Introduction
Wonderful view of Mount Sneffels from Gilpin Peak - photo by RyanS
While not identified by the Board of Geographic Names, the Mount Sneffels massif and its satellite peaks as viewed from highways 62 and 145 are often referred to locally and abroad as the "Sneffels Range". For objective purposes, the scope of the range has been defined here using key saddles as the criteria to determine range boundaries. Thus, the range is here defined as the continuous area higher than and west of Red Mountain Pass (Mount Sneffels' saddle) and north of Ophir Pass (Vermilion Peak's saddle). Mount Sneffels at 14,150' is 27th highest in the state, is the highest peak in Ouray County. Mount Sneffels is also the parent peak of San Juan County's highest, Vermilion Peak 13,894', to the south. Three of Colorado's highest 100 ranked peaks are included in this range, two of them being technical (easy 5th class). The range is host to 37 ranked 13ers (peaks with at least 300' rise), with a select few "easy" hikes. The opportunities for scrambling and hiking in the area are exceptional and views on clear days are always top-notch. Due to its composition, most of the rock in the area is very rotten and many approaches involve extremely loose scree traverses (approaches to Mears Peak and Teakettle Mountain among the worst). The rock is often very colorful and the high mineral content also influences the color of the lakes in the area, such as the famous Blue Lakes. The northern flank of the range on the west side of Mount Sneffels contains several peaks named with the prefix "S " followed by an ascending number from southeast to northwest, ending with "S 10". The "S" represents an abbreviation for "Sneffels". Similarly, peaks flanking the east side Telluride have a prefix "T ", starting with "T 0" and ending with "T 11" going north to south, where the "T" represents an abbreviation for "Telluride".
Interactive Google Map of Sneffels Range Peaks
Scenery and Setting
Iron Mountain, Campbell Peak and the east ridge of "T O".
A view of "T 0" from the east in September.
Silver Mountain and Palmyra Peak loom above Telluride.
"S 4" may challenge your notion of loose rock sidehilling.
Nice views to be had in any direction - Gilpin Peak and Blocktops from "S 4".
Colorful approach to "S 5" from the east.
Flora
The San Juan Range is host to an amazing variety and quantity of alpine wildflowers, proliferating high basins between July and August. The Sneffels Range in particular is lined with vast fields of flowers that often compete for attention with the incredible peaks in the area.
Technical Climbing
At least four peaks in the Sneffels Range require 5th class moves to reach the summit, the most popular being the two centennial 13ers Dallas Peak and Teakettle Mountain. "Coffeepot" serves as a nice companion piece to a climb of Teakettle. Seldom visited, gendarme-infested Saint Sophia Ridge (South Ridge of Mount Emma) is the most difficult summit to reach listed here. Mount Sneffels itself has several 5th class possibilities, including the Snake Couloir. Several variations also exist for a more difficult ascent Dallas Peak.
For infomation on Dallas Peak, see this page
For infomation on Teakettle Mountain, see this page
For infomation on "Coffeepot", see this page
For infomation on Mount Sneffels, see this page
For brief information on Saint Sophia Ridge, see this page
Climbers preparing to ascend Teakettle's 5th class summit block - photo by RyanS
Rappelling Dallas Peak's summit block - photo by skasgaard
Climbing the Snake Couloir - photo by SarahThompson
Stemming up the chimney on "Coffeepot" - photo by skasgaard
Peaks > 13,000'
| Rank | Name | Elevation | Quad | Rise | Latitude | Class | |
| 27 | Sneffels, Mount | 14,150' | Mount Sneffels | 3,050' | 38.0036 | -107.7923 | 2+ |
| 98 | Teakettle Mountain | 13,819' | Mount Sneffels | 759' | 38.0006 | -107.7923 | 5.3 |
| 100 | Dallas Peak | 13,809' | Telluride | 869' | 37.9882 | -107.7618 | 5.3 |
| 113 | Potosi Peak | 13,786' | Ironton | 806' | 37.9897 | -107.8234 | 2+ |
| S | "West Dallas" | 13,741' | Telluride | 281' | 37.9913 | -107.7493 | |
| 134 | "T 0" | 13,735' | Telluride | 395' | 37.9926 | -107.8344 | 2 |
| 149 | Gilpin Peak | 13,694' | Telluride | 720' | 37.9865 | -107.8491 | 2 |
| "Kismet" | 13,694' | Mount Sneffels | 194' | 38.0000 | -107.7933 | ||
| 155 | Cirque Mountain | 13,686' | Mount Sneffels | 546' | 38.0038 | -107.7850 | 2+ |
| 166 | Lookout Peak | 13,661' | Ophir | 841' | 37.8623 | -107.7715 | 3 |
| 197 | Emma, Mount | 13,581' | Telluride | 561' | 37.9749 | -107.7802 | |
| "Coffeepot" | 13,568' | Telluride | 188' | 37.9963 | -107.7902 | 5.2 | |
| 214 | Wasatch Mountain | 13,555' | Telluride | 495' | 37.8901 | -107.7568 | 2 |
| "Block Tops" | 13,543' | Telluride | 203' | 37.9870 | -107.7957 | ||
| 249 | 13510 B | 13,510' | Ironton | 610' | 37.9175 | -107.8022 | 2 |
| 250 | "T 11" | 13,510' | Telluride | 452' | 37.8777 | -107.7377 | 2 |
| S | Telluride Peak | 13,509' | Ironton | 289' | 37.9248 | -107.7660 | 2 |
| 259 | Mears Peak | 13,496' | Mount Sneffels | 556' | 38.0094 | -107.7358 | 2+ |
| 260 | Whitehouse Mountain A | 13,492' | Ouray | 592' | 38.0202 | -107.8620 | |
| 266 | Three Needles | 13,481' | Telluride | 421' | 37.8899 | -107.7380 | 3 |
| 269 | "T 10" | 13,477' | Ironton | 537' | 37.8979 | -107.7561 | 2 |
| 273 | La Junta Peak | 13,472' | Telluride | 612' | 37.8968 | -107.7492 | 2 |
| 274 | Silver Mountain B | 13,470' | Telluride | 410' | 37.8770 | -107.7871 | |
| 275 | Ridgway, Mount | 13,468' | Mount Sneffels | 448' | 38.0137 | -107.8313 | |
| 284 | San Joaquin Ridge | 13,460' | Telluride | 360' | 37.8768 | -107.7532 | |
| 292 | "S 6" | 13,441' | Mount Sneffels | 381' | 38.0072 | -107.8083 | 3 |
| 293 | "T 5" | 13,436' | Telluride | 416' | 37.9593 | -107.8464 | 2 |
| S | "Oscars Peak" | 13,432' | Telluride | 292' | 37.8752 | -107.7637 | 2 |
| "S 3" | 13,410' | Mount Sneffels | 270' | 38.0010 | -107.7938 | 2 | |
| 326 | Chicago Peak | 13,385' | Ironton | 365' | 37.9428 | -107.8416 | 2 |
| "S 5" | 13,380' | Mount Sneffels | 240' | 38.0057 | -107.7442 | 2 | |
| 350 | "T 7" | 13,359' | Ironton | 499' | 37.9341 | -107.8423 | 2 |
| 376 | Trico Peak | 13,321' | Ironton | 461' | 37.9052 | -107.7232 | 2 |
| Palmyra Peak | 13,319' | Telluride | 179' | 37.8834 | -107.7383 | ||
| 378 | "T 8" | 13,315' | Ironton | 495' | 37.9420 | -107.8292 | 2 |
| 13300 E | 13,300' | Ophir | 280' | 37.8589 | -107.7647 | ||
| Mendota Peak | 13,275' | Telluride | 175' | 37.9609 | -107.7161 | ||
| 440 | "S 8" | 13,252' | Sams | 552' | 38.0147 | -107.7783 | 2 |
| 445 | "S 4" | 13,242' | Mount Sneffels | 302' | 38.0071 | -107.8911 | 3 |
| 464 | "S 7" | 13,220' | Sams | 400' | 38.0079 | -107.8318 | 2 |
| Campbell Peak | 13,213' | Telluride | 233' | 37.9871 | -107.8804 | ||
| 479 | Hayden Mountain South | 13,206' | Ironton | 549' | 37.9545 | -107.8549 | |
| 514 | 13159 | 13,159' | Ophir | 379' | 37.8615 | -107.7025 | 2+ |
| 529 | 13145 A | 13,145' | Telluride | 325' | 37.9054 | -107.7560 | 2 |
| 538 | Hayden Mountain North | 13,139' | Ironton | 519' | 37.9679 | -107.7889 | |
| 542 | "S 9" | 13,134' | Sams | 354' | 38.0253 | -107.6892 | 2 |
| 571 | "Corbett Peak" | 13,100' | Ouray | 320' | 38.0270 | -107.8912 | |
| 573 | "Tomboy Peak" | 13,095' | Telluride | 315' | 37.9474 | -107.7340 | 2 |
| Saint Sophia Ridge | 13,060' | Telluride | 160' | 37.9691 | -107.7515 | 5.7 | |
| Wolcott Mountain | 13,041' | Mount Sneffels | 181' | 38.0163 | -107.7845 | ||
| United States Mountain | 13,036' | Ironton | 176' | 37.9566 | -107.8474 | ||
| 625 | "S 10" | 13,020' | Sams | 360' | 38.0270 | -107.7390 | 2 |
| Ruffner Mountain | 13,003' | Sams | 23' | 38.0053 | -107.9063 |
Peaks < 13,000'
| Rank | Name | Elevation | Quad | Rise | Latitude | Longitude | Class |
| S | Greenback Mountain | 12,997' | Telluride | 297' | 37.9689 | -107.7950 | |
| Hayden Peak B | 12,987' | Sams | 207' | 38.0306 | -107.7950 | 2 | |
| 650 | "Reconnoiter Peak" | 12,980' | Mount Sneffels | 440' | 38.0201 | -107.9092 | |
| Ballard Mountain | 12,804' | Telluride | 104' | 37.9117 | -107.7627 | ||
| Ajax Peak | 12,785' | Telluride | 125' | 37.9287 | -107.7901 | ||
| Iron Mountain A | 12,747' | Telluride | 207' | 37.9877 | -107.7556 | ||
| Gold Hill A | 12,740' | Telluride | 160' | 37.8947 | -107.8661 | ||
| 862 | Stony Mountain | 12,698' | Telluride | 414' | 37.9824 | -107.8229 | |
| 948 | "Angel Knob" | 12,580' | Ouray | 360' | 38.0136 | -107.7715 | |
| Ingram Peak | 12,552' | Telluride | 52' | 37.9148 | -107.7284 | ||
| 1130 | 12311 | 12,311' | Sams | 331' | 38.0038 | -107.7584 | |
| North Pole Peak | 12,208' | Sams | 108' | 38.0386 | -107.9309 | ||
| Ophir Needles | 12,070' | Ophir | 90' | 37.8684 | -107.9151 | ||
| 1350 | Whipple Mountain | 11,922' | Gray Head | 342' | 37.9946 | -107.8561 | |
| 1371 | Bald Mountain E | 11,868' | Telluride | 328' | 37.8963 | -107.9342 | |
| 1720 | Last Dollar Mountain | 11,140' | Sams | 477' | 38.0008 | -107.8467 | |
| 1789 | Gray Head | 10,982' | Gray Head | 538' | 37.9914 | -107.9599 | |
| West Twin Peak | 10,970' | Ouray | 230' | 38.0275 | -107.9730 | ||
| Hawn Mountain | 10,922' | Gray Head | 222' | 37.9840 | -107.6990 | ||
| Turkey Creek Mesa | 10,860' | Telluride | 40' | 37.8915 | -107.9248 | ||
| East Twin Peak | 10,798' | Ouray | 138' | 38.0279 | -107.8624 | ||
| Needle Rock A | 10,656' | Telluride | 116' | 37.9263 | -107.6919 | ||
| Coonskin Mountain | 10,580' | Telluride | 40' | 37.9324 | -107.8138 | ||
| Sister Peak | 10,380' | Ouray | 80' | 38.0280 | -107.8329 | ||
| 2229 | 10140 E | 10,140' | Sams | 320' | 38.0432 | -107.6884 | |
| S | 10140 G | 10,140' | Sams | 280' | 38.0525 | -107.9397 | |
| Deep Creek Mesa | 9,940' | Telluride | 120' | 37.9606 | -107.9384 | ||
| 2413 | South Baldy | 9,829' | Mount Sneffels | 689' | 38.0788 | -107.8579 | |
| Spruce Ridge A | 9,780' | Sams | 80' | 38.0652 | -107.8331 | ||
| 2508 | 9660 A | 9,660' | Placerville | 800' | 38.0093 | -107.8818 | |
| 2532 | Hastings Mesa | 9,620' | Sams | 560' | 38.0584 | -108.0157 |
Access, Camping and Conditions
Ouray info: ouraycolorado.com
Telluride info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telluride,_Colorado
Ridgway info: ridgwaycolorado.com
Parks and Camping:
Ouray Area Parks and Camping
Telluride Area Parks and Camping
Wilderness info:
Mount Sneffels Wilderness
Weather and Conditions:
Current Conditions and Forecast
The San Juan Range in general and particularly the Sneffels range melt out late.
Current Snowpack
