Sunshine Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunshine Peak |
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 Sunshine Peak
Location in Colorado
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14,007 ft (4,269 m) |
| Prominence | 501 ft (153 m) |
| Isolation | 1.27 mi (2.04 km) |
| Parent peak | Redcloud Peak |
| Listing | Colorado Fourteener 53rd |
| Geography | |
| Location | Hinsdale County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Parent range | San Juan Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Redcloud Peak, Colorado |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | North ridge (from Redcloud Peak): Hike |
Sunshine Peak is a tall mountain peak in the state of Colorado, U.S.. It is known as a "fourteener" because its top reaches over 14,000 feet (about 4,267 meters) above sea level. This mountain is part of the San Juan Mountains range.
Sunshine Peak is located in Hinsdale County. It is about 9 miles (14.5 km) southwest of a town called Lake City. You can find it about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of a taller mountain named Redcloud Peak. The mountain stands proudly on the north side of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
What Makes Sunshine Peak Special?
Sunshine Peak has an interesting fact about it. It is the lowest of all 53 "fourteeners" in Colorado. This means that while it is very tall, it is not quite as high as the other 52 mountains that also reach over 14,000 feet.
How Independent Is This Peak?
Mountains can be measured by how "independent" they are from nearby taller peaks. This is called their topographic prominence. It measures how much a mountain rises above the lowest point connecting it to a higher peak. Sunshine Peak's prominence is about 481 feet (147 meters). For a mountain to be considered truly independent, it usually needs a prominence of at least 300 feet (91 meters). So, Sunshine Peak is independent enough, even though it is very close to Redcloud Peak.
Steep Slopes and Views
Even though Sunshine Peak is the lowest fourteener, it has some very steep sides. It rises sharply from the land around it. For example, it climbs about 4,450 feet (1,356 meters) above the old townsite of Sherman in a short distance of only 1.2 miles (1.9 km). This makes for some dramatic views and challenging climbs!
