Conejos Peak Loop in Rio Grande National Forest, CO

Hike Conejos Peak Loop Rio Grande National Forest, CO

Class 1 7.6 miles 2200 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Jun 11, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Conejos Peak is a remote 13er deep in the southern San Juan Mountains. Yossi and I drove from Summit Peak, which we did earlier in the day and paired nicely with Conejos Peak. The roads in the area are all in great shape and suitable for sedans, except for the last few miles required to reach this trailhead, though a careful low-clearance vehicle driver could probably make it to within two miles.

We started out along the pretty Rincon Trail, which headed west initially and then curved south. The trail crossed over a stream and ascended a bunch of switchbacks before leading above treeline and along the ridgeline. The Rincon Trail doesn't follow the ridge crest, so we left the trail at around 12100' and ascended west on the tundra slope. Eventually we stumbled onto the Tobacco Lake Trail at around 12400', and this trail led us all the way to just north of the summit of Conejos Peak. A short spur trail took us to the high point, where the views were pretty excellent.

A quickly approaching storm had us running. Continuing along the Tobacco Lake Trail, we made our way down from Conejos Peak and along a delightfully bright ridgeline and through the tundra. While sometimes hard to follow, the trail ultimately reached Tobacco Lake. Without lingering at Tobacco Lake, we followed the excellent trail for a while longer, but it would eventually take us to the Tobacco Lake Trailhead, not where the car was parked. To get back to the car, we left the Tobacco Lake Trail when the brush/trees on the slope to the right seemed the most open. We descended the pleasant slope with some minor bushwhacking and found ourselves back on the Rincon Trail, which we took back.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Conejos Peak
13172 ft
1892 rise

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Starting along the Rincon Trail.
Starting along the Rincon Trail.
The ridgeline where we'll soon be comes into view through the trees.
The ridgeline where we'll soon be comes into view through the trees.
A stream crossing.
A stream crossing.
Emerging into a meadow briefly.
Emerging into a meadow briefly.
Switchbacks through the forest.
Switchbacks through the forest.
And then we emerged above treeline, the trail leading to the tundra-filled ridge. Conejos Peak visible top right.
And then we emerged above treeline, the trail leading to the tundra-filled ridge. Conejos Peak visible top right.
Almost at the ridgeline.
Almost at the ridgeline.
We left the Rincon Trail since it didn't lead along the ridge and ascended the tundra slope.
We left the Rincon Trail since it didn't lead along the ridge and ascended the tundra slope.
Along the ridgeline, a brief section of light rockiness.
Along the ridgeline, a brief section of light rockiness.
We stumbled onto the Tobacco Lake Trail, which led to nearly the summit.
We stumbled onto the Tobacco Lake Trail, which led to nearly the summit.
View back.
View back.
Ascending to Conejos Peak.
Ascending to Conejos Peak.
Image 12 from gallery
A view south toward some pretty little lakes.
A view south toward some pretty little lakes.
Nearly at Conejos Peak.
Nearly at Conejos Peak.
View back.
View back.
Looking back at a short spur trail we used to reach the summit.
Looking back at a short spur trail we used to reach the summit.
Conejos Peak summit, view south.
Conejos Peak summit, view south.
Onward along the ridgeline using the Tobacco Lake Trail. Tobacco Lake seen below.
Onward along the ridgeline using the Tobacco Lake Trail. Tobacco Lake seen below.
View back toward Conejos Peak.
View back toward Conejos Peak.
Tobacco Lake.
Tobacco Lake.
A shot toward Conejos Peak from Tobacco Lake.
A shot toward Conejos Peak from Tobacco Lake.
Along the nice Tobacco Lake Trail.
Along the nice Tobacco Lake Trail.
We were up on the ridge on the top right in this photo earlier.
We were up on the ridge on the top right in this photo earlier.
The Tobacco Lake Trail wouldn't lead us back to our trailhead, so we left it and descended a mostly clear slope to get back to the Rincon Trail.
The Tobacco Lake Trail wouldn't lead us back to our trailhead, so we left it and descended a mostly clear slope to get back to the Rincon Trail.
Light bushwhacking, but nothing bad at all.
Light bushwhacking, but nothing bad at all.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!