Ultimate 4wd destination: Trinchera Peak

Trinchera Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.860m (12,664ft) above the sea level, located at the cornerstone of three counties (Huerfano, Las Animas, and Costilla) in southern Colorado, in USA. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Trinchera Peak

Located in the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Trinchera Peak Road (Forest Road 436). The trail is accessible by 4WD and other vehicles with better clearance. High winds blow here all year long. The wind is usually quite strong at mountain areas. When you arrive at the summit, if the winds are blowing too hard (not a surprise for this range) you can hide behind some of the large cairns. It's an old mine road. Expect a trail pretty steep.

The road is closed around November due to heavy snowfalls. Even in summer you can confront with snowy days. The summit view offers a panorama of surrounding great valleys, plains and forest. The switchbacks which approach the mine on the south are quite rough and though the turnarounds are extremely tight, a short-wheelbase vehicle is not a problem.
Pic: Patrick Van Ryn