The word Sawatch is derived from the Ute word meaning “blue-green color” or “waters of the blue earth”.

Mount Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado topping out at 14,440 feet. The Sawatch mountain range contains 15 named mountain peaks over fourteen thousand feet and over 300 peaks that are more than 12,000 feet. This mountain range has the most number of Colorado’s tallest mountains. The Sawatch mountain range is longer than 100 miles but is not the longest mountain range.

The Sawatch mountain range is composed mainly of round, smoother mountains tops with steeper approaches. This range has many hiking opportunities for climbers and hikers looking for easier hikes above timberline. This range does offer several easier climbing opportunities for novice and beginning climbers.

Back to Colorado Mountains

back to Rocky Mountains