East Spanish Peak, Summit in Huerfano County, Colorado

East Spanish Peak is a 12,688-foot (3,867 m) summit in the Spanish Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 9.3 miles southeast of La Veta on the drainage divide between Huerfano and Las Animas counties. It is one of two large igneous stocks forming an eastern outlier of the Culebra Range. Its core is granite porphyry surrounded by granodiorite porphyry.

East Spanish Peak is one of two igneous stocks forming the Spanish Peaks, an eastern outlier of the Culebra Range. Its granodiorite porphyry core was intruded about 23.36 million years ago, making it the younger of the two peaks; the granite porphyry above it eroded away, leaving the less-evolved rock exposed at the summit.

The name Spanish Peaks was given by Spanish explorers and settlers, though the peaks themselves lie far north of any Spanish colonial settlement. East Spanish Peak is the easternmost point in the United States above 12,000 feet, so it marks the end of the high Rockies for travellers heading east across the plains.

The ascent is steep and demands climbing experience with proper gear and preparation. Start early and bring plenty of water and weather-appropriate clothing for the changing mountain conditions.

East Spanish Peak is the younger of the two Spanish Peaks stocks, intruded about 23.36 million years ago. Its summit exposes granodiorite porphyry, the less-evolved lower part of the magma chamber, while a granite porphyry core surrounds it. It is also the easternmost point in the United States above 12,000 feet.