Recommended Route
The Northwest Ridge is the standard route to La Plata’s summit. Hikers often cut the numerous switchbacks on this route, a practice which leads to braided trails and the trampling of fragile alpine plants. Please help preserve La Plata by staying on the designated trail and following cairns through sections of the route that pass through talus along the ridgeline.
For detailed route information including directions, photos, maps, and elevation profiles, please click here.
Interesting Facts
La Plata Peak is six miles south of Mount Elbert and three miles south of Colorado 82, in between Twin Lakes and Independence Pass. Leadville and Buena Vista are the nearest towns to the peak. The rugged North face of La Plata Peak is a narrow and exposed 2-mile collection of pinnacles, cuts, and rock faces. Named Ellingwood Ridge, it is now one the classic technical climbs in the Sawatch.
CFI’s Work and Current Volunteer Needs
In 1999, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado completed trail work and a reroute near La Plata’s summit. In 2004 and 2005, CFI’s Adopt-A-Peak staff worked to complete a small reroute with the assistance of several youth corps programs. While Colorado College’s New Student Orientation group provides some assistance on La Plata, CFI’s Adopt-A-Peak program needs another group to help with trail maintenance on this peak. Groups that perform these duties through our Adopt-A-Peak program provide an invaluable service to Colorado’s high peaks by preventing future damage and promoting full recovery from past impacts.
If your group is interested in volunteering on La Plata or on a different Fourteener, please contact CFI at 303/278-7365 or via e-mail at adopt@14ers.org. We also offer a range of different volunteer opportunities for individuals. Find out more here.
Disclaimer
The above information does not replace the need to consult additional maps and Colorado Fourteener Guidebooks for more detailed route descriptions. We suggest checking multiple resources before departing on any hike. Keep in mind that not all guidebooks list this recommended route and that each guidebook’s description or route name may vary slightly.