Mount Sneffels is the highest summit of the Sneffels Range in the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,153-foot (4313.93 m) fourteener is located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness of Uncompahgre National Forest, 6.7 miles (10.8 km) west by south (bearing 256°) of the City of Ouray in Ouray County, Colorado, United States.

Mount Sneffels is a striking mountain peak in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, near the town of Ridgway. Rising to 14,158 feet (4,315 meters), it is one of Colorado’s famous fourteeners, known for its dramatic summit, rugged rocky slopes, and breathtaking alpine scenery.

Mount Sneffels stands in an ancient volcanic region, but the modern peak is not the preserved cone of an extinct volcano. Its summit is primarily associated with intrusive rock that cooled below Earth’s surface.

Starting at the Blue Lakes Trailhead in Uncompahgre National Forest, this route leads up steep switchbacks, past crystal blue lakes, and through wildflower-filled meadows on its way up to the peak of Mount Sneffels.

Next to the Maroon Bells, Sneffels is Colorado’s most recognizable mountain. Mount Sneffels brings together all types of climbers from the beginner hiker to the expert mountaineer. A large variety of routes exist on Sneffels making this one of the favored mountains in Colorado.

Climb Mount Sneffels via South Slopes. View the Standard 6-mile, 2900-foot, Easy Class 3 route with photos, interactive map, 3D flythrough, and trailhead directions.

Mount Sneffels: Your complete climbing guide. Explore routes, access, and safety tips for this Colorado peak. Plan your climb with Global Summit Guide.

The Mount Sneffels Wilderness is a wilderness area in southwest Colorado managed by the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is about 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the town of Ouray. The area is named for Mt. Sneffels, which at 14,150 feet (4,310 m) is a prominent fourteener in the San Juan Mountains.

Hike the continuing rough jeep road from the town of Sneffels into the upper Yankee Boy Basin. The route travels through Yankee Boy Basin and cuts off north from the Blue Lakes Pass Trail. The final approach is up a couloir on the southeast side of Sneffels.

Use these route photos of Mount Sneffels to plan your climb. They follow the South Slopes route from the road in Yankee Boy Basin to the summit and were taken in September 2024.