Great climb of Creede Crest or Phoenix Peak with my good friend John S. Number 95 of the Colorado Centennial summits. Beautiful weather and abundant wildlife. Went up the stock drive way and down near the waterfall. Be persistent on the lower part of the stock drive way. Beaver dams are an issue. Gets easier on up the valley. We went to the far right of the water fall on the way down and found a nice trail. Pretty easy descent into the valley below. Saw one other climber from a distance. Awesome day!
BKiser90 - Jun 5, 2022 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2022
Colorado County High Point #50
Started from the beginning of the 4WD road at 6:10 am. Spring is hitting the San Juan aspens and everything was GREEN! We took the South Slopes route. The La Garita Stock Driveway trail is indistinct across the beaver dams on East Willow Creek. Our feet were soaked. The trail becomes more distinct after the beaver dam crossing. I would advise downloading the route of a previous climber on Peakbagger to follow as you climb. The beaver dams along the trail are AMAZING. What magnificent engineers! The trail through the woods is well cairned and pretty easy to follow. The south slopes up to the summit are a SLOG! The views, however, are fantastic. San Juans, Sangres, Elks, Sawatch. Fantastic county high point and centennial 13er.
Woodie Hopper - Sep 16, 2020 6:02 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2020
South Slopes
Tired legs for this hike as the culmination of a multistate peak bagging odyssey. Got off track during the descent but angled down to the correct drainage without losing much time. Was surrounded by many serenading elk which cheered me during my bushwhack.
Matt Lemke - Jun 25, 2020 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2020
Fun solo walk
Drove as far up as I could with my 4WD and walked up. Very windy, but sunny and yet another centennial
Brad Snider - Aug 23, 2019 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2019
No Trails
Went up past the waterfall and bush-whacked all the way up to the summit. Above timberline, 1,500 feet of talus to the top. Neat summit cairn. Trip Report: https://www.bradsnider.com/phoenix-peak/
theREALCarpeDM - Nov 12, 2018 8:47 am Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2018
W/SW ridge
Finally finished what I started with Steve, Britt, Shawn (and Okie) in Feb 2012. That time, Steve was working on the high 100 in winter. So we (Steve mostly) trenched through waist-deep sugar snow from the Midwest Mine, then north to the ridge and toward (but not quite finding) the La Garita stock driveway, and into Phoenix Park. At the base of the west ridge, Okie had had enough (and me, too :) ) so we bailed. But Steve, Britt, and Shawn got the summit. An absolutely brutal day for them -- in that it took not much less than 24 hours to complete. I've been wanting to re-do that route ever since. It wasn't quite winter, and conditions were much better (much less snow and biting wind only near the top), but it was still nice to do that route.
seano - Oct 10, 2016 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2016
South slope
The former "stock driveway" is now just a cairned use trail for people climbing Phoenix; other supposed trails in the area may have similarly returned to nature. Someone needs to find that beaver a hobby... Trip report.
Liba Kopeckova - Aug 9, 2015 9:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2015
Nice hike
I started to drive to Phoenix Park, but after 0.7 miles decided to park the can and walk (the road is steep and rough, and I felt sorry for my car). Anyway, my son stayed and hiked around Phoenix park all day and did not see any cars, only ATVs on that road.
I went up solo via falls, crossed over La Garunta 13,780 point to La Garita Peak 13,710 feet. Descended La Garita and ran onto a huge herd of elk (>100). Tried to find the trail which connects with the south slopes of Phoenix, but it was all overgrown. Saw higher up several cairns, then bushwhacked and finally found the trail. Noticed that Larry mentioned in comments this trail being closed, there were no signs. It does not look that it gets used anymore.
CMC Trip. There were five of us total. The goal was to do both Phoenix and La Garita Peaks. We camped the night before at the tailings cleanup site in East Willow canyon, and hiked from there. We started just after 6AM and reached the top around 11:30. There was some weather brewing to the west, so we decided to skip La Garita at first, and dropped down about 200 feet from the Phoenix/Pt ~12760 saddle, before deciding the weather didn't look all that bad. With some encouragement from the others, we decided to climb back up and go for La Garita.
kavak - Nov 6, 2008 9:58 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2005
South Slopes Route
I missed the trail that branches off East Willow Creek somehow. I had to bushwhack west on the right hand side of the creek going west to the south slope ridge. On the way down I correctly found the trail and it eventually finds its way to the south side of the creek heading toward East Willow Creek. Sound confusing? Well it was at the time. I ended up hiking up point 13,780 as well.
Kiefer - May 27, 2008 7:05 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
West Ridge
For Late May, it sure as hell felt like late February. Climbed with Sarah Thompson, Dominic, Chicagotransplant, Kevin and Ken.
SarahThompson - May 27, 2008 12:20 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
Twice, windy both times
5/24/08 - Climbed the West Ridge. Although it was Memorial Day weekend, conditions up high were definitely winter-like. The nasty weather was compensated by great company though and it ended up being a memorable day.
1/13/18 - Solo hike in extremely dry conditions. Started at 2WD East Willow Creek Trailhead (could drive all the way!). Climbed not quite the standard route and then did an out and back to UN 13,402 before descending. Carried snoshoes but did not use them. Better conditions than my late May climb!
Climbed with Kiefer, Sarah, Dominic, Ken and Kevin. Felt a lot more like February than May as it was windy and snowing and covered in rime. A couple of us almost got frostbite coming down.
Note to people trying to get up this one, you can't drive up East Willow Creek just yet, rock slide. You can, however, get to the trailhead via the Bachelor Loop 4x4 road.
Brian Kalet - Jun 23, 2007 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
South Slopes
En route to La Garita Peak. 4:45 roundtrip.
Ryan Kowalski - May 30, 2007 2:16 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
South Slopes
Whew, this ended up being more work than I thought it would be due to the crappy deep snow in the trees. I love the La Garitas though, 3rd straight Memorial Day up in this area and never saw a person on any of our hikes. Great views from up top too.
Route Climbed: south slopes Date Climbed: July 17, 2005
I missed the Center Stock driveway and left the 4wd too early as I forgot the first page of my directions! I just bushwacked along Whited Creek and found the old trailhead sign after 20 min. The climb to the ridge is gentle but deceivingly long. A nice remote centennial/county hp that I enjoyed by myself. Nice page, Layne!
SanJuanMtnsHiker - Jul 16, 2023 1:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2022
Creede Crest ClimbGreat climb of Creede Crest or Phoenix Peak with my good friend John S. Number 95 of the Colorado Centennial summits. Beautiful weather and abundant wildlife. Went up the stock drive way and down near the waterfall. Be persistent on the lower part of the stock drive way. Beaver dams are an issue. Gets easier on up the valley. We went to the far right of the water fall on the way down and found a nice trail. Pretty easy descent into the valley below. Saw one other climber from a distance. Awesome day!
BKiser90 - Jun 5, 2022 7:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2022
Colorado County High Point #50Started from the beginning of the 4WD road at 6:10 am. Spring is hitting the San Juan aspens and everything was GREEN! We took the South Slopes route. The La Garita Stock Driveway trail is indistinct across the beaver dams on East Willow Creek. Our feet were soaked. The trail becomes more distinct after the beaver dam crossing. I would advise downloading the route of a previous climber on Peakbagger to follow as you climb. The beaver dams along the trail are AMAZING. What magnificent engineers! The trail through the woods is well cairned and pretty easy to follow. The south slopes up to the summit are a SLOG! The views, however, are fantastic. San Juans, Sangres, Elks, Sawatch. Fantastic county high point and centennial 13er.
Woodie Hopper - Sep 16, 2020 6:02 am Date Climbed: Sep 15, 2020
South SlopesTired legs for this hike as the culmination of a multistate peak bagging odyssey. Got off track during the descent but angled down to the correct drainage without losing much time. Was surrounded by many serenading elk which cheered me during my bushwhack.
Matt Lemke - Jun 25, 2020 5:32 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2020
Fun solo walkDrove as far up as I could with my 4WD and walked up. Very windy, but sunny and yet another centennial
Brad Snider - Aug 23, 2019 12:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2019
No TrailsWent up past the waterfall and bush-whacked all the way up to the summit. Above timberline, 1,500 feet of talus to the top. Neat summit cairn. Trip Report: https://www.bradsnider.com/phoenix-peak/
theREALCarpeDM - Nov 12, 2018 8:47 am Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2018
W/SW ridgeFinally finished what I started with Steve, Britt, Shawn (and Okie) in Feb 2012. That time, Steve was working on the high 100 in winter. So we (Steve mostly) trenched through waist-deep sugar snow from the Midwest Mine, then north to the ridge and toward (but not quite finding) the La Garita stock driveway, and into Phoenix Park. At the base of the west ridge, Okie had had enough (and me, too :) ) so we bailed. But Steve, Britt, and Shawn got the summit. An absolutely brutal day for them -- in that it took not much less than 24 hours to complete. I've been wanting to re-do that route ever since. It wasn't quite winter, and conditions were much better (much less snow and biting wind only near the top), but it was still nice to do that route.
seano - Oct 10, 2016 5:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2016
South slopeThe former "stock driveway" is now just a cairned use trail for people climbing Phoenix; other supposed trails in the area may have similarly returned to nature. Someone needs to find that beaver a hobby... Trip report.
Liba Kopeckova - Aug 9, 2015 9:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2015
Nice hikeI started to drive to Phoenix Park, but after 0.7 miles decided to park the can and walk (the road is steep and rough, and I felt sorry for my car). Anyway, my son stayed and hiked around Phoenix park all day and did not see any cars, only ATVs on that road.
I went up solo via falls, crossed over La Garunta 13,780 point to La Garita Peak 13,710 feet. Descended La Garita and ran onto a huge herd of elk (>100). Tried to find the trail which connects with the south slopes of Phoenix, but it was all overgrown. Saw higher up several cairns, then bushwhacked and finally found the trail. Noticed that Larry mentioned in comments this trail being closed, there were no signs. It does not look that it gets used anymore.
rockymountaindiva - Jul 26, 2013 5:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
Only PhoenixPerfect day on Phoenix!
utclimber - Jul 16, 2011 9:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2011
East Willow CreekHiked Phoenix Peak from the 2WD trailhead below East Willow Creek.
scotthsu - Jul 18, 2010 11:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2010
nice hike from East Willow Creek 4WD THbeautiful summer day in the La Garitas. We followed Roach's route description with little difficulty.
belexes - Jul 6, 2009 2:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2009
Center Stock DrivewayCMC Trip. There were five of us total. The goal was to do both Phoenix and La Garita Peaks. We camped the night before at the tailings cleanup site in East Willow canyon, and hiked from there. We started just after 6AM and reached the top around 11:30. There was some weather brewing to the west, so we decided to skip La Garita at first, and dropped down about 200 feet from the Phoenix/Pt ~12760 saddle, before deciding the weather didn't look all that bad. With some encouragement from the others, we decided to climb back up and go for La Garita.
kavak - Nov 6, 2008 9:58 am Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2005
South Slopes RouteI missed the trail that branches off East Willow Creek somehow. I had to bushwhack west on the right hand side of the creek going west to the south slope ridge. On the way down I correctly found the trail and it eventually finds its way to the south side of the creek heading toward East Willow Creek. Sound confusing? Well it was at the time. I ended up hiking up point 13,780 as well.
Kiefer - May 27, 2008 7:05 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
West RidgeFor Late May, it sure as hell felt like late February. Climbed with Sarah Thompson, Dominic, Chicagotransplant, Kevin and Ken.
SarahThompson - May 27, 2008 12:20 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
Twice, windy both times5/24/08 - Climbed the West Ridge. Although it was Memorial Day weekend, conditions up high were definitely winter-like. The nasty weather was compensated by great company though and it ended up being a memorable day.
1/13/18 - Solo hike in extremely dry conditions. Started at 2WD East Willow Creek Trailhead (could drive all the way!). Climbed not quite the standard route and then did an out and back to UN 13,402 before descending. Carried snoshoes but did not use them. Better conditions than my late May climb!
chicagotransplant - May 27, 2008 9:37 am Date Climbed: May 24, 2008
West RidgeClimbed with Kiefer, Sarah, Dominic, Ken and Kevin. Felt a lot more like February than May as it was windy and snowing and covered in rime. A couple of us almost got frostbite coming down.
Note to people trying to get up this one, you can't drive up East Willow Creek just yet, rock slide. You can, however, get to the trailhead via the Bachelor Loop 4x4 road.
Brian Kalet - Jun 23, 2007 7:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2007
South SlopesEn route to La Garita Peak. 4:45 roundtrip.
Ryan Kowalski - May 30, 2007 2:16 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
South SlopesWhew, this ended up being more work than I thought it would be due to the crappy deep snow in the trees. I love the La Garitas though, 3rd straight Memorial Day up in this area and never saw a person on any of our hikes. Great views from up top too.
shknbke - Jul 19, 2005 4:21 pm
Route Climbed: south slopes Date Climbed: July 17, 2005I missed the Center Stock driveway and left the 4wd too early as I forgot the first page of my directions! I just bushwacked along Whited Creek and found the old trailhead sign after 20 min. The climb to the ridge is gentle but deceivingly long. A nice remote centennial/county hp that I enjoyed by myself. Nice page, Layne!
Layne Bracy - Jul 7, 2005 6:22 pm
Route Climbed: Ascent: East Willow Creek Falls Descent: South slopes Date Climbed: July 2, 2005John Kirk and I enjoyed a nice loop hike on a beautiful day and had the mountain to ourselves. Well, we shared it with about 50 elk!