Crestone Peak, Mountain summit in Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, Colorado, US

Crestone Peak is a mountain summit in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness in Colorado, among the tallest peaks of the Rocky Mountains. It rises steeply above the San Luis Valley, with a rocky ridgeline that stays visible from many miles away.

The peak was first documented as climbed in 1916, when a party made their way up from the South Colony Lakes area. Since then it has drawn mountaineers looking for one of Colorado's more demanding high-altitude routes.

The name Crestone is shared with the nearby Crestone Needle, and the two are the most famous of the Crestones, a cluster of high summits that also includes Kit Carson Peak, Challenger Point, Humboldt Peak and Columbia Point. Climbers usually access these peaks from common trailheads, and the group is known for accidents caused by falls and summer lightning.

The route requires rock climbing experience and proper high-altitude gear, as conditions on the upper sections are technical and exposed. Weather changes quickly at this elevation, so starting early in the morning gives the best chance of reaching the summit and descending safely.

Crestone Peak has two summits: the northeast summit reaches 4,359 m, while the east summit is lower at 4,342 m. A 2021 survey suggested the true high point may lie about 120 m east of the recognized summit and be roughly 10 cm taller.