SabineInUtah - Sep 30, 2024 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 1993
Late fall on a 14ner
Hiked with RDB and Darwin, our dog.
LazyJSkwires - Aug 17, 2024 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2024
Also steep
Much like Holy Cross, this is a steep climb on tons of rock and dirt. Unlike Holy Cross, there's no reascending several hundred feet on the return trip. Also there's a couple spots deep into the rocky sections that are poorly marked. A lot of the other hikers were taking some real steep washed out section while the trail was just off to the right. I pointed out the cairns to them for an easier descent.
Also this one is absurdly short. Started at 6am, at the top by 10, back at the truck before 1. Would have been faster if it wasn't for some long bathroom breaks
eferesen - Aug 14, 2024 8:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2024
La Plata Peak
Perfect day and 10 mile an hour wind. News alert some sections are steep.
Walkoutnow - Jun 23, 2024 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2024
NW ridge
Solo. Very pretty trail. Put this one off for years, but it is actually one of my top five favorite 14ers (#23) so far.
Contemplated doing Ellingwood ridge but decided against it. Was not disappointed with the standard route, made for a good 4 hr climb and run.
Dow Williams - Sep 6, 2023 1:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2023
La Plata Peak
5 hrs round trip. Worthwhile hike. Highlights were the initial creek crossing on the bridge, unique waterfall, and a single colorful boulder above tree line. You park on the main road, then hike in on a private road, 5-10 minutes, the USFS sign is on your left, but you have to look out for it. Pikas abundant.
cmcalhoun - Jun 17, 2023 6:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2021
La Plata
NW Ridge
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2004
La Plata Peak
Northwest Ridge
runbyu1 - Sep 1, 2022 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Snow on the way up, HOT coming down
Summit to car in 45:59.
Got rained and hailed on between 12 and 13,000 feet despite weather report showing 0% chance until late afternoon. A couple people turned back but I soldiered on, hoping it would clear up and there would be no lightning. It was cold, but it eventually cleared up and warmed up and I was so happy to be able to summit! It was beautiful and awesome on top. Sat on top talking to a guy I met, Chris Fisher, for about half an hour. It got HOT on the way down.
The caramel colored waterfall at the bottom was pretty unique and cool.
Almost vomited on the drive there, and felt pretty bad half of the way up. Felt decent after that until the last mile where I just fell apart and felt sick again. Still feeling sick to my stomach 5 hours later.
hgrapid - Jul 23, 2022 11:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2022
Standard Northwest Ridge
2 hours and 40 minutes to the summit.
aarobkol - Aug 28, 2021 10:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2021
La Plata standard route
Fairly easy hike up La Plata. 3 hrs up, 2.5 hrs down. I started at 4:30 and was the first one on the summit. There were a lot of people heading up on my way down. Then I drove to BV in time to get lunch. The trailhead was full and cars were parked all over the place on the road. It looked bad in my opinion. The peak itself was great.
Titus - Aug 6, 2021 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2021
La Plata
Solo. A backup to the failed Capitol summit.
birdhead - Jun 15, 2021 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2021
NW Ridge
Last in a string of six peaks over a week. I was really feeling it in the legs, especially since this route gains about 3,000 feet in two miles! Slogged up to the top and had the summit all to myself. Drove back to ABQ that afternoon.
JesseSumrak - Jul 28, 2020 11:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2020
Solo Ascent
Started around 3:30am and only passed one group before being first up to summit just before 6:30. Lonely morning on the peak with ominous clouds in the distance. Nothing ended up occurring, but I was down quick anyways. Beautiful peak—beautiful hike. One of my favorites so far.
Started hiking at 4:25 am. About 15 minutes in we saw some spooky eyes on the trail. I yelled full voiced til they seemed to run away. Summitted around 7:30. Clouds were already developing so we didn't stay long. 14er #20.
kteichert - Jun 22, 2020 10:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
Favorite of the trip!
We got rained out of attempting any peaks on Friday. We were planning on doing Harvard and Columbia that day, and Antero on Saturday. But the weather had us change our plans. So we decided on La Plata for Saturday. I had seen it from the Elbert summit a few years earlier, and had always wanted to be on it's summit. I'm so glad we did! This turned out to be my favorite hike of the trip. The parking area is less than ideal, especially on a weekend. The trail goes through private land, and they ask that you remain only on the trail. The trail is one of the most scenic and diverse of any hike I've seen. You go through a dense forest at the beginning, with a bridge crossing across a red river over a little waterfall. Then climb mostly next to a mountain stream, where there is plenty of water refill options, or dog drinking/soaking spots. Niko loved every lapping up water each time we got close to the river. The trail is super well maintained, and is steep, but doable. Even the summit ridge is very well maintained, where workers have made boulder steps to ascend to the summit. Many people take shortcuts, or get off trail. But if you stay on the boulder steps, it is very easy to find the summit. The large glacial valleys cutting all around this peak make it one of the most scenic summits I've ever seen.
harryhampered - Oct 30, 2024 12:12 pm
La PlataSummer camp
SabineInUtah - Sep 30, 2024 4:32 pm Date Climbed: Oct 1, 1993
Late fall on a 14nerHiked with RDB and Darwin, our dog.
LazyJSkwires - Aug 17, 2024 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2024
Also steepMuch like Holy Cross, this is a steep climb on tons of rock and dirt. Unlike Holy Cross, there's no reascending several hundred feet on the return trip. Also there's a couple spots deep into the rocky sections that are poorly marked. A lot of the other hikers were taking some real steep washed out section while the trail was just off to the right. I pointed out the cairns to them for an easier descent.
Also this one is absurdly short. Started at 6am, at the top by 10, back at the truck before 1. Would have been faster if it wasn't for some long bathroom breaks
eferesen - Aug 14, 2024 8:49 am Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2024
La Plata PeakPerfect day and 10 mile an hour wind. News alert some sections are steep.
Walkoutnow - Jun 23, 2024 12:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2024
NW ridgeSolo. Very pretty trail. Put this one off for years, but it is actually one of my top five favorite 14ers (#23) so far.
Snowslogger - Sep 19, 2023 8:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2023
La Plata and an Orange CreekHad a nice hike up the peak in great weather. Interesting creek rapids/waterfall with an orange creekbed.
JRaphaelson - Sep 6, 2023 4:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2023
Standard routeContemplated doing Ellingwood ridge but decided against it. Was not disappointed with the standard route, made for a good 4 hr climb and run.
Dow Williams - Sep 6, 2023 1:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2023
La Plata Peak5 hrs round trip. Worthwhile hike. Highlights were the initial creek crossing on the bridge, unique waterfall, and a single colorful boulder above tree line. You park on the main road, then hike in on a private road, 5-10 minutes, the USFS sign is on your left, but you have to look out for it. Pikas abundant.
cmcalhoun - Jun 17, 2023 6:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2021
La PlataNW Ridge
JThorne - Feb 27, 2023 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2004
La Plata PeakNorthwest Ridge
runbyu1 - Sep 1, 2022 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2021
Snow on the way up, HOT coming downSummit to car in 45:59.
Got rained and hailed on between 12 and 13,000 feet despite weather report showing 0% chance until late afternoon. A couple people turned back but I soldiered on, hoping it would clear up and there would be no lightning. It was cold, but it eventually cleared up and warmed up and I was so happy to be able to summit! It was beautiful and awesome on top. Sat on top talking to a guy I met, Chris Fisher, for about half an hour. It got HOT on the way down.
The caramel colored waterfall at the bottom was pretty unique and cool.
Almost vomited on the drive there, and felt pretty bad half of the way up. Felt decent after that until the last mile where I just fell apart and felt sick again. Still feeling sick to my stomach 5 hours later.
hgrapid - Jul 23, 2022 11:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2022
Standard Northwest Ridge2 hours and 40 minutes to the summit.
aarobkol - Aug 28, 2021 10:43 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2021
La Plata standard routeFairly easy hike up La Plata. 3 hrs up, 2.5 hrs down. I started at 4:30 and was the first one on the summit. There were a lot of people heading up on my way down. Then I drove to BV in time to get lunch. The trailhead was full and cars were parked all over the place on the road. It looked bad in my opinion. The peak itself was great.
Titus - Aug 6, 2021 1:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2021
La PlataSolo. A backup to the failed Capitol summit.
birdhead - Jun 15, 2021 10:02 pm Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2021
NW RidgeLast in a string of six peaks over a week. I was really feeling it in the legs, especially since this route gains about 3,000 feet in two miles! Slogged up to the top and had the summit all to myself. Drove back to ABQ that afternoon.
JesseSumrak - Jul 28, 2020 11:51 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2020
Solo AscentStarted around 3:30am and only passed one group before being first up to summit just before 6:30. Lonely morning on the peak with ominous clouds in the distance. Nothing ended up occurring, but I was down quick anyways. Beautiful peak—beautiful hike. One of my favorites so far.
BKiser90 - Jul 23, 2020 4:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2020
The Silver PeakStarted hiking at 4:25 am. About 15 minutes in we saw some spooky eyes on the trail. I yelled full voiced til they seemed to run away. Summitted around 7:30. Clouds were already developing so we didn't stay long. 14er #20.
kteichert - Jun 22, 2020 10:44 am Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
Favorite of the trip!We got rained out of attempting any peaks on Friday. We were planning on doing Harvard and Columbia that day, and Antero on Saturday. But the weather had us change our plans. So we decided on La Plata for Saturday. I had seen it from the Elbert summit a few years earlier, and had always wanted to be on it's summit. I'm so glad we did! This turned out to be my favorite hike of the trip. The parking area is less than ideal, especially on a weekend. The trail goes through private land, and they ask that you remain only on the trail. The trail is one of the most scenic and diverse of any hike I've seen. You go through a dense forest at the beginning, with a bridge crossing across a red river over a little waterfall. Then climb mostly next to a mountain stream, where there is plenty of water refill options, or dog drinking/soaking spots. Niko loved every lapping up water each time we got close to the river. The trail is super well maintained, and is steep, but doable. Even the summit ridge is very well maintained, where workers have made boulder steps to ascend to the summit. Many people take shortcuts, or get off trail. But if you stay on the boulder steps, it is very easy to find the summit. The large glacial valleys cutting all around this peak make it one of the most scenic summits I've ever seen.
mickeyCs - Mar 27, 2020 7:16 pm
--summer 2017
halfotinos - Jun 15, 2019 9:50 am Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2018
SummerBeautiful hike with great views