The U.S. Forest Service manages a large amount of public land on the northeast portion of the Culebra Range, providing camping and excellent access to Trinchera Peak -
1. From the entrance to the Blue Lake Campground, cross the road and start up Forest Service Road (FSR) 436 -
2,
3 and
4. This 4WD road is well-maintained and goes all the way to a mine, at 12,600'. Walk up the road, pass the North Fork trailhead after 1 mile (
5) and continue up the road and out of the forest -
6 and
7.
Near 12,100', find a spot where you can leave the road on the left, without too much bushwhacking -
8. Turn left and zigzag southwest up through willows to reach the mellow terrain on Trinchera's upper northeast slopes -
9. Continue southwest toward the east ridge -
10. Near 13,100', reach the upper east ridge and hike steeper terrain toward the summit -
11,
12,
13 and
14. After 400' of Class 2 hiking on the upper ridge, gain Trinchera's mellow summit -
15,
16 and
17.
(WINTER) HOLD ON! If you don't have much high-elevation, winter climbing experience, be careful in your planning and take a partner. All 14er routes are more difficult and more dangerous in winter.
