La Plata Peak (14,361') is located 4.3 miles from La Plata Peak Trailhead off Highway 82 in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. It's the 5th highest peak in Colorado, distinguished by a broad west flank, bulky-rock summit and exceptional views that extend deep into the Collegiate Peaks and from Twin Lakes to Independence Pass.

Glaciers and running water sculpt the land in different ways; streams tend to cut winding curves and V-shaped valleys, while glaciers carve nearly straight valleys with broader U-shapes

The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness covers approximately 40 miles of the Continental Divide

Ellingwood Ridge extends from La Plata Peak with Class 3 - 4 scrambling routes that arc over the east side of La Plata Basin

View over La Plata Basin, which is accessible by various scrambling routes and can be followed down to Lake Creek to form a loop back to the trailhead

The first prospectors crossed Independence Pass from the Leadville area in 1879, which at that time was called Hunter's Pass

Tightly wound switchbacks gradually lengthen and straighten through 12,000' up to La Plata's north spine

The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness likely has the highest average elevation of any wilderness area in the lower 48 states

The first .8 miles pass through a rolling aspen forest above the confluence of South Fork Lake Creek and Lake Creek

The trail reaches the north ridge at 3.0 miles (12,750') with simultaneous views of La Plata Basin and La Plata Gulch

Several sections of trail pass through sharp talus fields that can be tedious and take just as much time to climb as descend

Mountains of the Sawatch Range have two distinctive characteristics: great height and a huge, sloping bulk that makes them relatively easy to climb

The first commercial road over Independence Pass was built in 1880-1881 by B. Clark Wheeler; tolls were collected at bridge crossings on the east side of the pass

Aspen clonal colonies turn color at different times, providing a way to tell each group apart

Sayres Peak (13,738'), variously called Sayres Benchmark, forms the headwall of the La Plata Creek valley