Jul 10 2026
Rising abruptly above Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the Sangre de Cristo Range forms one of the steepest, most rugged, and most visually dramatic mountain walls in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Its skyline is defined by narrow ridges, glacial basins, alpine lakes, and some of Colorado’s most challenging fourteeners, including Blanca Peak, Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, …
Feb 22 2026
Mountain hiking does not have to begin with exposed ridgelines, exhausting climbs, or technical summit routes. Across the United States, numerous short and well-maintained trails allow new hikers to experience mountain scenery without committing to an advanced backcountry expedition. The best beginner-friendly mountain hikes combine manageable distances, straightforward navigation, relatively modest elevation gain, and rewarding …
Nov 22 2023
Blanca Peak Blanca Peak rises to approximately 14,350 feet (4,374 meters) above Colorado’s San Luis Valley, forming the highest summit of the Sangre de Cristo Range and the fourth-highest recognized fourteener in Colorado. Its enormous pyramid-shaped massif dominates the southern end of the range and can be seen from across the valley, including spectacular viewpoints …
Apr 05 2020
While the Rocky Mountains of North America can’t quite compete with the incredible heights of Alaska, they still hold claim to many of the tallest points in the contiguous Unites States. In fact, other than the lonely Mount Whitney in California, the Rockies have all of the highest points in the contiguous U.S., and as such …
