Windom Peak

Windom Peak
Windom Peak
	Windom Peak (left center) from across Chicago Basin.
Highest point
Elevation	14,093 ft (4296 m); NAVD88
Prominence	2187 ft (667 m)
Isolation	26.3 mi (42.4 km)
Listing	North America highest peaks 54th; US highest major peaks 40th; Colorado highest major peaks 21st; Colorado fourteeners 32nd; Colorado county high points 18th;
Coordinates	37°37′16″N 107°35′31″W / 37.621166°N 107.591879°W
Geography
	Windom Peak Location in Colorado
Location	High point of La Plata County, Colorado, United States
Parent range	San Juan Mountains,; Highest summit of the; Needle Mountains
Topo map(s)	USGS 7.5' topographic map; Columbine Pass, Colorado
Climbing
Easiest route	West Ridge: Hike, class 2

Windom Peak is the highest summit of the Needle Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent 14,093-foot (4,296 m) fourteener is located in the Weminuche Wilderness of San Juan National Forest, 28.2 miles (45.4 km) northeast by north (bearing 32°) of the City of Durango in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The summit of Windom Peak is the highest point in La Plata County and the entire San Juan River drainage basin.^[1]^[2] The mountain was named in honor of Minnesota senator William Windom.^[4]

Climbing

Windom Peak is one of three fourteeners in the Needle Mountains; the other two are Mount Eolus and Sunlight Peak. Windom and Sunlight lie on the east side of Twin Lakes, in upper Chicago Basin, while Eolus lies on the west side. All three peaks are relatively remote by Colorado standards, and have a strong wilderness character; however they can be popular in summer.^[5]

The standard route up Windom Peak is rated class 2.^[6]