Collegiate Peaks Loop
Sawatch Range, CO
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Conditions are manageable but cold — this is a November high-country trip that will feel like winter. Daylight is your biggest constraint at under 10.5 hours; plan your camp placement around 4:56 PM sunset. Stream flow data in the raw feed is from California gauges and doesn't apply to the Collegiate Peaks — treat water crossings as unknown and expect low, cold flow typical of mid-November in the Sawatch.
37°/18°F · Sunny
Low (1/5)
0" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
10h 11m daylight · Sunrise 6:45 AM · Sunset 4:56 PM
Full Briefing
The weather window is actually decent for mid-November: sunny skies all three days with light westerly winds under 15 mph. Highs topping out at 33-37°F mean you'll be comfortable moving but cold in camp. The real bite comes at night — 18-19°F every night through Friday, with Friday night dropping to 18°F under partly cloudy skies. Plan your camp for sheltered terrain out of the prevailing west wind. Those temps are survivable with proper kit but zero margin for a wet sleeping bag or wet camp clothes.
Avalanche danger is Low across all elevations with no problems identified — the CAIC bulletin is as clean as it gets. The SNOTEL data confirms why: Annie Springs at 6,021 ft is showing just 1 inch of snow depth, and higher stations are reading zero. There's essentially no snowpack to worry about. You may encounter icy patches on north-facing slopes and in shadowed drainages, but this isn't an avalanche trip.
Daylight is the real logistics driver here. Sunrise 6:45 AM, sunset 4:56 PM — that's it. You're losing light fast, and at Collegiate Peaks elevations, the high terrain will shadow you even earlier than the official sunset. Build your daily plans around being at camp or within easy reach of camp by 4 PM. If you're doing any of the higher passes on this loop, get over them by early afternoon. Getting caught on exposed ridgeline above treeline at dusk in 18°F temps with west wind is a bad situation.
The stream flow gauges in the data are California stations — ignore them for route planning purposes. Mid-November in the Sawatch typically means low, cold flows on drainages like South Cottonwood Creek and Pine Creek. Crossings should be straightforward, but expect ice along banks and on rocks at creek crossings. Test footing carefully. No active fires within 50 miles, air quality is a non-issue.
Waypoints
North Cottonwood Trailhead
Start from the North Cottonwood Creek trailhead near Buena Vista.
9,600 ft
Horn Fork Basin
Alpine basin beneath Mt. Harvard. Beautiful camping with creek access.
11,499 ft
Continental Divide Crossing
Cross the Continental Divide at Lake Ann Pass.
12,500 ft
Pine Creek Camp
Forested camp along Pine Creek. Good water access.
9,501 ft
Return to Trailhead
Complete the loop back to the starting trailhead.
9,600 ft
Route Details
Distance
49.1 mi
Elevation Gain
13,999 ft
Elevation Loss
13,999 ft
Max Elevation
12,500 ft
Estimated Days
5
Trailhead
Collegiate Peaks TH
Best Season
July through September. Afternoon thunderstorms common—start early.
About This Route
The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness in central Colorado offers a challenging loop route through some of the state's highest peaks—all named after Ivy League universities. The route circles through alpine terrain between the towns of Buena Vista and Leadville, crossing the Continental Divide multiple times. The loop connects segments of the Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail, passing beneath Mt. Harvard (14,420 ft), Mt. Columbia (14,073 ft), and Mt. Yale (14,196 ft). The terrain alternates between dense spruce forests, alpine tundra, and sweeping above-treeline ridges. Water sources are generally reliable from snowmelt streams, though some sections can be dry in late season. The loop crosses several high passes above 12,000 feet where weather can be severe. Start early each day to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, which are almost daily occurrences in July and August.
Plan This Route
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Plan This Route