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 · Northeast Ridge
Overview
Jones Mountain sits high above Burns Gulch in the San Juan Mountains northeast of Silverton, between American Peak and Niagara Peak. This route walks up the Burns Gulch 4WD road, climbs grassy slopes and talus to the saddle between Jones and American Peak, then follows Jones's northeast ridge to the top. Many people also climb American and Niagara on the same day.
The lower part is a rocky road and then open tundra in a quiet basin. The upper part is steep, loose talus and scree. The slope below the saddle is the most tiring part, and the rock there slides easily. The ridge above the saddle has one rocky step that some call Class 2+, and it passes the top of a steep gully that falls off the north side. Exposure is minimal if you stay on route. It suits hikers who are comfortable on loose talus.
Plan on 7 to 9 hours round trip. The mileage and gain here assume you walk the road from the Animas River. A high-clearance 4WD vehicle can drive up Burns Gulch and save about 2 miles each way.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5 a.m. San Juan storms often build by late morning, and you will be above treeline for 4 or more hours.
Turnaround
If you are not at the Jones-American saddle by 10:30 a.m., turn around. Leave the summit by 11:30 a.m. at the latest.
Crux
The steep, loose talus and scree slope up to the saddle, then the rocky ridge step just above the saddle.
Route-finding
The road is easy to follow to the fork. Above the fork there is no main trail, but the basin is open. Stay left (west) of the big rock glacier and aim for the small lake. Faint use-trails may help below the saddle and on the ridge.
Water
Burns Gulch creek runs along the road, and there is a small lake at about 12,500 feet. There is no water above the lake. Filter or treat all water; this is old mining country.
From Silverton, drive east through town and take County Road 2 toward Howardsville. The pavement ends after about 2 miles, and the road becomes well-graded dirt. From Howardsville, continue north past the old site of Eureka, where the road crosses the Animas River and climbs a steeper shelf. Continue about 3.5 miles past Eureka to the turnoff for Burns and Grouse Gulches. Most crossover SUVs can reach this point in dry weather.
Park near the bridge where the main road crosses back to the east side of the Animas. From there, a spur road runs south on the east side of the river and meets the Burns Gulch road. The Burns Gulch road is a narrow, rocky single-lane 4WD track. Low on the road it runs along a shelf where passing another vehicle is hard. Only drive it with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.
RoadTundraTalus and screeRidgeScramblingSnow or couloirExposed 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
Burns Gulch trailhead 10,790' · 0 mi
Start near the bridge over the Animas River. Walk south on the spur road along the east side of the river. The high peaks of the Animas headwaters rise all around.
2
Burns Gulch road 10,850' · 0.2 mi
Meet the Burns Gulch road and turn uphill. The road climbs to the southeast across the hillside above the river.
3
Shelf road 11,100' · 0.8 mi
The road runs along a narrow shelf with a steep drop to one side. Walk on the inside edge. Listen for vehicles and step well off the road to let them pass.
Watch for: Watch for vehicles on the narrow shelf.
4
Upper road 11,400' · 1.5 mi
The road leaves the shelf and climbs into the open gulch. Old switchbacks shown on some maps are now bypassed. Stay on the main road.
5
Road fork 11,680' · 2 mi
The road splits here. If you drove up, park nearby. Leave the road and head into the northeast fork of Burns Gulch on grassy slopes.
6
Northeast fork 12,000' · 2.5 mi
Climb up grassy tundra. Parts of an old roadbed may help for the first half mile. A large rock glacier, a long tongue of jumbled rock, fills part of the valley. Stay to the left (west) of it.
Watch for: Do not climb onto the rock glacier. It is loose and slow.
7
Upper basin 12,300' · 2.9 mi
The basin opens and the grade eases for a while. The saddle between Jones and American Peak is visible up and ahead to the east. Keep on the grass as long as you can.
8
Small lake 12,520' · 3.2 mi
A very small lake sits in the basin. This is your last water. Check the sky and your time here.
Watch for: Decision point. If clouds are building, turn around.
9
Talus below the saddle 12,900' · 3.6 mi
Past the lake, cross a bit more tundra and start up the talus. The slope gets much steeper and the rock turns to loose scree and dirt. Look for a faint use-trail. Take small steps and zig-zag.
Watch for: Very loose scree. Rocks slide easily. Do not climb directly below others.
10
Jones-American saddle 13,340' · 4 mi
Reach the saddle. American Peak is on one side and Jones on the other. Turn toward Jones and look at the rocky step that rises above you on its northeast ridge.
Watch for: Wind is often strong here.
11
Ridge step 13,500' · 4.2 mi
Climb the rocky ridge step. This is the hardest part of the ridge, a steep section of blocks and rubble. A use-trail helps. You may use your hands for balance.
Watch for: Loose rock. Test holds.
12
Notch above the north couloir 13,650' · 4.5 mi
Above the step, the ridge levels out for a while. You pass a notch at the top of a large, steep couloir that drops away to the north. Stay back from its edge.
Watch for: Steep drop into the couloir on the north side.
13
Summit 13,867' · 4.8 mi
Make the last steeper climb on talus and rubble to the top. The north face of Jones drops away steeply below. You can see American Peak, Niagara Peak, and Handies Peak to the east.
Watch for: Stay back from the north side of the summit.
Landmarks to know
Bridge over the Animas River near the Burns and Grouse Gulch turnoff
Narrow shelf section of the Burns Gulch road
Road fork at about 11,700 feet
Large rock glacier in the northeast fork, kept on your right
Very small lake at about 12,500 feet
Jones-American saddle at the top of a steep scree slope
Rocky ridge step just above the saddle
Notch at the top of a steep couloir on the north side
Getting down
Go back down the ridge to the saddle. Take the ridge step slowly. From the saddle, descend the loose scree slope toward the small lake. This slope is where most slips happen. Keep your weight over your feet and spread out so rocks you knock loose do not hit others.
From the lake, head back down the grassy basin, keeping the rock glacier on your left this time. Aim for the road fork. Then follow the road back down to the Animas. Watch for vehicles on the shelf section.
If things go wrong
The small lake is the main decision point. If weather is building, turn back there. From the saddle or the ridge, the fastest way to safety is back down the scree slope to the lake and the grassy basin. Do not try to go down the steep north couloir or the north face of Jones. If lightning is close, get off the ridge, spread out, and crouch low on your pack. If someone is hurt, keep them warm and still and send someone down to the road, where vehicles often pass. Call 911 when you can reach help.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
The mapped trails don't line up with the route we describe, so we can't draw a line we trust. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
A climb of this route filmed by The Virtual sherpa. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play.
Jump to
Other routes
Every way up Jones Mountain A we list, with its class.
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.