Adventure Projects is hiring a web engineer to join us in Boulder, CO
Trail Run Project Logo

Chicago Basin 14er Grand Slam

 5.0 (3)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Southwest Rockies
  4. …San Juan National Forest
  5. Weminuche Wilderness
Google Map

28.9 Miles 46.5 Kilometers


63%

Runnable

12,439' 3,791 m

Ascent

-12,439' -3,791 m

Descent

16%

Avg Grade (9°)

74%

Max Grade (37°)

13,961' 4,255 m

High

8,197' 2,498 m

Low

Shared By Tyler Prince

Conditions

All Clear 3 days ago
Now’s the time to do it! History
Getting forecast...

“An epic day covering all four of Chicago Basin's challenging 14ers.”

— Tyler Prince
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This run must be accessed via the Chicago Basin Trail, which is in turn accessed either by train (summer only) or by a long run in (Animas River Trail).

While portions of this run can easily be explored by fit dogs, the peaks above it are generally too technical for them.

Camping high in the basin is generally frowned upon. See Twin Lakes Approach for further information; camping along the end of Chicago Basin Trail is preferred.

Overview

This truly epic run summits all four Chicago Basin 14ers in one fell swoop. While seemingly short and with surprisingly little vertical, runners should know that all of these peaks are at least somewhat technical, and this day is sure to exhaust everyone short of Ueli Steck. Starting at camp, it takes runners up the Twin Lakes Approach, up Sunlight and Windom, back down and over to the Eolus Group, and finally back down Twin Lakes Approach. Between 14er finishers, completing all these mountains in one day is a big deal, and offers some pretty awesome bragging rights.

Need to Know

While similar in distance and elevation gain to many Sawatch 14ers or to 14er quadruple DeCaliBron, this run is a whole other beast.

Runner Notes

This is a mixed bag of terrain, better for hiking fast than for truly running. Twin Lakes Approach is absurdly steep and in some parts rocky, but largely runnable. Sunlight and Windom are rocky and technical, and basically impossible to run. The Eolus Group's lower trail is very runnable, for about 2 miles, before reaching the more technical upper portions. Overall, this isn't a bad trip for a runner who's open to some technical scrambling and slower hiking for much of the journey.

Description

This is a hell of a trip. From camp off the Chicago Basin Trail:

Run up Twin Lakes Approach. From here, it's recommended you summit Sunlight and Windom first, as the rock on Sunlight is slightly more technical and prone to getting slippery. It's easier to escape from the Eolus Group should the weather change later in the day.

So, run Sunlight and Windom. Come back down to the Twin Lakes and run the Eolus Group. From here, all that's left is a descent back down Twin Lakes Approach.

Flora & Fauna

From world class alpine views and vegetation to unique alpine critters, Chicago Basin's got it all. Wildflowers down low are stunning. Marmots and pika are everywhere, and mountain goats love it up high, especially near Twin Lakes.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - San Juan National Forest Office

Sep 15, 2018: Horse Fire Update 9/15/18

Sep 12, 2018: Dolores Ranger District is seeking public input on the Lone Pine Vegetation Project

Sep 12, 2018: Horse Fire Update

You & This Featured Run


Rate Quality


   Clear Rating

Rate Difficulty

Share This Run

Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Dec 14, 2015
Zach Roth
Along Animas - up to chicago basin - summit 14ers and back! 38mi
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 3 votes

#1

in Weminuche Wilderness

#394

Overall
  5.0 from 3 votes
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#1

in Weminuche Wilderness

#99

in Colorado

#394

Overall
835 Views Last Month
10,357 Since Apr 16, 2015
Extremely Difficult Extremely Difficult
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
Add a Photo

Photos

Sunrise from Windom Peak.
Sunrise from Windom Peak.
 7
Sunlight Spire and Windom Peak from Sunlight Peak. The last day of good weather.
Sunlight Spire and Windom Peak from Sunlight Pe…
 3
A view from above.
A view from above.
 6
Chicago Basin ~ San Juan Mountains, CO
Chicago Basin ~ San Juan Mountains, CO
 4
Here are some goats. They're everywhere, but mostly stay on the Eolus side of the Basin.
Here are some goats. They're everywhere, but mo…
 5
A refreshing, albeit frigid, swim at Twin Lakes.
A refreshing, albeit frigid, swim at Twin Lakes.
 3

0 Comments

Nearby Runs

Here are some goats. They're everywhere, but mostly stay on the Eolus side of the Basin.
18.9 mi 30.5 km
Eolus Group
 2
Silverton, CO
Stevie Kremer descending Kendall Mountain Run 2015 en-route to CR 1:55:27.
12.9 mi 20.8 km
Kendall Mountain Run
 5
Silverton, CO
Heading for our campsite by the pond after another long day.
7.8 mi 12.5 km
Highland Mary Lakes Loop
 4
Silverton, CO
Cross Peak Ridge Walk and Lizard Head.
13.9 mi 22.4 km
Wilson Group
 1
Rico, CO

Trail Run Project is part of the REI Co-op family,
where a life outdoors is a life well lived.

Shop REI Running