PT 13,308 + PT 13,166 — La Garita Wilderness (West Willow / Creede)¶
At a glance — recommended day
10.2 mi · 3,594 ft gain · Class 3 · 2 peaks · ~5 h drive
✅ Climbed 2026-06-14 — actual: 10.2 mi / 3,594 ft (loop)
Kyle's recorded outing: 10.2 mi · 3,594 ft as a loop from the West Willow upper TH — vs the ~8.2 mi / ~3,050 ft estimate below (~24% longer, and more gain — the Class 3 bit added some up/down). GPS track on file.
Researched: 2026-06-09
NOAA weather link: PT 13,308 + PT 13,166 Weather
CalTopo research map: https://caltopo.com/m/9VGDUR3
Status in DB: both climbed (2026-06-14).
Split out of the former "Phoenix Park Four" — those four don't share a trailhead or a sane day. This pair goes with the Baldy Lejos trio (same West Willow TH) as the West Willow La Garita 2-day trip; the eastern pair is a separate report.
Note: the recommended route was distilled from 11 recorded GPS tracks of real trips (14ers.com · ListsofJohn · Kyle's recordings) — all layered on the interactive CalTopo research map.
Part of the West Willow La Garita 2-day trip — same trailhead as the Baldy Lejos trio.*
Other climbers: Emily Sharpe — not yet · Shawn D Keil — not yet
Peaks covered¶
| PT 13,308 | PT 13,166 | |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 13,308' | 13,166' |
| Lat / Lon | 37.9523, −106.9449 | 37.9674, −106.9203 |
| Class | 2 | 2 ("North Ridge", climb13ers) |
| CO Rank | 394 | 511 |
| Also known as | (pre-LiDAR 13,308) | formerly UN 13,155 |
| 14ers.com | 10461 | 10534 |
| LoJ | 510 | 648 |
| peakbagger | 39888 | 39886 |
| Peak DB id | 510 | 648 |
The two are ~1.7 mi apart along the divide, both Class 2 tundra/chiprock.
Recommended day — West Willow Creek upper TH ⭐¶
These are the eastern, "bridge" peaks of the La Garita cluster — reachable from the same West Willow Creek upper TH (near San Luis Pass, ~11,500' with full 4WD) as the Baldy Lejos trio.
| Peaks | PT 13,308 + PT 13,166 |
| Recommended loop (composed) | ~8.2 mi / ~3,050' — loop from the West Willow TH out to the pair and back |
| Class | 2, with a Class 3 move on PT 13,166 |
| Trailhead | West Willow Creek upper TH (~11,500') — the Baldy Lejos trio's trailhead |
The recommended route (bold magenta) — a loop from the West Willow upper TH out to PT 13,166 and PT 13,308 and back. Pair it with the trio over two days: the West Willow La Garita 2-day trip.
How they're climbed¶
- PT 13,308 has been tagged on longer West Willow days with the Baldy Lejos trio (LoJ TRs 24545 / 5946).
- PT 13,166 is climb13ers' "North Ridge," reachable from the same side.
- They can also be reached from Phoenix Park (Creede, East Willow) on a bigger day, but West Willow is the shorter, higher start.
Best combined as a 5-peak West Willow push or a relaxed add-on: with full 4WD to the upper TH, a strong party can link Baldy Lejos + 13,115 + 13,030 + 13,308 + 13,166 in one big day; otherwise do this pair on its own or tack it onto the trio.
Getting there — West Willow Creek upper TH¶
| Drive from Boulder | ~5 h to Creede via Google Maps, then the rough West Willow Creek 4WD road above town. |
| Access | From Creede, up Willow Creek Rd (FR 503) ~¾ mi to the East/West Willow junction, bear onto West Willow Creek Rd toward San Luis Pass. Last ~1.5 mi moderate 4WD. |
| Trailhead | West Willow Creek upper TH, ~37.9556, −106.9665, ~11,500' (high-clearance 4WD; lower parking adds mileage). |
| Land | La Garita Wilderness (GMUG / Rio Grande NF) — no permits/fees, foot-only beyond the TH; dispersed camping OK. |
Gear & season¶
- Best window: July–September; high, remote, snow lingers; the West Willow road opens late.
- Terrain: Class 2 tundra/chiprock — length + altitude + the 4WD approach are the challenge, not difficulty.
- Storms: exposed divide — early start.
- Cell: dead — carry an InReach.
Trip reports & GPX (all sources)¶
Sources confirmed logged in: 14ers.com ("letsgocu"), listsofjohn.com, peakbagger.com. 14ers-library tracks (from West Willow and Phoenix Park) are layered on the CalTopo map.
- listsofjohn.com: TR 24545 / 5946 reach 13,308 with the western trio from West Willow.
- peakbagger.com: both verified — La Garita Wilderness (GMUG / Rio Grande NF).
- climb13ers.com: UN 13,166 "North Ridge".
Sources checked: 14ers.com ✓ (logged in, "letsgocu") · listsofjohn.com ✓ · peakbagger.com ✓ · climb13ers.com ✓