Windom Peak


Windom Peak is the highest summit of the Needle Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent fourteener is located in the Weminuche Wilderness of San Juan National Forest, northeast by north of the City of Durango in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The summit of Windom Peak is the highest point in La Plata County and the entire San Juan River drainage basin. The mountain was named in honor of Minnesota senator William Windom.

Climbing

Windom Peak is one of three fourteeners in the Needle Mountains; the other two are Mount Eolus and Sunlight Peak. Windom and Sunlight lie on the east side of Twin Lakes, in upper Chicago Basin, while Eolus lies on the west side. All three peaks are relatively remote by Colorado standards, and have a strong wilderness character; however they can be popular in summer.

Elevation

may be higher than Windom Peak. If this is the case, Mount Eolus would be the highest summit of the Needle Mountains, La Plata County, and the entire San Juan River drainage basin.
Recent surveying by Arthur Harris on a Trimble-sponsored trip determined the following elevations, confirming that Windom is the monarch of the basin:
Eolus: 14085.4 ft +/- 2.1'
Windom: 14089.9 ft +/- 1.4'

Historical names