The Sawatch Mountain Range
This Colorado mountain range, also known as “Saguache Range” (the Ute Indian spelling) is found in central Colorado and includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, including Mount Elbert, at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies. These peaks, many in the 14,000 ft. range are very popular with climbers and some of them are accessible to people who are not technically proficient climbers. This range is part of the Continental Divide, with passes that include Monarch Pass, Hagerman Pass and Independence Pass on State Hwy. 82. It’s oriented on a northwest-southeast axis, extending approximately 70 miles. Within the Sawatch Range area are the White River National Forest and the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness.
The Sawatch is broken up into three areas including: The Southern Sawatch, The Central Sawatch and the Northern Sawatch. The most notable peaks are located within the Central area of the range, including the Collegiate Peaks and the Elbert Massif as well as the slightly lower Williams Mountains. The summits in excess of 14,000 ft. there include Mount Elbert, Mount Massive and Mount Harvard. The Southern range is home to Mount Antero and Mount Ouray, while the Northern Sawatch is the home of Mount of the Holy Cross. In all the range contains 15 peaks topping 14,000 feet (4,270 m).
Sawatch Range Features
| Secondary Range(s): Central Sawatch, Southern Sawatch, Northern Sawatch Ranges | Part of: Rocky Mountains |
| Highest Summit: Mount Elbert | Elevation: 14,440 ft. (4401 m) |
| Summit Name: Mount Massive | Elevation: 14,428 ft.(4398 m) |
| Summit Name: Mount Harvard | Elevation: 14,421 ft. (4396 m) |
| Summit Name: Mount Antero | Elevation: 14,276 ft. (4351 m) |
