Easy 14'er day hike near Salida, Colorado?

[Bob Palin]

I'm going to be in Salida next week and have never been to the top of a 14K peak by foot (16K+ in the Andes on a motorcycle, but it did the work, though not without complaining!). Are there any peaks that I can drive a fair way up in my Tundra and finish off the last 5-10 miles round trip? I realise this is not the hard core hiking this forum seems to specialize in but I'm not hard core either. I live at 7K and often hike above 9K so I have a head start on the altitude. I understand the weather situation, same here.

 

[Nick]

I don't know much about this but colefeet does. She lived in Salida for sometime if I recall and I'm pretty sure I remember a discussion about the 14'ers. I'll see if I can't get her to pop on and offer up some advice.

 

[Bob Palin]

I don't know much about this but colefeet does. She lived in Salida for sometime if I recall and I'm pretty sure I remember a discussion about the 14'ers. I'll see if I can't get her to pop on and offer up some advice.

Thanks. A bit more research has revealed the presence of a wilderness area where dogs must be on a leash, if there are routes to minimize this Biff would be happy. Looks like Yale might be a possibility with only a section in the wilderness.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

14ers.com has all the info you need

 

[Bob Palin]

14ers.com has all the info you need

I'm reading it now, looks like lots of opportunities but haven't found a map of the wilderness boundary yet, I'm sure it's out there.

So perhaps I could widen the question, what are the most interesting day hikes in the Salida area? (The 14ers are exposed and barren, probably going to have to do one just because, but otherwise...)

 

[gnwatts]

The collegiate peaks are all fairly straight forward. Harvard, Yale and Princeton, also Shavano.
Greg