San Juan Range OverviewThe San Juan Range is the largest mountain range in Colorado. It dominates southwestern Colorado. In Colorado, the San Juans are second in snowfall only to the Park Range. The San Juan Range is home to 337 peaks above thirteen thousand feet.
Dallas Peak from Gilpin Peak. Photo: RyanS |
Dallas Peak OverviewDallas Peak is located in the San Juan Range 2 miles southwest of Mount Sneffels. Dallas is considered the most difficult ranked peak above 13,113 feet in Colorado to climb. Dallas Peak requires 5.3 climbing and difficult route finding. The first five ascents are listed in the table below. Spencer Swanger’s ascent in 1976 made him the first person to climb the 100 highest peaks in Colorado (1,2). Art Porter and R.J. Campbell were the first to approach from the south (3).
| Ascent | Year | Name(s) | Reference(s) |
| 1 | 1934 | Don McBride & Everett C. Long | 4 |
| 2 | 1956 | Stuart Krebs | 5 |
| 3 | 1976 | Spencer Swanger | 6 |
| 4 | 1979 | Dick Deitz & Stan Laidlaw | 1,7 |
| 5 | 1980 | Art Porter & R.J. Campbell | 3 |
Dallas Peak from 13441. Photo: Jack B |
Getting ThereLate Spring-Early Summer
Drive 4.8 miles west of Ridgway, Colorado Highway 62 to Dallas Creek Road. Drive 8.5 miles on Dallas Creek Road to the Blue Lakes Trailhead at 9,320 feet. Follow the Blue Lake Trail 3 miles to the west side of lower Blue Lake at 11,000 feet. Climb south-southeast up a wide gully that gains the 12,974 foot saddle on Dallas Peak’s east ridge. Climb the ridge to the base of Dallas Peak’s summit tower. This route is recommended when the gully is holding snow (2,8)
Mid Summer-Fall
Drive 1.9 east from Society Turn on CO 145. Turn left onto Mill Creek Road. Follow Mill Creek Road 1.7 miles to the Mill Creek Trailhead at 9,420 feet (9). Refer to the East Ridge Route Page for details on approaching from the Mill Creek Trailhead and climbing the summit tower.
Dallas Peak from its East Ridge. Photo: nickd |
Red TapeDallas Peak is located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness.CampingCamp at the Mill Creek Trailhead, between 11,200 and 11,400 feet on the Sneffels Highline Trail or at lower Blue Lake.References1. Roof of the Rockies Third Edition
2. San Juan Mountains
3. Trail and Timberline, July/August 1980.
4. Trail and Timberline, October 1934.
5. Letter From Gerry Roach, Trail and Timberline, February 1977.
6. Trail and Timberline, September 1976.
7. Trail and Timberline, July/August 1981.
8. Guide to the Colorado Mountains
9. Colorado's Thirteeners: 13,800 to 13,999 Feet, From Hikes to ClimbsMountain Conditions7 Day Forecast for Telluride, CO
Additional InformationAdditional Photos at 13ers.com
Climber.org Trip Report
Climber.org Trip Report
Photo Album of Ascent--Excellent!
Stats at Peakbagger.com
San Juan Mountain Guides
San Juan Mountain School
Information on the Sneffels Wilderness at GORP Images
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Sneffels Range, Colorado
