Sawatch Range
The Sawatch Range is a high and extensive mountain range in central Colorado which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, including Mount Elbert, at elevation, the highest peak in the Rockies.
The range is oriented along a northwest-southeast axis, extending approximately from in the north to in the south. The range contains 15 peaks topping, also known as 14ers. The range forms a portion of the Continental Divide, and its eastern flanks are drained by the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The western side of the range feeds the headwaters of the Roaring Fork River, the Eagle River, and the Gunnison River, tributaries of the Colorado River.
The Sawatch mountains in general are high, massive, and relatively gentle in contour. While some peaks are rugged enough to require technical climbing, most can be climbed by a simple, yet arduous hike. Notable summits include Mount Elbert, Mount Massive, La Plata Peak, Mount of the Holy Cross, and the Collegiate Peaks.
State Highway 82 traverses the range at Independence Pass. It is also traversed by Cottonwood Pass, which connects the town of Buena Vista with Gunnison County. Both Independence Pass and Cottonwood Pass are over, making them 2 of the highest passes in Colorado and are typically open only from late spring to mid autumn. Hagerman Pass is another pass to the north, connecting the Arkansas Headwaters near Leadville with the upper valley of the Fryingpan River. Hagerman pass is traversable with four-wheel drive vehicles and on foot during summer and early autumn months. The range contains numerous hiking trails within the San Isabel National Forest and White River National Forest.
Prominent peaks
| Rank | Mountain Peak | Elevation | Prominence | Isolation |
| 1 | Mount Elbert | 14,440 feet 4401 m | 9,093 feet 2772 m | 670.6 miles 1079.2 km |
| 2 | Mount Massive | 14,428 feet 4398 m | 1,941 feet 592 m | 5.1 miles 8.2 km |
| 3 | Mount Harvard | 14,421 feet 4395 m | 2,327 feet 709 m | 14.9 miles 24.0 km |
| 4 | La Plata Peak | 14,343 feet 4372 m | 1,841 feet 561 m | 6.3 miles 10.1 km |
| 5 | Mount Antero | 14,276 feet 4351 m | 2,503 feet 763 m | 17.7 miles 28.6 km |
| 6 | Mount Princeton | 14,204 feet 4329 m | 2,177 feet 664 m | 5.2 miles 8.4 km |
| 7 | Mount Yale | 14,202 feet 4329 m | 1,876 feet 572 m | 5.5 miles 8.9 km |
| 8 | Mount of the Holy Cross | 14,011 feet 4271 m | 2,111 feet 643 m | 18.5 miles 29.8 km |
| 9 | Grizzly Peak | 13,995 feet 4266 m | 1,908 feet 582 m | 6.8 miles 10.9 km |
| 10 | Mount Ouray | 13,961 feet 4255 m | 2,659 feet 810 m | 13.6 miles 21.9 km |
| 11 | Mount Jackson | 13,676 feet 4169 m | 1,810 feet 552 m | 3.2 miles 5.2 km |
| 12 | Bill Williams Peak | 13,389 feet 4081 m | 1,682 feet 513 m | 4.0 miles 6.5 km |
| 13 | Antora Peak | 13,275 feet 4046 m | 2,409 feet 734 m | 6.7 miles 10.9 km |
| 14 | Henry Mountain | 13,261 feet 4042 m | 1,674 feet 510 m | 11.5 miles 18.6 km |
| 15 | Park Cone | 12,106 feet 3690 m | 2,040 feet 622 m | 3.4 miles 5.5 km |
| 16 | Red Table Mountain | 12,043 feet 3671 m | 2,017 feet 615 m | 10.3 miles 16.6 km |
| 17 | Tomichi Dome | 11,471 feet 3496 m | 2,325 feet 709 m | 13.3 miles 21.4 km |
| 18 | Castle Peak | 11,285 feet 3440 m | 3,040 feet 927 m | 18.9 miles 30.5 km |