Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Centennial 13er · South Slopes (with Iron Nipple option)
Overview
Huerfano Peak rises just north of Mount Lindsey in the Sierra Blanca group of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The route shares most of the Mount Lindsey trail from the Lily Lake trailhead: through forest and a big meadow, across the Huerfano River, steeply up a side drainage, and into a wide tundra basin. From the saddle between Lindsey and the Iron Nipple, you turn north and follow the ridge past the Iron Nipple to Huerfano's summit.
The route is Class 2. The Iron Nipple, a rocky knob on the ridge, blocks the direct line. You can scramble over it on short Class 3 moves, or go around on the east side, which means losing about 175 feet and crossing rough talus to regain the ridge. The views of Blanca Peak and the Blanca-Ellingwood wall are some of the best in the range.
The round trip is about 8.75 miles with about 3,800 feet of gain. Plan on 6 to 8 hours. It suits hikers who have done a few Class 2 peaks and are fine on talus. The river crossing early in the day can be a real hazard during snowmelt.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5 a.m. Storms build fast over the Sangres, and you spend a long time on an open ridge.
Turnaround
If you are not at the Lindsey-Iron Nipple saddle by 9:30 a.m., or clouds are building over Blanca, turn around. Leave the summit by 11:30 a.m.
Crux
Getting past the Iron Nipple, either by a short Class 3 scramble or by the east-side bypass on rough, loose talus.
Route-finding
The Lindsey trail is well used and easy to follow up to the saddle. From the saddle north, the path is faint; stay on or near the ridge crest except for the Iron Nipple bypass.
Water
The Huerfano River and the side creek along the steep trail section have water. Small streams run in the upper basin in early summer. Nothing on the ridge. Filter everything.
From I-25, take exit 52 at Walsenburg and head west on Highway 69 to Gardner. Just west of town, where the highway bends north, turn left onto County Road 550. The pavement ends after about 7 miles near Red Wing. About 4.8 miles later, stay left on Forest Road 580 through a state wildlife area. The road then crosses private land; stay on the main road, and stay left at the ranch entrances.
The road narrows and gets rougher as you go. Some passenger cars park in an open meadow at a cattle guard partway up. Past there, high clearance is needed to reach the Lily Lake trailhead at the end of the road, about 2 miles past the Huerfano-Zapata trailhead. A landslide closed this road for a while, and conditions change. Check with the forest service before you go. Dispersed camping is allowed on forest land along the last couple of miles; do not camp on private land.
Trail in the treesTalus and screeTundraRidgeScramblingExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Lily Lake trailhead 10,725' · 0 mi
Start south on the trail into the forest. The trailhead is small and uneven.
2
Big meadow 10,750' · 0.25 mi
The trail breaks out into a large, flat meadow. Blanca Peak rises to the right and the Iron Nipple is far to the left. The walking is fast and easy.
3
Lily Lake junction 10,850' · 1 mi
Back in the trees, a trail to Lily Lake branches to the right. Do not take it. Stay on the lower valley trail.
Watch for: Do not turn toward Lily Lake.
4
Huerfano River crossing 10,900' · 1.1 mi
The Lindsey trail crosses the river near here. There is usually no bridge or log. Look a little upstream where the river bends west and the water is calmer.
Watch for: Cold, fast water in early summer. Unbuckle your pack hip belt before wading.
5
Steep side drainage 11,400' · 1.8 mi
The trail follows the river briefly, then climbs steeply through forest along the north side of a side creek. A talus field lies on your left.
6
Upper basin 11,800' · 2.3 mi
After a steep push, the trail opens into a wide tundra basin. Mount Lindsey peeks over the skyline to the southeast. The great wall of Blanca and Ellingwood fills the view to the southwest. You may see bighorn sheep here.
Watch for: Give wildlife space.
7
Head of the basin 12,500' · 2.9 mi
Keep following the Lindsey trail as it climbs toward the ridge between Lindsey and the Iron Nipple.
8
Lindsey-Iron Nipple saddle 13,150' · 3.4 mi
Reach the low point on the ridge. Lindsey is to the southeast. Turn left (north) and follow a much fainter path toward the Iron Nipple, the rocky knob ahead.
Watch for: Access rules on Mount Lindsey have changed in recent years. Check the current status before your trip.
9
Iron Nipple bypass 13,250' · 3.7 mi
Either scramble over the Iron Nipple on short Class 3 moves, or drop about 175 feet on the east side below its cliffs and traverse north.
Watch for: Loose rock and cliffs. Do not scramble up anything you cannot down-climb.
10
Back on the ridge 13,450' · 3.95 mi
Climb rough, shifting talus back up to the ridge. It is slow and tiring.
Watch for: Talus can move under your feet. Test big blocks.
11
Upper ridge 13,600' · 4.15 mi
Follow the ridge northeast. Tundra shows up again and the walking gets easier for a while.
12
Summit 13,837' · 4.4 mi
The last stretch is rubble to the summit. The views take in Blanca, Lindsey, and the Huerfano valley far below.
Here an unmarked path goes off straight ahead. Turn left to follow the trail.
Coming down: Turn right to stay on the trail you came up. Don’t take the unmarked path.
Landmarks to know
Large meadow with Blanca Peak and the Iron Nipple in view
Lily Lake trail branching right (do not take it)
Huerfano River crossing
Steep trail along a side creek with a talus field to the left
Wide tundra basin under the Blanca-Ellingwood wall
Lindsey-Iron Nipple saddle
Iron Nipple, the rocky knob on the ridge north of the saddle
Getting down
Go back the way you came. The main place to go wrong is around the Iron Nipple: if you bypassed it, drop back to the east side at the same point and traverse south, rather than heading down the east slopes, which lead away from your route. Rejoin the ridge at the saddle and pick up the Lindsey trail.
The steep section along the side creek is hard on the knees and slippery when wet. Cross the Huerfano River carefully; it often runs higher in the afternoon.
If things go wrong
The Lindsey trail and the upper basin are your safe ground. If a storm builds while you are on the ridge, get back to the saddle and down the trail into the basin as fast as is safe. Do not try shortcuts off the ridge. If someone is injured, keep them warm, mark your location, and call 911. The Lindsey trail is fairly busy in summer, so other hikers may be able to help.
3D flyover
Press play to fly the South Slopes (with Iron Nipple option). The graph shows elevation along the way and how much you gain each mile. Open full screen.
For planning only. The line is traced from open map data, not walked in the field, and off-trail parts are drawn straight. Load it in your GPS app to see the route, but navigate with your eyes, a map and the route description.
See the trail on video
A climb of this route filmed by Colorado Hiking Series. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play. This video covers Mount Lindsey and Huerfano Peak together.
Jump to
Other routes
Every way up Huerfano Peak we list, with its class.
South Slopes (with Iron Nipple option)this routeClass 2 8.75 mi
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Snow, ice, a washed-out road or an afternoon storm can make it a very different climb. Check recent conditions the week you go and turn around when the day tells you to.