| Sawatch Range | |
|---|---|
 Sawatch Range seen fromMonarch Pass | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Elbert |
| Elevation | 14,440 ft (4,401 m) |
| Listing | Mountain ranges of Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°07′03.9″N106°26′43.29″W / 39.117750°N 106.4453583°W /39.117750; -106.4453583 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 80 mi (130 km) NW/SE |
| Geography | |
  Sawatch Range | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Parent range | Rocky Mountains |
TheSawatch Range/səˈwɑːtʃ/ orSaguache Range[1][2][3] is a high and extensivemountain range in centralColorado which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in theRocky Mountains, includingMount Elbert, at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies.
The range is oriented along a northwest–southeast axis, extending roughly 80 miles (130 km) from39°37′36″N106°32′13″W / 39.62667°N 106.53694°W /39.62667; -106.53694 in the north to38°5′51″N106°3′48″W / 38.09750°N 106.06333°W /38.09750; -106.06333 in the south. The range contains fifteen peaks in excess of 14,000 feet (4,267 m), also known asfourteeners. The range forms a part of theContinental Divide, and its eastern side drains into the headwaters of theArkansas River. The western side of the range feeds the headwaters of theRoaring Fork River, theEagle River, and theGunnison River, tributaries of theColorado River.
The Sawatch mountains in general are high, massive, and relatively gentle in contour. While some peaks are rugged enough to require technical climbing, most can be climbed by a simple, yet arduous hike. Notable summits includeMount Elbert,Mount Massive,La Plata Peak,Mount of the Holy Cross, and theCollegiate Peaks (MountsColumbia,Harvard,Princeton,Yale,Belford, andOxford).
State Highway 82 traverses the range atIndependence Pass (Colorado). It is also traversed byCottonwood Pass, which connects the town of Buena Vista with Gunnison County. Both Independence Pass and Cottonwood Pass are over 12,000 feet (3,658 m), making them 2 of the highest passes in Colorado and are typically open only from late spring to mid autumn.Hagerman Pass is another pass to the north, connecting the Arkansas Headwaters near Leadville with the upper valley of theFryingpan River. Hagerman Pass is traversable withfour-wheel drive vehicles and on foot during summer and early autumn months. The range contains numerous hiking trails within theSan Isabel National Forest andWhite River National Forest.
| Rank | Mountain Peak | Elevation | Prominence | Isolation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Elbert[4]NGS | 4401.200 =14,440 feet 4401 m | 2771.546 =9,093 feet 2772 m | 01079.22 =670.6 miles 1079.2 km |
| 2 | Mount Massive[5] | 4397.607 =14,428 feet 4398 m | 0591.617 =1,941 feet 592 m | 00008.15 =5.1 miles 8.2 km |
| 3 | Mount HarvardNGS | 4395.6 =14,421 feet 4395 m | 0709.270 =2,327 feet 709 m | 00024.01 =14.9 miles 24.0 km |
| 4 | La Plata Peak[5] | 4371.7 =14,343 feet 4372 m | 0561.137 =1,841 feet 561 m | 00010.10 =6.3 miles 10.1 km |
| 5 | Mount AnteroNGS | 4351.400 =14,276 feet 4351 m | 0762.914 =2,503 feet 763 m | 00028.56 =17.7 miles 28.6 km |
| 6 | Mount PrincetonNGS | 4329.300 =14,204 feet 4329 m | 0663.550 =2,177 feet 664 m | 00008.36 =5.2 miles 8.4 km |
| 7 | Mount YaleNGS | 4328.810 =14,202 feet 4329 m | 0571.805 =1,876 feet 572 m | 00008.93 =5.5 miles 8.9 km |
| 8 | Mount of the Holy CrossNGS | 4270.510 =14,011 feet 4271 m | 0643.433 =2,111 feet 643 m | 00029.81 =18.5 miles 29.8 km |
| 9 | Grizzly PeakNGS | 4265.600 =13,995 feet 4266 m | 0581.558 =1,908 feet 582 m | 00010.89 =6.8 miles 10.9 km |
| 10 | Mount OurayNGS | 4255.400 =13,961 feet 4255 m | 0810.463 =2,659 feet 810 m | 00021.86 =13.6 miles 21.9 km |
| 11 | Mount Jackson[5]PB | 4168.538 =13,676 feet 4169 m | 0551.688 =1,810 feet 552 m | 00005.16 =3.2 miles 5.2 km |
| 12 | Bill Williams Peak[5]PB | 4080.878 =13,389 feet 4081 m | 0512.674 =1,682 feet 513 m | 00006.51 =4.0 miles 6.5 km |
| 13 | Antora Peak[5]PB | 4046.274 =13,275 feet 4046 m | 0734.263 =2,409 feet 734 m | 00010.86 =6.7 miles 10.9 km |
| 14 | Henry Mountain[5]PB | 4042.037 =13,261 feet 4042 m | 0510.235 =1,674 feet 510 m | 00018.55 =11.5 miles 18.6 km |
| 15 | Park Cone[5]PB | 3689.953 =12,106 feet 3690 m | 0621.792 =2,040 feet 622 m | 00005.53 =3.4 miles 5.5 km |
| 16 | Red Table Mountain[5]PB | 3670.656 =12,043 feet 3671 m | 0614.782 =2,017 feet 615 m | 00016.56 =10.3 miles 16.6 km |
| 17 | Tomichi Dome[5]PB | 3496.225 =11,471 feet 3496 m | 0708.660 =2,325 feet 709 m | 00021.39 =13.3 miles 21.4 km |
| 18 | Castle Peak[5]PB | 3439.719 =11,285 feet 3440 m | 0926.592 =3,040 feet 927 m | 00030.47 =18.9 miles 30.5 km |
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