and the drainage running southwest from the pass down Pacific Creek and Sandy Creek to the Green River. This divide between the Southern Rockies and the Central Rockies provided the lowest elevation traverse of the Rocky Mountain region for the historic Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the California Trail. The southern end of the Rocky Mountains are considered to be the Jemez Mountains and the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Mountains south of here in N.M. are classified as the Arizona/New Mexico Mountains using the EPA Level III Ecoregions System.
This article defines a significant summit as a summit with at least 100 meters (330 feet) of topographic prominence, and a major summit as a summit with at least 500 meters (1,600 feet) of topographic prominence. An ultra-prominent summit is a summit with at least 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) of topographic prominence.
All elevations in this article include an elevation adjustment from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). For further information, please see this United States National Geodetic Survey note.
The following table lists the mountain ranges and subranges of the Southern Rocky Mountains with their highest summit.
The following sortable table lists the 57 mountain peaks of the Southern Rocky Mountains with at least 4,000 meters (13,123.4 ft) of topographic elevation and at least 500 meters (1,640.4 ft) of topographic prominence.
Rank | Mountain Peak | State | Mountain Range | Elevation | Prominence | Isolation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mount Elbert [5] [6] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] | Colorado | Sawatch Range | 14,440 ft 4401 m | 9,093 ft 2772 m | 671 mi 1,079 km |
2 | Mount Massive [8] [9] [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 4] | Sawatch Range | 14,428 ft 4398 m | 1,961 ft 598 m | 5.06 mi 8.15 km | |
3 | Mount Harvard [11] [12] [lower-alpha 5] [lower-alpha 6] | Collegiate Peaks | 14,421 ft 4396 m | 2,327 ft 709 m | 14.92 mi 24 km | |
4 | Blanca Peak [26] [lower-alpha 16] [lower-alpha 17] | Sierra Blanca | 14,357 ft 4376 m | 5,326 ft 1623 m | 103.4 mi 166.4 km | |
5 | La Plata Peak | Collegiate Peaks | 14,343 ft 4372 m | 1,841 ft 561 m | 6.28 mi 10.1 km | |
6 | Uncompahgre Peak [52] [53] [lower-alpha 35] [lower-alpha 36] | San Juan Mountains | 14,321 ft 4365 m | 4,277 ft 1304 m | 85.1 mi 136.9 km | |
7 | Crestone Peak [29] [lower-alpha 18] [lower-alpha 19] | Crestones | 14,300 ft 4359 m | 4,554 ft 1388 m | 27.4 mi 44.1 km | |
8 | Mount Lincoln [80] [81] [lower-alpha 58] [lower-alpha 59] | Mosquito Range | 14,293 ft 4357 m | 3,862 ft 1177 m | 22.6 mi 36.3 km | |
9 | Castle Peak [117] [118] [lower-alpha 86] [lower-alpha 87] | Elk Mountains | 14,279 ft 4352 m | 2,365 ft 721 m | 20.9 mi 33.7 km | |
10 | Grays Peak [87] [88] [lower-alpha 62] [lower-alpha 63] | Front Range | 14,278 ft 4352 m | 2,770 ft 844 m | 25 mi 40.3 km | |
11 | Mount Antero [16] [17] [lower-alpha 9] [lower-alpha 10] | Sawatch Range | 14,276 ft 4351 m | 2,503 ft 763 m | 17.75 mi 28.6 km | |
12 | Mount Blue Sky [89] [90] [lower-alpha 64] [lower-alpha 65] | Front Range | 14,271 ft 4350 m | 2,769 ft 844 m | 9.79 mi 15.76 km | |
13 | Longs Peak [93] [94] [lower-alpha 66] [lower-alpha 67] | Front Range | 14,259 ft 4346 m | 2,940 ft 896 m | 43.6 mi 70.2 km | |
14 | Mount Wilson [55] [lower-alpha 37] [lower-alpha 38] | San Miguel Mountains PB | 14,252 ft 4344 m | 4,024 ft 1227 m | 33.1 mi 53.2 km | |
15 | Mount Princeton NGS | Collegiate Peaks | 14,204 ft 4329 m | 2,177 ft 664 m | 5.19 mi 8.36 km | |
16 | Mount Yale NGS | Collegiate Peaks | 14,202 ft 4329 m | 1,876 ft 572 m | 5.55 mi 8.93 km | |
17 | Maroon Peak NGS | Elk Mountains | 14,163 ft 4317 m | 2,336 ft 712 m | 8.06 mi 12.97 km | |
18 | Mount Sneffels [57] [58] [lower-alpha 39] [lower-alpha 40] | Sneffels Range PB | 14,158 ft 4315 m | 3,050 ft 930 m | 15.73 mi 25.3 km | |
19 | Capitol Peak | Elk Mountains | 14,137 ft 4309 m | 1,730 ft 527 m | 7.44 mi 11.98 km | |
20 | Pikes Peak [103] [104] [lower-alpha 74] [lower-alpha 75] | Pikes Peak Massif | 14,115 ft 4302 m | 5,530 ft 1686 m | 60.8 mi 97.8 km | |
21 | Mount Eolus [60] [lower-alpha 41] [lower-alpha 42] | Needle Mountains | 14,089 ft 4294 m | 2,183 ft 665 m | 15.63 mi 25.2 km | |
22 | Handies Peak NGS | San Juan Mountains | 14,058 ft 4285 m | 1,888 ft 575 m | 11.18 mi 18 km | |
23 | Culebra Peak [32] [lower-alpha 21] [lower-alpha 22] | Culebra Range | 14,053 ft 4283 m | 4,827 ft 1471 m | 35.5 mi 57.1 km | |
24 | San Luis Peak [162] [163] [lower-alpha 120] | San Juan Mountains | 14,022 ft 4274 m | 3,113 ft 949 m | 27 mi 43.4 km | |
25 | Mount of the Holy Cross [22] [23] [lower-alpha 13] [lower-alpha 14] [lower-alpha 15] | Sawatch Range | 14,011 ft 4271 m | 2,111 ft 643 m | 18.52 mi 29.8 km | |
26 | Grizzly Peak NGS | Collegiate Peaks | 13,995 ft 4266 m | 1,908 ft 582 m | 6.77 mi 10.89 km | |
27 | Mount Ouray [19] [20] [lower-alpha 11] [lower-alpha 12] | Sawatch Range | 13,961 ft 4255 m | 2,659 ft 810 m | 13.58 mi 21.9 km | |
28 | Vermilion Peak PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,900 ft 4237 m | 2,105 ft 642 m | 9.07 mi 14.6 km | |
29 | Mount Silverheels NGS PB | Front Range | 13,829 ft 4215 m | 2,283 ft 696 m | 5.48 mi 8.82 km | |
30 | Rio Grande Pyramid NGS PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,827 ft 4214 m | 1,861 ft 567 m | 10.76 mi 17.31 km | |
31 | Bald Mountain PB | Front Range | 13,690 ft 4173 m | 2,099 ft 640 m | 7.51 mi 12.09 km | |
32 | Mount Oso | San Juan Mountains | 13,690 ft 4173 m | 1,664 ft 507 m | 5.47 mi 8.81 km | |
33 | Mount Jackson PB | Sawatch Range | 13,676 ft 4169 m | 1,810 ft 552 m | 3.21 mi 5.16 km | |
34 | Bard Peak PB | Front Range | 13,647 ft 4159 m | 1,701 ft 518 m | 5.43 mi 8.74 km | |
35 | Peak 10 PB | Tenmile Range | 13,640 ft 4157 m | 1,759 ft 536 m | 0.87 mi 1.4 km | |
36 | West Spanish Peak [34] [lower-alpha 23] [lower-alpha 24] | Spanish Peaks | 13,631 ft 4155 m | 3,686 ft 1123 m | 20.4 mi 32.9 km | |
37 | Mount Powell [125] [lower-alpha 92] [lower-alpha 93] | Gore Range | 13,586 ft 4141 m | 3,000 ft 914 m | 21.6 mi 34.8 km | |
38 | Hagues Peak [96] [97] [lower-alpha 68] [lower-alpha 69] | Mummy Range | 13,573 ft 4137 m | 2,420 ft 738 m | 15.92 mi 25.6 km | |
39 | Tower Mountain PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,558 ft 4132 m | 1,652 ft 504 m | 5.36 mi 8.62 km | |
40 | Treasure Mountain PB | Elk Mountains | 13,535 ft 4125 m | 2,821 ft 860 m | 6.92 mi 11.13 km | |
41 | North Arapaho Peak [99] [100] [lower-alpha 70] [lower-alpha 71] | Indian Peaks PB | 13,508 ft 4117 m | 1,665 ft 507 m | 15.4 mi 24.8 km | |
42 | Parry Peak | Front Range | 13,397 ft 4083 m | 1,731 ft 528 m | 9.46 mi 15.22 km | |
43 | Bill Williams Peak [14] [lower-alpha 7] [lower-alpha 8] | Williams Mountains PB | 13,389 ft 4081 m | 1,682 ft 513 m | 3.73 mi 6 km | |
44 | Sultan Mountain PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,373 ft 4076 m | 1,868 ft 569 m | 4.59 mi 7.39 km | |
45 | West Buffalo Peak PB | Mosquito Range | 13,332 ft 4064 m | 1,986 ft 605 m | 10.18 mi 16.38 km | |
46 | Mount Herard PB | Sangre de Cristo Range | 13,325 ft 4062 m | 2,040 ft 622 m | 4.64 mi 7.47 km | |
47 | Summit Peak [73] [74] [lower-alpha 52] [lower-alpha 53] | San Juan Mountains | 13,308 ft 4056 m | 2,760 ft 841 m | 39.9 mi 64.2 km | |
48 | Dolores Peak PB | San Miguel Mountains PB | 13,296 ft 4053 m | 1,950 ft 594 m | 4.98 mi 8.02 km | |
49 | Antora Peak PB | Sawatch Range | 13,275 ft 4046 m | 2,409 ft 734 m | 6.75 mi 10.86 km | |
50 | Henry Mountain PB | Sawatch Range | 13,261 ft 4042 m | 1,674 ft 510 m | 11.53 mi 18.55 km | |
51 | Lavender Peak PB | La Plata Mountains | 13,245 ft 4037 m | 2,860 ft 872 m | 24.8 mi 39.9 km | |
52 | Jacque Peak PB | Gore Range | 13,211 ft 4027 m | 2,065 ft 629 m | 4.52 mi 7.28 km | |
53 | Bennett Peak PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,209 ft 4026 m | 1,743 ft 531 m | 17.1 mi 27.5 km | |
54 | Conejos Peak NGS PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,179 ft 4017 m | 1,912 ft 583 m | 8.15 mi 13.12 km | |
55 | Wheeler Peak [36] [37] [lower-alpha 25] [lower-alpha 26] | New Mexico | Taos Mountains | 13,167 ft 4013 m | 3,409 ft 1039 m | 37.4 mi 60.1 km |
56 | Twilight Peak [64] [lower-alpha 45] [lower-alpha 46] | Colorado | West Needle Mountains PB | 13,163 ft 4012 m | 2,338 ft 713 m | 4.88 mi 7.86 km |
57 | South River Peak PB | San Juan Mountains | 13,154 ft 4009 m | 2,448 ft 746 m | 22 mi 35.3 km |
The following sortable table lists the three ultra prominent summits of the Southern Rocky Mountains (with at least 1,500 meters (4,921.3 ft) of topographic prominence.)
Rank | Mountain Peak | State | Mountain Range | Elevation | Prominence | Isolation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mount Elbert [5] [6] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] | Colorado | Sawatch Range | 14,440 ft 4401 m | 9,093 ft 2772 m | 671 mi 1,079 km |
2 | Pikes Peak [103] [104] [lower-alpha 74] [lower-alpha 75] | Pikes Peak Massif | 14,115 ft 4302 m | 5,530 ft 1686 m | 60.8 mi 97.8 km | |
3 | Blanca Peak [26] [lower-alpha 16] [lower-alpha 17] | Sierra Blanca Massif | 14,357 ft 4376 m | 5,326 ft 1623 m | 103.4 mi 166.4 km |
The following sortable table lists the 15 most topographically isolated peaks of the Southern Rocky Mountains with a topographic isolation of at least 50 kilometers (31.07 mi) and a topographic prominence of at least 500 meters (1,640.4 ft).
The following sortable table lists progressively the easternmost Rocky Mountain summits of their respective elevation.
Rank | Mountain Peak | State | Mountain Range | Elevation | Prominence | Isolation | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fishers Peak [160] [161] [lower-alpha 118] [lower-alpha 119] | Colorado | Raton Mesa | 9,633 ft 2936 m | 1,847 ft 563 m | 32.4 mi 52.2 km | 37.0982°N 104.4628°W |
2 | East Spanish Peak [164] [165] [lower-alpha 121] [lower-alpha 122] | Spanish Peaks | 12,688 ft 3867 m | 2,383 ft 726 m | 4.21 mi 6.78 km | 37.3934°N 104.9201°W | |
3 | West Spanish Peak [34] [lower-alpha 23] [lower-alpha 24] | 13,631 ft 4155 m | 3,686 ft 1123 m | 20.4 mi 32.9 km | 37.3756°N 104.9934°W | ||
4 | Pikes Peak [103] [104] [lower-alpha 74] [lower-alpha 75] | Front Range | 14,115 ft 4302 m | 5,530 ft 1686 m | 60.8 mi 97.8 km | 38.8405°N 105.0442°W | |
5 | Blanca Peak [26] [lower-alpha 16] [lower-alpha 17] | Sangre de Cristo Mountains | 14,357 ft 4376 m | 5,326 ft 1623 m | 103.4 mi 166.4 km | 37.5775°N 105.4856°W | |
6 | Mount Harvard [11] [12] [lower-alpha 5] [lower-alpha 6] | Sawatch Range | 14,421 ft 4396 m | 2,327 ft 709 m | 14.92 mi 24 km | 38.9244°N 106.3207°W | |
7 | Mount Elbert [5] [6] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] | 14,440 ft 4401 m | 9,093 ft 2772 m | 671 mi 1,079 km | 39.1178°N 106.4454°W |
The following sortable table lists the paved mountain passes and highway summits of the Southern Rocky Mountains.
Rank | Mountain Pass | State | Elevation | Route |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway [166] [167] | Colorado | 14,160 feet 4316 m | |
2 | Pikes Peak Highway [168] | 14,115 feet 4302 m | ||
3 | Trail Ridge Road [167] [169] | 12,183 feet 3713 m | ||
4 | Cottonwood Pass [167] [170] [171] | 12,119 feet 3694 m | CR 306 | CR 209/|
5 | Independence Pass [167] [170] | 12,095 feet 3687 m | ||
6 | Loveland Pass [170] | 11,992 feet 3655 m | ||
7 | Hoosier Pass [170] | 11,541 feet 3518 m | ||
8 | Slumgullion Pass | 11,361 feet 3463 m | ||
9 | Fremont Pass [170] | 11,318 feet 3450 m | ||
10 | Berthoud Pass [170] | 11,315 feet 3449 m | ||
11 | Monarch Pass [170] | 11,312 feet 3448 m | ||
12 | Eisenhower Tunnel [172] | 11,158 feet 3401 m | ||
13 | Warrior Mountain Summit [173] | 11,140 feet 3395 m | ||
14 | Juniper Pass | 11,040 feet 3365 m | ||
15 | Red Mountain Pass | 11,018 feet 3358 m | ||
16 | Molas Divide | 10,910 feet 3325 m | ||
17 | Spring Creek Pass [170] | 10,901 feet 3323 m | ||
18 | Wolf Creek Pass [170] | 10,850 feet 3307 m | ||
19 | Snowy Range Pass [167] | Wyoming | 10,847 feet 3306 m | |
20 | Grand Mesa Summit | Colorado | 10,839 feet 3304 m | |
21 | Milner Pass [169] [170] | 10,758 feet 3279 m | ||
22 | Vail Pass | 10,666 feet 3251 m | ||
23 | Coal Bank Pass | 10,640 feet 3243 m | ||
24 | Tennessee Pass [170] | 10,424 feet 3177 m | ||
25 | Cameron Pass | 10,276 feet 3132 m | ||
26 | La Manga Pass | 10,230 feet 3118 m | ||
27 | Lizard Head Pass | 10,222 feet 3116 m | ||
28 | North Pass [170] | 10,149 feet 3093 m | ||
29 | Cumbres Pass | 10,022 feet 3055 m | ||
30 | Kenosha Pass | 10,001 feet 3048 m | ||
31 | Red Hill Pass | 3046 m | 9,993 feet||
32 | Cucharas Pass | 3030 m | 9,941 feet||
33 | Battle Pass [167] [170] | Wyoming | 3022 m | 9,915 feet|
34 | Bobcat Pass | New Mexico | 2997 m | 9,833 feet|
35 | Willow Creek Pass [170] | Colorado | 2932 m | 9,621 feet|
36 | Gore Pass | 2904 m | 9,527 feet||
37 | Wilkerson Pass | 2898 m | 9,507 feet||
38 | Currant Creek Pass | 2890 m | 9,482 feet||
39 | Rabbit Ears Pass [170] | 2873 m | 9,426 feet||
40 | North La Veta Pass | 2869 m | 9,413 feet||
41 | Trout Creek Pass | 2849 m | 9,346 feet||
42 | Battle Mountain Summit | 2825 m | 9,267 feet||
43 | Ute Pass | 2793 m | 9,165 feet||
44 | Wind River Pass | 2788 m | 9,148 feet||
45 | Black Mesa Summit | 2780 m | 9,121 feet||
46 | Palo Flechado Pass | New Mexico | 2776 m | 9,109 feet|
47 | Hardscrabble Pass | Colorado | 2769 m | 9,085 feet|
48 | Poncha Pass | 2746 m | 9,010 feet||
49 | Dallas Divide | 2734 m | 8,970 feet||
50 | Muddy Pass [170] | 2674 m | 8,772 feet||
51 | McClure Pass | 2669 m | 8,755 feet||
52 | Blue Mesa Summit | 2653 m | 8,704 feet||
53 | Wondervu Hill | 2640 m | 8,660 feet||
54 | Happy Jack Summit [174] | Wyoming | 2633 m | 8,640 feet|
55 | U.S. Hill | New Mexico | 2610 m | 8,562 feet|
56 | Douglas Pass | Colorado | 2520 m | 8,268 feet|
57 | Cerro Summit | 2423 m | 7,950 feet||
58 | Raton Pass [175] | New Mexico | 2388 m | 7,834 feet|
59 | Yellowjacket Pass | Colorado | 2372 m | 7,783 feet|
60 | Glorieta Pass | New Mexico | 2303 m | 7,557 feet|
61 | South Pass [176] | Wyoming | 2301 m | 7,550 feet|
62 | Monument Hill | Colorado | 2238 m | 7,343 feet|
63 | Morton Pass | Wyoming | 2186 m | 7,173 feet|
64 | Unaweep Divide | Colorado | 2148 m | 7,048 feet|
65 | Separation Summit | Wyoming | 2135 m | 7,005 feet|
66 | Robinson Summit [170] | 2111 m | 6,927 feet
In the mountaineering parlance of the Western United States, a fourteener is a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 14,000 ft (4267 m). The 96 fourteeners in the United States are all west of the Mississippi River. Colorado has the most (53) of any single state; Alaska is second with 29. Many peak baggers try to climb all fourteeners in the contiguous United States, one particular state, or another region.