Tabeguache Peak rises to 14,158 feet in the southern Sawatch Range, about 15 miles northwest of Salida in San Isabel National Forest. Its name comes from the Tabeguache band of the Utes, derived from a term meaning roughly "cedar-bark, sunny slope people," and first appeared in Colorado Mountain Club records in 1925.
Almost every ascent pairs Tabeguache with neighboring Mount Shavano via the standard east approach. The route climbs roughly 4,500 feet over 4.75 miles to Shavano's summit, then traverses a solid rocky ridge northwest for 0.6 mile, dropping about 600 feet to a broad saddle at 13,700 feet. From there, 500 feet of stable talus lead to Tabeguache's top. The full out-and-back typically takes 8 to 11 hours. A separate West Ridge route via Jennings Creek is possible but involves badly eroded terrain where accidents have occurred; staying precisely on-route is essential, as early descent into McCoy Gulch leads to cliffs.
The summit delivers one of the best northward panoramas in the Sawatch, letting hikers gauge the full scale of the range. Expect no shade above treeline, a boulder field just below the top, and fast-moving afternoon thunderstorms in summer.
