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13,837 ft · San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Turret Peak

Turret Peak is a 13,837 ft peak in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado. The standard route is the Northwest Slope: 11 mi, 7,140 ft of gain, Class 2.

Plan this climbView Colorado Centennials
Turret Peak in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Turret Peak at a glance

  • Elevation13,837 ft4,217 m
  • RouteNorthwest SlopeClass 2
  • Distance11 mi7,140 ft gain
  • Time2 – 3 daysVery Hard effort
  • SeasonJul – Sep
  • RangeSan Juan MountainsColorado

Climbing the Northwest Slope

Ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to the Needleton stop, cross the Animas River, and climb the steep, unmaintained route into Ruby Creek or Northwest Pigeon Basin to camp. From the basin, climb Turret's northwest slope on Class 2 talus and grass. The approach is extremely steep with over 7,000 feet of gain round trip. Pigeon Peak is right next door and usually climbed on the same trip. Plan two to three days and book train seats early. Water is plentiful in the basins, but campsites are few.

Gear and hazards

What to bring

  • Backpack (55–75 L)
  • Hiking Boots
  • Water
  • Offline Maps
  • Headlamp
  • Satellite Communicator
  • Whistle
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Sun Hat
  • Midlayer
  • Insulated Jacket
  • Hardshell Jacket
  • Warm Hat
  • Buff
  • Midweight Gloves
  • Trekking Poles
  • GPS Device
  • Power Bank
  • Water Filter
  • First-Aid Kit
  • Emergency Bivy

What to watch for

  • Loose rock
  • Route-finding difficulty
  • Remote location
  • Complex logistics
  • Storms

Quests with Turret Peak

Peaks near Turret Peak

  1. Fifteen Peak

    Fifteen Peak

    13,671 ft · 0.2 mi away

  2. Pigeon Peak

    Pigeon Peak

    13,977 ft · 0.5 mi away

  3. Mount Eolus

    Mount Eolus

    14,090 ft · 1.0 mi away

  4. North Eolus

    North Eolus

    14,039 ft · 1.0 mi away

Frequently asked questions

How tall is Turret Peak?

Turret Peak is 13,837 feet (4,217 m) tall. It is in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

How does Turret Peak rank among the Colorado Centennials?

At 13,837 feet, Turret Peak is the 91st highest of the 100 Colorado Centennials. The highest is Mount Elbert.

How hard is it to hike Turret Peak?

The Northwest Slope is Class 2, which means off-trail hiking with some use of your hands for balance. Yak rates the overall effort very hard: 11 miles with 7,140 feet of elevation gain.

How many days does it take to climb Turret Peak?

Most climbers plan 2 – 3 days for the Northwest Slope, with at least one night on the mountain.

Can a beginner hike Turret Peak?

The Northwest Slope needs no climbing skills, but it is a very hard trip: 11 miles with 7,140 feet of elevation gain. Build up on shorter hikes first, start early and carry plenty of water and layers.

Do you need to acclimatize to climb Turret Peak?

Most people feel the altitude above 8,000 feet, and Turret Peak reaches 13,837 feet. Spend a night or two at elevation first, drink plenty of water and turn back if a headache, nausea or dizziness gets worse.

When is the best time to hike Turret Peak?

The usual hiking window is July to September. Outside it, expect snow, storms or closed access, and check the summit forecast before you go.

Climb Turret Peak with Yak

Plan your route on a topo map, check the summit forecast, then log your climb and see what is left on your list

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