Major subrange of the Rocky Mountains in the Western United States
Satellite photograph of the Southern Rocky Mountains of the United States . The Southern Rocky Mountains are a major subregion of the Rocky Mountains of North America located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming , the central and western portions of Colorado , the northern portion of New Mexico , and extreme eastern portions of Utah. The Southern Rocky Mountains are also commonly known as the Southern Rockies , and since the highest peaks are located in the State of Colorado, they are sometimes known as the Colorado Rockies , although many important ranges and peaks rise in the other three states. The Southern Rockies include the highest mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains and include all 30 of the highest major peaks of the Rockies .
The Southern Rocky Mountains are generally divided from the Western Rocky Mountains by the Green River and the Colorado River below the Green River. The Southern Rockies are divided from the Central Rocky Mountains by South Pass in Wyoming and the drainage running east from the pass down the Sweetwater River and the North Platte River ; and the drainage running southwest from the pass down Pacific Creek and Sandy Creek to the Green River. This divide between the Southern Rockies and the Central Rockies provided the lowest elevation traverse of the Rocky Mountain region for the historic Oregon Trail , the Mormon Trail , and the California Trail . The southern end of the Rocky Mountains are considered to be the Jemez Mountains and the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Mountains south of here in N.M. are classified as the Arizona/New Mexico Mountains using the EPA Level III Ecoregions System.
This article defines a significant summit as a summit with at least 100 meters (330 feet) of topographic prominence , and a major summit as a summit with at least 500 meters (1,600 feet) of topographic prominence. An ultra-prominent summit is a summit with at least 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) of topographic prominence.
All elevations in this article include an elevation adjustment from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29 ) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88 ). For further information, please see this United States National Geodetic Survey note.
Mountain ranges The following table lists the mountain ranges and subranges of the Southern Rocky Mountains with their highest summit .
Mountain peaks
Highest summits The following sortable table lists the 57 mountain peaks of the Southern Rocky Mountains with at least 4,000 meters (13,123.4 ft) of topographic elevation and at least 500 meters (1,640.4 ft) of topographic prominence .
Most prominent summits The following sortable table lists the three ultra prominent summits of the Southern Rocky Mountains (with at least 1,500 meters (4,921.3 ft) of topographic prominence .)
Most isolated summits The following sortable table lists the 15 most topographically isolated peaks of the Southern Rocky Mountains with a topographic isolation of at least 50 kilometers (31.07 mi) and a topographic prominence of at least 500 meters (1,640.4 ft).
Easternmost summits The following sortable table lists progressively the easternmost Rocky Mountain summits of their respective elevation .
Mountain passes View from Independence Pass in Colorado . View from Red Mountain Pass in Colorado . The following sortable table lists the paved mountain passes and highway summits of the Southern Rocky Mountains.
See also
Notes
References ^ "MOUNT ELBERT". NGS Data Sheet . National Geodetic Survey , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , United States Department of Commerce . 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2023 . ^ "Sawatch Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ Sawatch is pronounced . This name comes from a Ute language word meaning "blue earth" or "water at blue earth". The Spanish language version of this name is usually spelled Saguache , while the English language version is usually spelled Sawatch ^ "Elbert Massif". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c d e "Mount Elbert". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0637 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ a b c d e "Mount Elbert". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ "Massive Massif". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Massive". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0640 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Massive". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Collegiate Peaks". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Mount Harvard". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0879 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ a b c "Mount Harvard". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ "Williams Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 16, 2013 . ^ a b "Bill Williams Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 16, 2013 . ^ "Southern Sawatch Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Antero". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0883 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Antero". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Far Southern Sawatch Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Ouray". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0672 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Ouray". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Northern Sawatch Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount of the Holy Cross". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0649 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount of the Holy Cross". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Sangre de Cristo Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Sierra Blanca Massif". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c d e "Blanca Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Northern Sangre de Cristo Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Crestones". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Crestone Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Rito Alto Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Culebra Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Culebra Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Spanish Peaks". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "West Spanish Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ "Taos Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Wheeler Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station GM0779 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b c "Wheeler Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Santa Fe Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Truchas Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station FN0666 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Truchas Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Cimarron Range, Colorado". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Baldy Mountain". Datasheet for NGS Station GM0775 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Baldy Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Wet Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Greenhorn Mountain". Datasheet for NGS Station HK0512 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Greenhorn Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Southern Sangre de Cristo Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Cerro Vista". Datasheet for NGS Station GM0798 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Cerro Vista". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "San Juan Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "North Central San Juan Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Uncompahgre Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0798 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b c "Uncompahgre Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "San Miguel Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Mount Wilson". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Sneffels Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Sneffels". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0826 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Sneffels". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Needle Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 16, 2013 . ^ a b "Mount Eolus". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Grenadier Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Vestal Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "West Needle Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Twilight Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "La Garita Mountains". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey , United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 19 March 2024 . ^ "Phoenix Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved September 23, 2014 . ^ "Cochetopa Hills". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey , United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 19 March 2024 . ^ "Long Branch Baldy". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0682 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved September 26, 2014 . ^ "Long Branch Baldy". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved September 26, 2014 . ^ "East Central San Juan Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Half Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Southern San Juan Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Summit Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station HL0503 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b c "Summit Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "La Plata Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Hesperus Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Tusas Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Grouse Mesa". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Mosquito Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. ^ a b "Mount Lincoln". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0627 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Lincoln". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Tenmile Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Quandary Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0622 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Quandary Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Front Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Central Front Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Grays Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station KK2036 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Grays Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Blue Sky". Datasheet for NGS Station KK2030 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Blue Sky". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Northern Front Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Longs Peak Massif". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Longs Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station LL1346 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b c "Longs Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Mummy Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Hagues Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station LL1350 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Hagues Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Indian Peaks". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "North Arapaho Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station LL1357 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "North Arapaho Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Never Summer Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Mount Richthofen". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b c d e "Pikes Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station JK1242 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ a b c d e "Pikes Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ "South Park Hills". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Waugh Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Devils Head". Datasheet for NGS Station KK1932 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Devils Head". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "South Williams Fork Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Ptarmigan Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Tarryall Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Bison Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station KK1966 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Bison Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Kenosha Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Knobby Crest". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Elk Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Castle Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0659 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Castle Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Mount Owen". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0737 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Mount Owen". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "West Elk Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "West Elk Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0755 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "West Elk Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Gore Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Powell". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Medicine Bow Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Clark Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station LL1388 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Clark Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Snowy Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Medicine Bow Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station MP0546 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Medicine Bow Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "La Sal Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Peale". Datasheet for NGS Station JM0496 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Peale". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Flat Tops (Colorado)". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Flat Top Mountain". Datasheet for NGS Station LM0694 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ a b "Flat Top Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Rabbit Ears Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Parkview Mountain". Datasheet for NGS Station LM0574 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Parkview Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Park Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Central Park Range". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b "Mount Zirkel". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Elkhead Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "White River Plateau". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Blair Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Grand Mesa". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Crater Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station KL0706 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Crater Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Laramie Mountains". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "South Bald Mountain". Datasheet for NGS Station LL1377 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "South Bald Mountain". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Uncompahgre Plateau". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Horsefly Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station JL0830 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Horsefly Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Ute Mountain". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ "Ute Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station HM0511 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Ute Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "Raton Mesa". Mountain Ranges of the World . peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012 . ^ a b c "Fishers Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station HK0441 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ a b c "Fishers Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ "San Luis Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station HL0570 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "San Luis Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved March 13, 2012 . ^ "East Spanish Peak". Datasheet for NGS Station HK0488 . U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ "East Spanish Peak". Peakbagger.com . Retrieved April 24, 2012 . ^ The state highway up Mount Blue Sky ends about a one-quarter mile (400 m) from the summit. The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is the highest paved highway in North America . ^ a b c d e f This highway is closed during the winter. ^ The toll road up Pikes Peak ends at the summit of the mountain. Pikes Peak is the most visited mountain summit in North America . ^ a b Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway Route 34 ) crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass but reaches its highest point several miles northeast of the pass. Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through highway in North America .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q This pass lies on the Continental Divide of the Americas . ^ Cottonwood Pass is the highest paved crossing of the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains .^ The highest elevation in the Eisenhower Tunnel is a short distance inside the West Portal. The tunnel passes under the Continental Divide a few miles west of Loveland Pass . The Eisenhower Tunnel is the highest elevation on the Interstate Highway System of the United States . ^ The high point near Warrior Mountain is the highest point on Colorado State Highway 103 . ^ Happy Jack Summit is the highest point on I-80. ^ Raton Pass was the highest point on the historic Santa Fe Trail , and now is the highest point on I-25.^ South Pass was the highest point on the historic Oregon Trail , the Mormon Trail , and the California Trail .
External links National Geodetic Survey (NGS)NGS Datasheets NGVD 29 to NAVD 88 online elevation converter @ NGS Geodetic Glossary @ NGS United States Geological Survey (USGS) Rocky Mountains @ peakbagger.comSouthern Rocky Mountains @ peakbagger.com World Mountain Encyclopedia @ peakware.com peaklist.org summitpost.org