Mountains

Wilson Peak is reached from the Rock of Ages trailhead, up a long mountain road

Outdoors and wildfire San Miguel County fourteener

Wilson Peak is the broad-shouldered fourteener you can see from a lot of San Miguel County. At 14,017 feet, it draws climbers all summer, and the usual way up starts at the Rock of Ages trailhead.

Getting to that trailhead is part of the trip. The Forest Service directions leave Highway 145 west of Telluride and follow Silver Pick Road (County Road 60M), then County Road 59H, and finally Forest Road 645 up to the trailhead. These are mountain roads, not highway, and conditions change with the weather and the season — so check current road and trailhead reports with the forest before you count on driving all the way up.

The climb itself is not a walk-up. The Forest Service describes the standard summer route as a Class 3 scramble, meaning you use your hands on rock and pick a careful line near the top. Add high altitude and fast-moving afternoon storms, and Wilson Peak earns real respect. The climbers who do well here plan an early start and turn around when the weather sours.

If you want to climb Wilson Peak, look up the current route, road, and trailhead conditions from the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest before heading out.

Sources

Official or primary sources used for this note. Local details can change, so confirm before acting.

Reviewed: June 15, 2026 U.S. Forest Service U.S. Forest Service

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