Hiking Mount Shavano – Sawatch Range, Colorado

Mount Shavano is a 14,229 foot mountain in the Sawatch range of Colorado. Below we will cover each of the trail options, information about camping, roads, trail maps and more to help you get hiking this gorgeous peak. Mount Shavano is often combined with Tabeguache Peak, which is discussed below.

Distance – 9.2 miles round trip (14.81 km)
Height – 14,299 feet (4,358.3 m)
Elevation gain – 4,700 feet (1432.6 m)
Duration – 6 to 8 hours (book time)
Difficulty – Strenuous
Class: Class 2 Hike
Seasons – Year-round (caution and experience needed in winter – see below)
Trailhead Location – Blanks Gulch Trailhead – 9,760 feet (directions below)

Trails

Mount Shavano Trail: 9.2 Miles Round Trip | 4,700 Feet Elevation Gain | Class 2

This is the most common route up Mount Shavano. It is very easy to follow, well trafficked, and features switchbacks at the steepest sections.

Beginning and Blanks Gulch Trailhead, hikers hike for .1 miles before taking a right onto the Colorado trail. Hikers stay on the Colorado Trail for .3 miles and then turn left onto the Mount Shavano Trail. From here, hikers begin quickly ascending through the forest and reach treeline (12,000 feet) 2.7 miles into the hike.

From treeline, the trail features incredible views of the rock ledges, and the summit of Shavano can be seen. Hikers will gain the ridge 3.9 miles into the hike. From here, the last summit push is .7 miles with some loose rocks (scree) to the summit.

Mount Shavano Trail to Angel of Shavano: 7.5 Miles Round Trip | 4,700 Feet Elevation Gain | Class 2

This route is less traveled, but is often used as the winter route or spring route to head up Shavano. It is a more direct route, and takes hikers over the Angel of Shavano, which is a snow feature that looks a bit like an angel on Shavano’s southeast slopes.

This begins the same way along the Mount Shavano trail, but hikers diverge from the Mount Shavano trail around 10,600 feet, (about 3/4 of a mile after turning on the Mount Shavano Trail. The terrain levels out here. Hikers simply follow the best path to get into the gulch. The trail can be hard to find. The alternative option is to maintain on the Mount Shavano trail until around 11,200 feet, and simply cut left, enter the creek drainage, and make your way towards the Angel of Shavano. We definitely recommend using a GPS to know your exact location

Hikers begin heading up the snowfields as far as they go. Usually heading up towards the east ridge to the summit has the most snow cover, and therefore crosses back over the Mount Shavano Trail.

Mount Shavano And Tabeguache Peak: 11 Miles Round Trip | 5,100 Feet Elevation Gain | Class 2

This route is the same as either of the above, but once summiting Shavano, hikers continue along to Tabeguache, which is easily visible from the summit of Shavano. From the summit of Shavano, hikers begin descending across boulders down to the saddle between the two peaks. This descent is .6 miles, and drops to 13,720 feet.

Then hikers begin climbing up the last push to Tabeguache over .3 miles to the summit at 14,155 feet (435 foot gain from the saddle).

The peaks are .9 miles apart, so hikers add another 1.8 miles round trip.

Alternate Routes

Angel of Shavano Trailhead: This is less common due to added length and elevation gain, but a great options still. The Angel of Shavano Trailhead adds 4 miles round trip and about 600 feet of elevation gain if hikers want to start there. The trail is relatively flat and easy to follow. Hikers will be on the Colorado trail until bearing left on the Mount Shavano Trail.

East Ridge: During winter, many hikers will choose to follow the Mount Shavano Trail, but break off of it to gain the east ridge of Shavano, walk that ridge, and then summit. This is not an established route at the moment, but is still an option.

Trail Map

The below map shows the standard route, mileage markers, elevation markers, and more for the Mount Shavano and Tabeguache Peak. Hikers looking to follow to Angel of Shavano are making their own path through the snowfield.

Hiking Mount Shavano in Winter

Either route above can be accomplished in winter. Of course, the right gear and preparation is needed to summit either peak in winter.

The trailhead is accessible year round, though frequently the road leading to the summer trailhead experiences snowdrifts that will add miles to your hike. Depending upon the timing, hikers may need to add quite a few miles on road 252 to reach the summer trailhead.

Hikers may choose to hike the Mount Shavano Trail and gain the east ridge as soon as possible during winter months, or they may choose the Angel of Shavano route.

Camping At Mount Shavano

There are tons of dispersed campsites along the road leading to the trailhead. In addition, there is a large field about .3 mile from the trailhead (marked with a sign to camping and overflow parking) in which you should have no problem finding a dispersed site. There is no camping allowed at the trailhead, but the various dispersed campsites nearby are perfect options. The views in the main camping field are fantastic, though covered with cow patties.

There is also camping at the Angel of Shavano Campground: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/recarea/?recid=12631

Current weather conditions:

Here is the detailed weather forecast for the next few days. We highly recommend you check out the mountain forecast for this region the morning of your hike.

Garfield, CO

Today
A chance of snow showers between 1pm and 3pm, then a chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. West southwest wind 15 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

Tonight
A chance of snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West northwest wind 30 to 40 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

Friday
A chance of snow showers before noon, then snow showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. West wind 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night
Snow showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. West southwest wind 10 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday
Snow showers before 9am, then snow showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 25. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Saturday Night
Snow showers and a chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. West wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Sunday
A chance of snow showers before noon, then snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. West wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Directions & Parking

Directions to Blanks Gulch Trailhead

Directions To Angel of Shavano Trailhead and Campground:

Additional Pictures