Sunset Views from Morgan Peak

Dillon, Colorado

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Details

Distance

8.42 miles

Elevation Gain

2900 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Eric Schuette

Experience a unique sunset vantage point at 12,474 feet of above sea level. Enjoy unique views of the 14ers Grey's and Torrey's peaks as well as Ruby mountain. You can hike up to 5 total 13ers in the area. If you choose to go all 5 peaks, it's an 8.42 mile hike with ~2900' elevation gain. If you choose just Morgan Peak, it's a quick walk from the saddle.

How you get to Morgan Peak and the other 13ers in the area depends on if you have a 4-wheel drive with good clearance or not. If so, drive the rough Santa Fe road from the small town of Montezuma (just outside Keystone). The road is also known as Forest Service 264 and is a left at the stop sign in town. If you do not have a 4-wheel drive, you can walk the road or once above the town and private property hike straight up the tundra.

Drive or hike to the saddle of Santa Fe peak and Morgan Peak and follow the ridge to the north all the way to the summit. It is easy class 2 walking the entire ridge. My suggestion would be to hike Santa Fe and the other 13ers first and hit Morgan Peak at the end, just in time for a beautiful sunset!

In the winter you will have to skin or snowshoe up to the summit and the other summits in the area as the road is not plowed above town. Be aware of avalanche danger in the area. In the summer, you are above treeline for quite sometime so be on the look out for storms and retreat toward Montezuma if lightning is present.

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Snowshoeing

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