Chicago Basin 14er Circuit: Windom Peak Summit Trail – Sunlight Peak – Mount E...
Needleton, CO
Chicago Basin 14er Circuit: Windom Peak Summit Trail – Sunlight Peak – Mount Eolus
The train ride to Needleton is obviously a nice touch, but you’re here for the hiking, not the choo-choo! The great part about hiking these three mountains is that they sample different climbing styles: Windom is class 2/2+ on big, blocky boulders. Sunlight has a good class 3 route that culminates with a fun scramble to an exposed summit. Eolus has sustained class 3 scrambling along narrow catwalks and rocky ledges. Some people do all three in one day (about 10 miles round trip from camp), but my preferred option is to hike Windom and Sunlight in one trek (about 5.3 miles round trip from camp), and on a second day to hike Eolus and optional North Eolus (about 4.2 miles round trip from camp).
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Directions to: Chicago Basin 14er Circuit: Windom Peak Summit Trail – Sunlight Peak – Mount E...
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Needleton |
| Length | 21 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 8,220 ft |
| Skill Level | Moderate to Difficult; Class 2+/3 |
| Duration | 3–4 days; Expect 10–12 hours for the three 14ers in one day from camp |
| Season | July–September |
| Trailhead Elevation | 8,233 ft |
| Top Elevation | 14,083 ft |
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