Crestone Needle

Crestone Needle is a 14,203-foot summit in Colorado. The Crestone Needle Trail covers 5.9 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 1,362 feet of elevation gain — gentle grades, but the mileage is what makes it a Hard outing.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 2.73, gaining roughly 2,500 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 11,663 feet, the route tops out near 12,946 feet.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 37.9639, -105.56054 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 70 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Arrive early on weekends — trailhead lots at popular peaks fill quickly, and cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.

When to Go

The reliable snow-free window is roughly July through September. At this elevation, afternoon thunderstorms are a serious summer hazard — start early and plan to be off the upper mountain by midday. Outside that window expect snow travel and bring traction and navigation skills to match.

Know Before You Go

The Hard rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 2.5 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Looking to link objectives or plan a weekend? Nearby summits include Crestone Peak, Kit Carson Mountain and Blanca Peak — each has its own guide on this site.