Vermilion Peak is a 13,900-foot mountain in Colorado’s San Juan Range and the state’s 74th highest summit. It is one of Colorado’s 637 peaks above 13,000 feet and stands about 9.7 miles east-southeast of Gladstone Peak. The mountain is named for the red-orange color it displays when sunlight hits it, reflecting the meaning of the word “vermilion.” Its significance lies in the striking combination of great elevation and vivid shifting color, making it a distinctive high summit in the San Juans.