#367 / 13,333' Venable Peak

Quadrangle › Rito Alto Peak
Summit Location › Peak Route Icon N 38° 03' 21.26", W 105° 37' 45.48" (Not Field Checked)

Peak Summary

Venable Peak is another Class 2 summit located in the central Sangre de Cristo Range that pairs up nicely with Comanche Peak and Spring Mountain for a long circuit hike that begins near the Alvarado Campground out of Westcliffe. The trailhead is accessible to passenger vehicles. Most of this loop hike can be completed on maintained trail. The round trip we propose offers plenty of forest hiking, alpine lakes, an impressive trail through a rugged headwall and typical Sangre de Cristo scenery.

Venable Peak NE Ridge Route

Class 2
Peak Icon Peak Icon Peak Icon
Long Day // Back for Dinner
Climbed with Comanche Peak + Spring Mountain
RT From Alvarado Campground TH: 14.45 mi / 5,320'
From Spring Mountain: 1.00 mi / 555' (One-Way)
  • Trailhead
    • Alvarado Campground TH

      From the main intersection in Westcliffe of State Highways 69 and 96, head south on SH69 for three miles to a turnoff on the right (west) for CR140, aka: Schoolfield Road. Continue west until you have to turn. Make a 90° left, drive a short distance south, then turn back right (west) again, still on CR140. The road begins to gain elevation through open forest with private homes on a series of five, 90° turns. A short distance after the fifth turn, go right on what is technically CR148 that leads more uphill to a trailhead parking area. The road passes through an open field and makes 4 switchbacks to the TH. For our proposed route that will take in Comanche, Spring and Venable, you will want Trail #1345, which crosses the Rainbow Trail in a short distance.


      Camping

      The Alvarado Campground is located just south of the trailhead parking area. This is a "full-service," national forest CG during peak summer months, however, on the San Isabel National Forest website, there is a notice that the campground is without a water supply on an indefinite basis. Plan accordingly. This is a very nice campground with well-developed sites for both tents and trailers. Most of the sites are spread out enough to afford some privacy. There are plenty of trees. The most current overnight rate is $22. There are vault toilets. Sites may be reserved at Recreation.Gov., but we have had some luck in the past with obtaining a campsite on a first-come, first-served basis. On summer weekends, plan on the campground being full, however.

      As for other camping locations, the options are rather limited in this area because of all the private property.


      Campsite Locations

      Alvarado › N 38° 04' 43.83, W 105° 33' 44.80"
      Elevation, 9,025
    Approach Map Photos
    • From Comanche Peak Spring Mountain

      • Comanche Peak North Ridge  Class 2 / 6.3 mi / 4,220’ One-Way


        From the SW end of the roomy parking area, walk up the trail #1345. The trail skirts the upper campground before turning more westward to cross the Rainbow Trail in a short distance. Continue on the Comanche trail. The trail leads through the drier, lower forest region and gradually ascends toward Comanche Lake, leading through forest all the way. The trail crosses a minor drainage that comes off Spring Mountain, turns south and ascends for a while much more steeply on a series of switchbacks up to a dividing ridge a little above 11,000 ft. From the ridge, it was well over another mile before reaching the lake at 11,640 ft. Dwarf conifers and willows provide some windbreak around the lake as morning winds sweep down from the pass. We took the side trail over to the lake to take some photos, mostly of the lake and the more dramatic, rocky NE face of Comanche Peak in the distance. It took us at least an hour and a half to reach the lake.

        Back on the main trail and continuing SW from the lake, head on up the valley with the trail still being quite evident as it gains the SE facing slope through willows and switchbacks a few times to gain the final 1,200 feet to the pass. This last section is mainly open tundra hiking. From the pass, Comanche Peak is a short half mile south with another 500 feet of gain. Walk up staying near the ridge line and following various paths to the summit through mostly tundra with embedded rocks. It is easy hiking, though a little steeper than the trail further down. We arrived at the summit in about 3:15 from the TH. Admire the typical Sangre view of tilted, conglomerate beds sweeping in different directions and of the more rugged terrain to the south around the Crestones. From the summit, either retrace your route back to the trailhead or continue on to Spring Mountain.

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      • Spring Mountain South & NW Ridge  Class 2 / .9 mi / 545’ One-Way


        Spring Mountain is part of a three-summit sequence with Comanche first, then Spring, then Venable. One-way mileage and elevation gain to Spring Mtn. are measured from the summit of Comanche Peak. Round trip mileage and elevation gain assumes completion of the sequence.

        Depart the Comanche summit by heading back down the north ridge. In short order, you will hike back down that ridge back to the pass and then begin the ascent up to the high point of Spring Mountain. This is another easy 545 feet of gain on similar terrain. Tundra flowers are abundant in this area. The traverse should take under a half hour. There is a trail on the west side of Spring that skirts below the summit and then also skirts below the Venable summit on the east side of that peak. From the summit of Spring, enjoy more of the astounding views of this tilted range. Spring Mountain, extends NE as a long ridge for nearly two miles. Fortunately, the high point is right along the high, central ridge crest of the Sangre range so you do not have to navigate away from the logical route over to Venable. Take a long rest break here and soak in the heavenly view.

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    Peak Icon Route Map Photos

    Route Info Venable Peak NE Ridge

    Route Description

    Year Climbed: 2009

    Venable Peak is included in a sequence of summits that includes Comanche Peak and Spring Mountain, in that order. One way mileage and elevation gain to Venable is measured from the summit of Spring Mtn. Round-trip mileage and elevation gain assumes completion of the sequence.

    From the summit of Spring Mountain, walk downhill, NW to the Spring-Venable saddle on mostly tundra. At the saddle, you will cross the Comanche Trail #1345 which heads NE, contouring down across the rugged east face of Venable. The Comanche Trail intersects farther down, the Venable Lakes Trail which will serve as your return route back to the Alvarado CG and trailhead. For now, cross the trail, then begin the ascent to Venable which will be a little steeper than either Comanche or Spring and a little rockier with some loose scree. Keep heading NW until you intersect the NE-SW running ridge that leads to the Venable summit. A short stroll SW will deliver you to the high point. The flowers along the way and even on the summit may prove to be of considerable distraction.

    The summit view from Venable is perhaps even more impressive with a better perspective of the more rugged Crestone-Kit Carson group to the south. Enjoy the view as long as weather allows, then for the return, drop back down to the Venable-Spring saddle and pick up the Comanche Trail as it cuts across the impressive east face of Venable. This section of trail as it contours down through the layered bands of conglomerate rock is quite impressive and for us, brought back visions of hiking in Glacier National Park. Drop on down the trail to the twin Venable Lakes. These alpine lakes are just above treeline and offer a nice place to relax a minute and cool tired feet. From the lakes, it's another three and a half miles of trail walking back to the trailhead by the Alvarado campground. There will be a small group of Bristlecone Pines the trail goes by as you enter the highest trees. Venable Falls offers a nice, short side-trip distraction. Lower down, you'll pass by the remains of an old cabin and then enter into a nice aspen forest. Toward the end, make sure you follow the correct trail back to the trailhead.


    Additional BETA

    Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful.
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