La Plata Peak Winter 14er Hike Trail Guide

April 21, 2020 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

A La Plata Peak Winter hike is much harder and follows a different route than a summit attempt the rest of the year. This is the 5th highest 14er in Colorado and can be hiked year round with the right experience and gear. La Plata Peak is a steep Class 2 hike in the summer and can be borderline Class 3 in the winter due to the slightly varied route. La Plata Peak is located right off Independent Pass and is a popular hike during the summer and fall months due to heavy crowds in the area.

La Plata Peak Winter Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: La Plata Peak Winter

La Plata Peak Winter: ★★★ (⅗ Stars)

Distance: 9.5 -10.5 Miles (depending on exact route)

Elevation Start: 10,100 ft

Highest Point: 14,336 ft

Total Elevation Gain: 4,800 ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 11-13 Hours RT

Difficulty: Difficult Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 2 or Class 3 depending on headwall route What does this mean?

Season: Year Round – Expect snow November to June. This route is recommended only with high levels of snow (December – April)

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to La Plata Peak in the WInter

Trailhead: La Plata Peak

Getting Here: From Points East: Take US24 to Colorado 82 and head towards Independence Pass. Continue driving for 14.5 miles until you reach the small, marked parking area for La Plata Peak on your left.

From Aspen/Points West: Take Colorado 82 and head towards Independence Pass. Drive about 30 miles until you reach the small, marked parking area for La Plata Peak on your right.

For either location, you can enter in La Plata Gulch Trailhead into your GPS.

Fees: There is no fee to hike La Plata Peak.

Parking: Parking for La Plata Peak can be limited, especially during the summer months. This is a popular spot to hike during the summer and fall while also serving skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers during the winter. The parking area can fit about 10-15 cars and does have a non-plumbing bathroom in summer months. In the winter, usually the road closure for Independence Pass starts directly after the TH, so its best to ignore your GPS if it tells you it is closed.

Summary

Camping: Independence Pass has several campgrounds which you can read more about here. Trailhead camping is an option, but extremely limited. Finally, you can dispersed or car camp along most of Independence pass but options may be limited in busy months. In the winter, car camping at the TH is your best bet.

Dogs: La Plata Peak is an okay hike for dogs during the fall and summer, but I would not recommend bringing a dog during the winter or spring while snow remains.

Make it a Loop: La Plata Peak is an out and back hike with the option to add East La Plata Peak (non official 14er) with another mile or so of hiking. If you do decide to go to East La Plata Peak, be aware that this terrain is more technical than anything you would experience on La Plata Peak (class 3 with some high exposure).

Trail X Factors: Headwall Conditions

Without a doubt, the biggest X Factor and hardest part of hiking La Plata in the Winter is the headwall once you emerge from the trees around 11,800 ft. With enough snow, this can be an easier “bootable” line straight up to the ridge. However, the problem is that most of the time this section is composed of extremely loose rock, dirt and sugar snow. Conditions in this section can be EXTREMELY variable and dangerous. Be advised that this section of the hike is probably going to be the highest class and most difficult part of the entire hike up La Plata Peak in the winter. On both the ascent and descent be sure to test every single hold and use extreme caution when climbing and downclimbing here. There are a variety of ways to ascend the ridge from here so ultimately you need to use your own judgement and experience to make the safest line.

La Plata Peak Winter Hike Route

Gear Needed

Mickey’s Mountain Kit
Backpack – this has been my go to
Comfortable Hiking Boots – These are the ones that I use.
Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
Microspikes in winter
Protection from the sun, lots of exposed hiking
Snowshoes in winter
Optional: Wind/Rain Proof Clothing – can be helpful keeping you dry and warm
Optional: Mountain Ax
Optional: Gaiters (in winter)
Optional: Hiking Poles
Optional: Goggles – helpful on very windy days
Optional:Camera and Lens
Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
*Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

Hike Tip(s): If you plan on hiking La Plata Peak in the Winter, be sure to have proper map reading and route finding skills. Unlike the standard 14er route in the summer, this way up the mountain involves a lot of bushwhacking with no official trail. If you have tracks to follow, you are lucky, but even so, you need to be conscious of where they are heading as not everyone who visits the mountain is heading to the summit or up the northwest ridge. I would highly recommend studying the route beforehand (use the Garmin Data above to do that) and having a GPS to help guide you along the way.

Best Views: La Plata Peak does not disappoint with views. In my opinion, the best views are along the ridge once you have climbed the headwall. To the west you have stunning scenery into a large basin and to the north you can see several other 14ers and other Collegiate Peaks. Summit views on La Plata Peak are best looking north and west in my opinion.

My Trip to La Plata Peak Winter 14er: March 2020

With ski resorts closed due to COVID19, I was itching to stretch my legs and get outside so I decided to re-hike another 14er, La Plata Peak. The last time I more or less took the summer route, so this time I decided to stick to the proper winter route. I broke trail and was the only person on the mountain the entire day, but besides a few snow showers, it was a beautiful day on the mountain.