Humboldt Peak (Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Humboldt Peak |
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Humboldt Peak, south aspect
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14,070 ft (4,289 m) |
| Prominence | 1,204 ft (367 m) |
| Isolation | 1.41 mi (2.27 km) |
| Listing | Colorado Fourteener 37th |
| Geography | |
 Humboldt Peak
Location in Colorado
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| Location | Custer County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sangre de Cristo Range, Crestones |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Crestone Peak, Colorado |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | West Ridge: Hike, class 2 |
Humboldt Peak is a very tall mountain peak in the Crestones area, which is part of the Sangre de Cristo Range in the Rocky Mountains of North America. It stands at 14,070-foot (4,289 m) (about 4,288 meters) high, making it one of Colorado's famous "fourteeners" – mountains that are over 14,000 feet tall.
This impressive peak is found within the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness area, which is part of the San Isabel National Forest. It's located in Custer County, Colorado, United States, about 11.9 miles (19.2 km) (12 miles) southwest of the town of Westcliffe.
The Crestones are a group of high mountains in the Sangre de Cristo Range. This group includes other famous peaks like Crestone Peak, Crestone Needle, Kit Carson Peak, Challenger Point, and Columbia Point.
The mountain was named to honor Alexander von Humboldt, a famous German scientist and explorer.
Climbing Humboldt Peak
The most common way to climb Humboldt Peak is by hiking along a trail. Near the very top, the path becomes a bit more challenging and involves some rock scrambling. Scrambling means you might need to use your hands to steady yourself on rocks, but it's not quite as difficult as full rock climbing. This is known as a Class 2 climb.
The trail starts from the South Colony Lakes basin. You can reach this basin from the east side of the mountain range. This area is very popular because it's also the starting point for many climbs up Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle.
Mountain Climate
Humboldt Peak has an alpine subarctic climate. This means it has very cold and snowy winters. The summers are cool to warm.
Because the mountain is so high, it gets rain or snow all year round. In winter, it's mostly snow. In summer, you can expect thunderstorms. There is usually a drier period in the late spring.
Images for kids
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Humboldt Peak (left) and Colony Baldy (right)
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In Winter from the northeast
