Hiking – Trinchera Peak via Northeast slope

Trinchera Peak is the northern most 13er in the Culebra Range of the Southern Sangre de Cristos.  The summit hike is fun and challenging with hiking on snow making the trek more difficult. The hike starts at the 2WD parking lot on FSR 436. From the parking lot the hike follows FSR 436 that becomes a steep and rocky 4X4 road. Near 12000', the hike leaves the road to start bushwhacking up the northeast slope toward the summit. The terrain gets steeper with areas of lose talus when you reach the upper east ridge near 13100'.  A mostly flat summit is gained after about 400' of Class 2 hiking. The views from the top are amazing including seeing the neighboring chain of 13ers such as Leaning North Peak, Leaning South Peak, Cuatro Peak, and Mount Maxwell; the East and West Spanish Peaks; and Culebra Peak a privately owned 14er.

Because the trip leader has summited Trinchera Peak two times previously but has not done so in 5-6 years, the hike is somewhat exploratory. As such, the hike is directed at experienced hikers who have completed 13er summits within the last 1-2 months especially those requiring bushwhacking and those individuals comfortable hiking as a group with keeping the leader in close eyesight range.

This is a "leader permission required" hike for those of you that I have not had the pleasure of completing 13er summits with in the last two months.  For permission to register, please text me at (702) 480-5704 to share what 13ers you have completed including the distance, gain, and if bushwhacking is included. If I have never hike with you, I would also like to know what medical conditions you might have (diabetes, heart condition, asthma/COPD/emphysema, orthopedic condition, and/or medication you take) that may limit your ability to hike. The hike will be limited to a small number of participants with registration preference given to El Pueblo and Pikes Peak Group members.

Today's NOAA weather forecast is calling for 3-7" of snow on Trinchera Peak on Wednesday, September 30th through Thursday, October 1st. The forecast for Saturday, October 3rd is sunny with lows in the 40's and highs in the mid-50's with mild wind 5-7 mph and 0% precipitation.

Two of us are going to scout FSR 436 in the morning on Friday, October 2nd to assess the road conditions, amount of snow on Trinchera Peak, and location of the 2WD parking lot. 

An email will be sent out to registered participants on the afternoon of Friday, October 2nd with a real time report on road and hiking conditions. If the conditions are not thought to be safe and enjoyable for summit hiking, the hike will be rescheduled.

Trinchera Peak is the northern most 13er in the Culebra Range of the Southern Sangre de Cristos.  The summit hike is fun and challenging with hiking on snow making the trek more difficult. The hike starts at the 2WD parking lot on FSR 436. From the parking lot the hike follows FSR 436 that becomes a steep and rocky 4X4 road. Near 12000', the hike leaves the road to start bushwhacking up the northeast slope toward the summit. The terrain gets steeper with areas of lose talus when you reach the upper east ridge near 13100'.  A mostly flat summit is gained after about 400' of Class 2 hiking. The views from the top are amazing including seeing the neighboring chain of 13ers such as Leaning North Peak, Leaning South Peak, Cuatro Peak, and Mount Maxwell; the East and West Spanish Peaks; and Culebra Peak a privately owned 14er.

Because the trip leader has summited Trinchera Peak two times previously but has not done so in 5-6 years, the hike is somewhat exploratory. As such, the hike is directed at experienced hikers who have completed 13er summits within the last 1-2 months especially those requiring bushwhacking and those individuals comfortable hiking as a group with keeping the leader in close eyesight range.

This is a "leader permission required" hike for those of you that I have not had the pleasure of completing 13er summits with in the last two months.  For permission to register, please text me at (702) 480-5704 to share what 13ers you have completed including the distance, gain, and if bushwhacking is included. If I have never hike with you, I would also like to know what medical conditions you might have (diabetes, heart condition, asthma/COPD/emphysema, orthopedic condition, and/or medication you take) that may limit your ability to hike. The hike will be limited to a small number of participants with registration preference given to El Pueblo and Pikes Peak Group members.

Today's NOAA weather forecast is calling for 3-7" of snow on Trinchera Peak on Wednesday, September 30th through Thursday, October 1st. The forecast for Saturday, October 3rd is sunny with lows in the 40's and highs in the mid-50's with mild wind 5-7 mph and 0% precipitation.

Two of us are going to scout FSR 436 in the morning on Friday, October 2nd to assess the road conditions, amount of snow on Trinchera Peak, and location of the 2WD parking lot. 

An email will be sent out to registered participants on the afternoon of Friday, October 2nd with a real time report on road and hiking conditions. If the conditions are not thought to be safe and enjoyable for summit hiking, the hike will be rescheduled.

Trinchera Road (FSR 436) and surrounding area was closed in 2022 due to a massive 800-acre timber blow down. The road was reopened in 2024 for limited use by hikers, dirt bikes and ATVs less than 50' wide. In order to make passage safe for all road users, the road and surrounding 94 acres were closed from Aug 14, 2026 through June 30, 2026 for extensive logging and debris clearage. As of July 1, 2026, FSR 436 is open to all public access including hikers, dirt/mountain bikes and ATVs wider than 50'. 

Because of the recent logging operations, the location of the 2WD parking area on FSR 436 is unknown. As a result, there will be two meeting places. Pueblo and Colorado Springs participants will meet at the strip mall parking lot west of Loaf and Jug at 1201 W. Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo 81004 for a 5:30am departure and other participants will meet at the Southeast corner of the TA Express Travel Center at 455 US-85, Walsenburg 81089 for a 6:15am departure. The planned hike departure from the 2WD FSR 436 parking lot will be 7:30-7:45 am.