Santa Fe Peak

4.7/5 (25 reviews)
Montezuma, Colorado (Summit County)
Last Updated: 10/10/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

The 4WD road to the summit of Santa Fe Peak offers truly epic vistas and truly butt-clenching thrills. At the summit, just over 13,000 feet, the trail traverses the highest and scariest shelf road this writer has ever experienced. Peering over the edge to the valley 2000 feet below (yes, really) is not for the faint of heart. Then, you have to turn around and do it again to get back down!

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.7/5 (25 reviews)
800
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/02/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Went on Friday late morning of Labor Day weekend. Only saw 2 vehicles and a couple hikers. I do think this is one of the underrated trails in the Montezuma area. As described, the last section is not for the faint of heart. It’s extremely rocky and off camber. The rest of trail has beautiful scenery once you get above tree line. The trail becomes steeper and rockier once you’re above tree line too. Really neat to see Webster/Red Cone in the distance at the end. Ran with a stock Xterra on KO2s.
6550
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/06/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Mellow switchbacks until treeline, they then become steeper, looser and off camber. The trail was picturesque the whole way with sweeping views of the surrounding area. The last shelf section is very narrow, loose and off camber, great care must be taken through here. The track tops out just above 13k ft allowing a short scramble to the summit of Santa Fe Peak. It's a cool thought knowing you're higher and can spot the people on Webster Pass, Red Cone and Radical Hill at the saddle.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/24/2022

Amazing trail, and one of the most overlooked in the Montezuma area. Drove this in my 2012 stock Xterra Pro-4x. The whole trail is basically switchbacks from treeline to the peak. A few interesting mines to see along the way. Although the trail is relatively easy, the pucker factor is very high. Especially the last couple hundred yards before the peak. But it’s very short and you can easily walk it instead of driving. Views are outstanding and only saw 3 dirt bikes the entire time on a Saturday. No other full size vehicles. Non licensed vehicles are not allowed on this trail.
Official Crew
34800
Impassable
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/25/2022

I did not have time to drive up Sante Fe today, but looking over from Saints John, it looks like there's still some snow on the shelf road at the summit.
400
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/19/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

We cleared the last two snow drifts on the upper switchbacks with shovels. Trail is in good shape and open to the summit!

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