Sunlight Peak

Sunlight Peak

Sunlight Peak from Twin Lakes
Highest point
Elevation 14,065 ft (4,287 m) [1][2]
Prominence 399 ft (122 m) [2]
Isolation 0.48 mi (0.77 km) [2]
Listing Colorado Fourteener 39th
Coordinates 37°37′38″N 107°35′45″W / 37.6272215°N 107.5958933°W / 37.6272215; -107.5958933Coordinates: 37°37′38″N 107°35′45″W / 37.6272215°N 107.5958933°W / 37.6272215; -107.5958933 [3]
Geography
Sunlight Peak

Colorado

Location La Plata County, Colorado, U.S.[3]
Parent range San Juan Mountains,
Needle Mountains[2]
Topo map USGS 7.5' topographic map
Storm King Peak, Colorado[3]
Climbing
Easiest route Red Couloir: scramble (class 4)

Sunlight Peak is a high mountain summit of the Needle Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,065-foot (4,287 m) fourteener is located in the Weminuche Wilderness of San Juan National Forest, 28.5 miles (45.8 km) northeast by north (bearing 32°) of the City of Durango in La Plata County, Colorado, United States.[1][2][3]

Sunlight Peak was so named in 1902; the name is likely descriptive.[4]

Climbing

Sunlight Peak is one of three fourteeners in the Needle Mountains; the other two are Mount Eolus and Windom Peak. Windom and Sunlight lie on the east side of Twin Lakes, in upper Chicago Basin, while Eolus lies on the west side. All three peaks are relatively remote by Colorado standards, and have a strong wilderness character; however they can be popular in summer.

The standard route up Sunlight Peak is from the south, known as the "Red Couloir". It is a non-technical scramble, but achieving the top of the summit block does require an exposed rock climbing move.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 The elevation of Sunlight Peak includes an adjustment of +1.804 m (+5.92 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sunlight Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sunlight Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ Dziezynski, James (1 August 2012). Best Summit Hikes in Colorado: An Opinionated Guide to 50+ Ascents of Classic and Little-Known Peaks from 8,144 to 14,433 Feet. Wilderness Press. p. 275. ISBN 978-0-89997-713-3.
  5. ↑ Louis W. Dawson II (1996). Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners, Volume 2. Blue Clover Press. ISBN 0-9628867-2-6.


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