Highland Peak (Colorado)

Highland Peak
Highland Peak
	Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation	12,381 ft (3,774 m)
Prominence	201 ft (61 m)
Isolation	0.64 mi (1.03 km)
Coordinates	39°07′44″N 106°52′37″W / 39.1288710°N 106.8769749°W
Geography
	Highland Peak Location in Colorado Highland Peak Highland Peak (the United States)
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Pitkin County
Protected area	Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness
Parent range	Rocky Mountains; Elk Mountains
Topo map	USGS Highland Peak

Highland Peak is a 12,381-foot (3,774 m) mountain summit in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States.

Description

Highland Peak is located 18 miles (29 km) west of the Continental Divide in the Elk Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. The mountain is situated 4.7 miles (7.6 km) south-southwest of the community of Aspen and set on the boundary of the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness, on land managed by White River National Forest.^[3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains into tributaries of the Roaring Fork River which is a tributary of the Colorado River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,780 feet (1,152 m) above Conundrum Creek in 1.4 miles (2.3 km) and 3,780 feet (1,152 m) above East Maroon Creek in 1.3 miles (2.1 km). The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[2]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Highland Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.^[4] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring. This climate supports the Aspen Highlands ski area on the peak's slopes.