Contemplated doing Ellingwood ridge but decided against it. Was not disappointed with the standard route, made for a good 4 hr climb and run.
Dow Williams - Sep 6, 2023 1:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2023
La Plata Peak
5 hrs round trip. Worthwhile hike. Highlights were the initial creek crossing on the bridge, unique waterfall, and a single colorful boulder above tree line. You park on the main road, then hike in on a private road, 5-10 minutes, the USFS sign is on your left, but you have to look out for it. Pikas abundant.
cmcalhoun - Jun 17, 2023 6:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2021
La Plata
NW Ridge
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2004
La Plata Peak
Northwest Ridge
runbyu1 - Sep 1, 2022 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Snow on the way up, HOT coming down
Summit to car in 45:59.
Got rained and hailed on between 12 and 13,000 feet despite weather report showing 0% chance until late afternoon. A couple people turned back but I soldiered on, hoping it would clear up and there would be no lightning. It was cold, but it eventually cleared up and warmed up and I was so happy to be able to summit! It was beautiful and awesome on top. Sat on top talking to a guy I met, Chris Fisher, for about half an hour. It got HOT on the way down.
The caramel colored waterfall at the bottom was pretty unique and cool.
Almost vomited on the drive there, and felt pretty bad half of the way up. Felt decent after that until the last mile where I just fell apart and felt sick again. Still feeling sick to my stomach 5 hours later.
hgrapid - Jul 23, 2022 11:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2022
Standard Northwest Ridge
2 hours and 40 minutes to the summit.
aarobkol - Aug 28, 2021 10:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2021
La Plata standard route
Fairly easy hike up La Plata. 3 hrs up, 2.5 hrs down. I started at 4:30 and was the first one on the summit. There were a lot of people heading up on my way down. Then I drove to BV in time to get lunch. The trailhead was full and cars were parked all over the place on the road. It looked bad in my opinion. The peak itself was great.
Titus - Aug 6, 2021 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2021
La Plata
Solo. A backup to the failed Capitol summit.
birdhead - Jun 15, 2021 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2021
NW Ridge
Last in a string of six peaks over a week. I was really feeling it in the legs, especially since this route gains about 3,000 feet in two miles! Slogged up to the top and had the summit all to myself. Drove back to ABQ that afternoon.
JesseSumrak - Jul 28, 2020 11:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2020
Solo Ascent
Started around 3:30am and only passed one group before being first up to summit just before 6:30. Lonely morning on the peak with ominous clouds in the distance. Nothing ended up occurring, but I was down quick anyways. Beautiful peak—beautiful hike. One of my favorites so far.
Started hiking at 4:25 am. About 15 minutes in we saw some spooky eyes on the trail. I yelled full voiced til they seemed to run away. Summitted around 7:30. Clouds were already developing so we didn't stay long. 14er #20.
kteichert - Jun 22, 2020 10:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
Favorite of the trip!
We got rained out of attempting any peaks on Friday. We were planning on doing Harvard and Columbia that day, and Antero on Saturday. But the weather had us change our plans. So we decided on La Plata for Saturday. I had seen it from the Elbert summit a few years earlier, and had always wanted to be on it's summit. I'm so glad we did! This turned out to be my favorite hike of the trip. The parking area is less than ideal, especially on a weekend. The trail goes through private land, and they ask that you remain only on the trail. The trail is one of the most scenic and diverse of any hike I've seen. You go through a dense forest at the beginning, with a bridge crossing across a red river over a little waterfall. Then climb mostly next to a mountain stream, where there is plenty of water refill options, or dog drinking/soaking spots. Niko loved every lapping up water each time we got close to the river. The trail is super well maintained, and is steep, but doable. Even the summit ridge is very well maintained, where workers have made boulder steps to ascend to the summit. Many people take shortcuts, or get off trail. But if you stay on the boulder steps, it is very easy to find the summit. The large glacial valleys cutting all around this peak make it one of the most scenic summits I've ever seen.
Snowslogger - Sep 19, 2023 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2023
La Plata and an Orange CreekHad a nice hike up the peak in great weather. Interesting creek rapids/waterfall with an orange creekbed.
JRaphaelson - Sep 6, 2023 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2023
Standard routeContemplated doing Ellingwood ridge but decided against it. Was not disappointed with the standard route, made for a good 4 hr climb and run.
Dow Williams - Sep 6, 2023 1:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2023
La Plata Peak5 hrs round trip. Worthwhile hike. Highlights were the initial creek crossing on the bridge, unique waterfall, and a single colorful boulder above tree line. You park on the main road, then hike in on a private road, 5-10 minutes, the USFS sign is on your left, but you have to look out for it. Pikas abundant.
cmcalhoun - Jun 17, 2023 6:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2021
La PlataNW Ridge
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2004
La Plata PeakNorthwest Ridge
runbyu1 - Sep 1, 2022 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Snow on the way up, HOT coming downSummit to car in 45:59.
Got rained and hailed on between 12 and 13,000 feet despite weather report showing 0% chance until late afternoon. A couple people turned back but I soldiered on, hoping it would clear up and there would be no lightning. It was cold, but it eventually cleared up and warmed up and I was so happy to be able to summit! It was beautiful and awesome on top. Sat on top talking to a guy I met, Chris Fisher, for about half an hour. It got HOT on the way down.
The caramel colored waterfall at the bottom was pretty unique and cool.
Almost vomited on the drive there, and felt pretty bad half of the way up. Felt decent after that until the last mile where I just fell apart and felt sick again. Still feeling sick to my stomach 5 hours later.
hgrapid - Jul 23, 2022 11:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2022
Standard Northwest Ridge2 hours and 40 minutes to the summit.
aarobkol - Aug 28, 2021 10:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2021
La Plata standard routeFairly easy hike up La Plata. 3 hrs up, 2.5 hrs down. I started at 4:30 and was the first one on the summit. There were a lot of people heading up on my way down. Then I drove to BV in time to get lunch. The trailhead was full and cars were parked all over the place on the road. It looked bad in my opinion. The peak itself was great.
Titus - Aug 6, 2021 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2021
La PlataSolo. A backup to the failed Capitol summit.
birdhead - Jun 15, 2021 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2021
NW RidgeLast in a string of six peaks over a week. I was really feeling it in the legs, especially since this route gains about 3,000 feet in two miles! Slogged up to the top and had the summit all to myself. Drove back to ABQ that afternoon.
JesseSumrak - Jul 28, 2020 11:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2020
Solo AscentStarted around 3:30am and only passed one group before being first up to summit just before 6:30. Lonely morning on the peak with ominous clouds in the distance. Nothing ended up occurring, but I was down quick anyways. Beautiful peak—beautiful hike. One of my favorites so far.
BKiser90 - Jul 23, 2020 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2020
The Silver PeakStarted hiking at 4:25 am. About 15 minutes in we saw some spooky eyes on the trail. I yelled full voiced til they seemed to run away. Summitted around 7:30. Clouds were already developing so we didn't stay long. 14er #20.
kteichert - Jun 22, 2020 10:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
Favorite of the trip!We got rained out of attempting any peaks on Friday. We were planning on doing Harvard and Columbia that day, and Antero on Saturday. But the weather had us change our plans. So we decided on La Plata for Saturday. I had seen it from the Elbert summit a few years earlier, and had always wanted to be on it's summit. I'm so glad we did! This turned out to be my favorite hike of the trip. The parking area is less than ideal, especially on a weekend. The trail goes through private land, and they ask that you remain only on the trail. The trail is one of the most scenic and diverse of any hike I've seen. You go through a dense forest at the beginning, with a bridge crossing across a red river over a little waterfall. Then climb mostly next to a mountain stream, where there is plenty of water refill options, or dog drinking/soaking spots. Niko loved every lapping up water each time we got close to the river. The trail is super well maintained, and is steep, but doable. Even the summit ridge is very well maintained, where workers have made boulder steps to ascend to the summit. Many people take shortcuts, or get off trail. But if you stay on the boulder steps, it is very easy to find the summit. The large glacial valleys cutting all around this peak make it one of the most scenic summits I've ever seen.
mickeyCs - Mar 27, 2020 7:16 pm
--summer 2017
halfotinos - Jun 15, 2019 9:50 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2018
SummerBeautiful hike with great views
Donno - May 16, 2019 8:06 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 1991
1991with dad, then drove to Jackson Hole
eli.boardman - Dec 27, 2018 10:31 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2017
Solo from WinfieldTook the beautiful southwest ridge from Winfield
knotis23 - Sep 22, 2018 8:35 pm Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2018
Hike with DadPerfect weather, hiked with Dad for what he claims to be his last 14er. Hard than we thought it would be, but we made it. Great views from the summit.
TacitMoose - Jul 1, 2018 12:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2014
La PlataUp Ellingwood ridge. Took slightly longer than expected. Windy but the weather held. Very beautiful.
mh5717 - Mar 24, 2018 10:30 pm Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2013
NiceJumped in the stream on the way down to cool off. Some snow on top.