UN 13,762, "Silver King Peak"

Overview

UN, 13762 , known by some as Silver King Peak, sits at the very heart of the Sawatch Range amid countless 14ers, yet few notice its presence, and even fewer take the time to discover this hidden gem. Garratt and Martin describe UN,13762 as “one of the most remote high summits in the Sawatch Range” and the numbers back them up. A climb of Silver King from the normal Pine Creek approach would be a 24-mile round trip hike. Many choose to backpack in to Pine Creek to avoid an ankle-crushing day hike, and backpackers will not be disappointed. There are numerous wonderful spots to camp whether it be the junction with the Colorado Trail, the bedrock falls, or even beside crystal Silver King Lake.

If you love the Sawatch Range and the Collegiate Peak Wilderness, you owe it to yourself to give Silver King Peak a shot. From its lofty summit, the views of nearby 14ers Mount Harvard, Mount Belford, Mount Oxford, and Missouri Mountain are unparalleled. And unlike those peaks, you’re almost guaranteed to have the summit to yourself!

Getting There

Silver King could be reached from a number of different routes; up Pine Creek, from Texas Creek, over Elkhead Pass or Clohesy Lake, however Pine Creek is likely the most often used and is therefore described here.

The Pine Creek Trailhead lies at 8,800 feet. From US 24, 6.3 miles south of the U.S.24-CO 82 intersection, turn onto Chaffee County 388. Continue straight at 0.3 miles and around a sharp turn at 0.6 miles where the road gets a mite bit rougher. Low clearance cars might want to park here, while others may continue up the last tenth of a mile to the trailhead. The trailhead lies on the boundary of the private Pine Creek Ranch. (see Red Tape).

The Pine Creek Approach is about 8.5 miles from the trailhead to the Bedrock Falls. A topographic map of the appoach is HERE

Red Tape

The owners of Pine Creek Ranch request a token one dollar per person charge (a little more for quadripeds of any sort) and since private land owners allowing access to their land for a dollar is quite a steal (lest we forget the snake of the south), make sure to pony up the cash in the name of landowner/hiker relations. The first half mile to a mile of the Pine Creek Trail is on private property so make sure to show respect to the land as well as the land owners.

Camping

There are numerous great campsites sprinkled through the entire Pine Creek drainage. You should have no trouble finding a place that has already sheltered other backpackers so please don’t disrupt a virgin site, just hike a few more minutes, you’ll find a great one, already set up with sitting logs and fire rings!

Great camping spots can be found after a short hike right after the Pine Creek Trail intersects the Main Range Trail (Colorado Trail). We camped a few miles further west on our second night out. There are some nice camping spots within close proximity to Little John’s Cabin. Good camping spots 5 to 10 minute hike west of the Bedrock Falls are highly recommended as well. For those wishing a longer backpack in, no better place can be found than in the high basin containing Silver King Lake (don’t forget to camp at least 100 feet from water). Expect some winds here!

Wherever you decide to camp remember that you are within the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and to observe all USFS regulations. Most of all, LEAVE NO TRACE.

Bedrock Falls

One might note on the topographic map there is a label stating “Bedrock Falls”. If, like me, you wondered what exactly bedrock falls were and looked like, take a small break from your trip and check out Pine Creek’s bedrock falls. Sheets of water cascade directly over the undulating folds of the underlying metamorphic bedrock and make for a great break and a deserving destination for those looking for a nice dayhike.

External Links

Images

View UN 13,762, "Silver King Peak" Image Gallery - 30 Images