Pilot Knob

Pilot Knob is a 13,738-foot summit in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, near Silverton on the boundary of San Juan and San Miguel counties. West of the Continental Divide, it is the state’s 132nd-highest peak and rises sharply above the surrounding terrain, especially on its west face above Trout Lake. Known by name by 1906 and later officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, it is also regarded by climbers as one of Colorado’s most difficult peaks because its poor volcanic rock makes ascent especially challenging. The mountain has an alpine subarctic climate, with year-round precipitation feeding drainage toward both the San Miguel and Animas river systems.

Ophir, Colorado · United States