Culebra Peak

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Culebra Peak

| other_name =

| photo = Culebra Peak.jpg

| photo_size =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Culebra Peak viewed from south of San Luis.

| elevation_system = NAVD88

| elevation = 14,053 ft (4283 m)

| elevation_ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=5924|title=Culebra Peak, Colorado|publisher=Peakbagger.com|access-date=January 8, 2016}}

| prominence = 4827 ft (1471 m)

| prominence_ref =

| isolation = 35.4 mi (56.9 km)

| isolation_ref =

| listing = {{unbulleted list

|North America highest peaks 57th

|US highest major peaks 43rd

|Colorado highest major peaks 23rd

|Colorado fourteeners 41st

}}

| location = Costilla County, Colorado, U.S.

| range = Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Highest summit of the
Culebra Range

| map = Colorado

| map_caption = Colorado

| coordinates = {{coord|37.1222416|N|105.1855625|W|type:mountain_region:US-CO_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| range_coordinates =

| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=193131|name=Culebra Peak|access-date=October 19, 2014}}

| topo = USGS 7.5' topographic map
Culebra Peak, Colorado

| first_ascent =

| easiest_route = Northwest Ridge: Hike, {{YDS|2}}{{cite web | url = https://www.14ers.com/routelist.php?peakid=10041 | title = Culebra Peak Routes | publisher = 14ers.com }}

}}

Culebra Peak (Spanish for "snake") is the highest summit of the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The {{convert|14053|ft|0|adj=on}} fourteener is located on private land, {{convert|22.8|km|order=flip}} east-southeast (bearing 113°) of San Luis in Costilla County, Colorado, United States. Culebra Peak is the southernmost fourteener in the Rocky Mountains.

Geography

Access is limited, and a fee ($150 per person as of Summer 2020) is charged to climb the peak. Ownership of and access to the land, both for recreational and other activities, have been controversial issues for many years, involving multiple lawsuits and occasional violence.{{cite summitpost |id=151463 |name=Culebra Peak |accessdate=2011-02-22}} In 2017 the ranch the peak was offered for sale for $105 million, and sold later that year for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/14/cielo-vista-ranch-14er-san-luis-valley-sells/|title=Cielo Vista Ranch — and its fourteener — in San Luis Valley sells after listing for $105 million|date=August 14, 2017|website=DenverPost.com|access-date=March 16, 2019}}

Culebra is the fourth-most topographically prominent peak in the state, due to its separation from other peaks by the relatively low La Veta Pass.

According to the current owners of Cielo Vista Ranch, within which the peak is located, Culebra Peak is the highest privately-owned peak in the world.[https://www.cielo-vista-ranch.info/activities/climbing-hiking/ Climbing and Hiking]

=Climate=

{{Weather box

|location = Culebra Peak 37.1275 N, 105.1926 W, Elevation: {{cvt|13491|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)

|single line = y

|Jan high F = 24.0

|Feb high F = 23.6

|Mar high F = 28.5

|Apr high F = 35.2

|May high F = 43.5

|Jun high F = 54.7

|Jul high F = 58.4

|Aug high F = 56.4

|Sep high F = 50.4

|Oct high F = 40.6

|Nov high F = 30.8

|Dec high F = 24.5

|Jan mean F = 12.0

|Feb mean F = 11.5

|Mar mean F = 15.9

|Apr mean F = 21.6

|May mean F = 30.0

|Jun mean F = 40.1

|Jul mean F = 44.4

|Aug mean F = 43.0

|Sep mean F = 37.3

|Oct mean F = 28.1

|Nov mean F = 19.3

|Dec mean F = 12.9

|Jan low F = 0.1

|Feb low F = -0.6

|Mar low F = 3.4

|Apr low F = 7.9

|May low F = 16.5

|Jun low F = 25.5

|Jul low F = 30.3

|Aug low F = 29.6

|Sep low F = 24.2

|Oct low F = 15.6

|Nov low F = 7.9

|Dec low F = 1.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.63

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.98

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.73

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.26

|May precipitation inch = 2.99

|Jun precipitation inch = 1.37

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.52

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.37

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.86

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.33

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.90

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.79

|source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web

|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/

|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University

|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University

|access-date= October 2, 2023

|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}

}}