Humboldt Peak East Ridge Winter Guide
Humboldt Peak East Ridge route is the popular and safest way up this 14er during the winter months. Humboldt Peak is located in the Sangre de Cristo Range in Southeast Colorado. During the winter, a trek up to this summit involves hiking up a forest road, route finding through the trees and then some Class 2 scrambling once you arrive at the true East Ridge. This mountain is a good step up from the easier Colorado 14ers during the Winter months.
Humboldt Peak East Ridge Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide: Humboldt Peak East Ridge Winter
Humboldt Peak East Ridge Trail Rating: ★★★ (⅗ Stars)
Distance: 12.5 – 13 Miles RT (Depending on variations on ridge/woods)
Elevation Start: 8,700 ft from lower TH
Summit: 14,070ft
Total Elevation Gain: 5,400ft (lower TH)
Estimated Time to Complete: 9-12 Hours (Depending on snow conditions)
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (depending on snow levels) What does this mean?
Class: Class 2 – What does this mean?
Season: December – March (This route generally melts out fairly quickly)
Avalanche Risk: Humboldt Peak in the Winter does present avalanche risk, so please understand the conditions and risks before heading out.
Directions to Humboldt Peak East Ridge
Trailhead: South Colony Lakes
Getting Here: Navigate to the town of Westcliffe, Colorado and take Colorado 69 south about 4.5 miles to Colfax Lane. Drive 5.5 miles until the road ends then take a right. Drive 1 mile to reach a fork in the road and continue straight up the dirt County Road 120. After 0.3 miles you will reach the lower parking area on your right. This is where you should park for a Winter summit. If you continue up, you are likely going to get stuck into the snow OR have limited/no parking options as private land surrounds most of the road.
Parking: The lower lot can fit about 20 cars and has no restrooms. There are a very, very limited amount of pull offs you could potentially park higher up, but see above – I don’t recommend that.
Fees: None
Summary
Camping: During the Winter months, camping near Humboldt is tricky. Your only true spot is to sleep in your vehicle at the trailhead. You might get lucky and find some spots up the Forest Road but these are typically going to be covered in snow. Be sure to not camp on Private land.
Dogs: Humboldt Peak is dog friendly, but the last ½ mile towards the summit might be tough on your pup. There are a few sections that involve some rock scrambling which might be hard for a small or inexperienced dog to make. Humboldt Peak does not have any regulations permitting dogs to come with you, but it would not be my first choice if your dog is not used to 14ers, especially in the Winter months.
Make it a Loop: Humboldt Peak East Ridge is an out and back hike. Theoretically, you could add other peaks in the area but these all involve a significant step up in terms of difficulty, ability and avalanche risk.
Trail X Factor: Snow Levels / Breaking Trail
Any 14er in the Winter is challenging. Hikers need to be prepared to deal with various levels of snow, slippery conditions, avalanche risk and of course route finding. Once you get above the treeline, the Humboldt Peak East ridge route is super straightforward. However, getting to that point can be challenging. Be sure to have a solid .gpx file to help you get from the Forest road, through the trees and eventually to treeline. This section of the hike will take you at least a few hours, if not more depending on conditions that day. Aria and I were lucky enough to have several people ahead of us breaking trail so route finding was very minimal.
Hike Tip(s): Pick Good Weather Day / Know Snow Conditions
Picking a good weather day and knowing the snow conditions on this 14er are absolutely key to a successful day. This could be a tip for any hike, especially in the Winter but a 12+ mile day is going to be long in the most perfect weather and snow. Add high winds and miles of breaking trail, this hike can turn into a sufferfest quickly. I always check weather from multiple sources and try to find trail conditions from 14ers.com so I know what to expect before I head out the door. From a packing perspective, snowshoes and gaiters are a must on this one. The rest of your usual packing list is nice to have but those two pieces of gear could save you hours of breaking trail and hypothermia.
Best Views:
The Humboldt Peak East Ridge route is far less aesthetically pleasing than the standard route but still offers great views once you are above treeline. I always love looking over at 14er Crestone Needle since it looks so rugged, especially with snow covering its rocky slopes.
Humboldt Peak East Ridge Route
*The Garmin embed is not currently working but the .gpx file is linked below.
Gear Needed
- 14er Day Hike Packing List
- Winter Backpack
- Hiking/SkiPoles
- Headlamp
- Crampons
- Crampon Bag
- La Sportiva Mountaineering Boots
- Snowpants
- Gloves
- Gaiters
- Optional: Microspikes
- Optional: Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Probe, Shovel
- Optional: Snowshoes
- Optional: Goggles
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod, Selfie Stick, GoPro 360, Drone, Insta360
- *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
