Crestone Needle lies in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Range. It is among Colorado's fourteeners. It is a rugged and thrilling peak to summit. This is a classic route that has been enjoyed by climbers since 1916. The conglomerate rock is solid and fun to climb. The route begins at the South Colony Lakes Trailhead. Once you reach the upper lake, the first Class 5 pitch begins and is pretty straightforward and simple. Once above the Arete there is some class 4 ledges, continue up to the more difficult climbing just below the summit. The final pitch is 5.7. Bring a standard alpine rack to 2” and hand sized hexes are useful. Plan on a full day to complete this route. Use the standard South Gully route for a descent.