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 + North Apostle
Overview
North Apostle is the northern of the Three Apostles, a group of sharp peaks south of Winfield in the Sawatch Range. You walk an old road and trail up South Clear Creek, climb into a hidden basin between North Apostle and Ice Mountain, reach the saddle between them, then follow North Apostle's rocky southwest ridge to the top.
North Apostle itself is a rough Class 2 from the saddle. The Class 3 part of this route is Ice Mountain's northeast ridge, which most people add from the same saddle. That ridge is steep, loose and exposed, and it is only for climbers comfortable scrambling on bad rock. The upper basin is slow going on boulders and rubble, and it holds snow well into summer.
The round trip is about 9 miles with about 3,500 feet of gain if you include Ice Mountain. Plan on 7 to 9 hours. Getting from the meadow below the peaks into the upper basin is the trickiest navigation of the day.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5 a.m. The upper basin is slow, and you want time to decide about Ice Mountain before weather builds.
Turnaround
If you are not at the North Apostle-Ice Mountain saddle by 10 a.m., skip Ice Mountain. If storms are building, turn around at the saddle.
Crux
For North Apostle: the loose boulders and rubble in the upper basin and on the southwest ridge. For the full route: Ice Mountain's steep, exposed Class 3 northeast ridge.
Route-finding
Easy on the old road and trail to the meadow. The hard part is working from the meadow past cliffs into the upper basin; look for a grassy bench through the small cliff bands. Above the tarn the basin leads straight to the saddle.
Water
South Clear Creek and its forks run beside the trail. The stream in the meadow and the small tarn near 12,100 feet usually have water. Filter everything.
From US 24 between Leadville and Buena Vista, turn west on County Road 390 toward Clear Creek Reservoir. Drive about 11.7 miles on the graded dirt road to Winfield. The road narrows, gets potholed and is often washboarded near the end.
At Winfield, turn left (south), cross the creek, and follow the road about 2.25 miles to its end at a gated trailhead. Passenger cars should park soon after crossing the creek, as the road gets rough beyond. High-clearance vehicles can usually reach the end without 4WD. Parking at the end is limited because Huron Peak hikers use the same lot. There are dispersed campsites along the last two miles.
Trail in the treesTundraTalus and screeRidgeExposed 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
South Winfield trailhead 10,560' · 0 mi
Start at the gate and walk south on the old roadbed. The Three Apostles rise ahead on the skyline, with North Apostle on the left.
2
Old roadbed 10,750' · 0.6 mi
The roadbed climbs gently through forest. It is wide and easy to follow.
3
Huron trail split 10,900' · 1.25 mi
The main trail bends southeast toward Huron Peak. Keep heading south toward the Apostles.
Watch for: Do not follow the Huron crowd to the left.
4
Hamilton site and Lake Ann turn 10,980' · 1.6 mi
Near the old Hamilton town site, a trail heads off toward Lake Ann. Continue a short way and look for a trail that heads south and crosses the forks of South Clear Creek.
Watch for: Trails here have been rerouted over the years. Check your map.
5
Creek crossings 11,050' · 1.8 mi
Cross a small east fork that drains Huron's south side, then the main south fork of Clear Creek. The crossings can be wet in early summer.
Watch for: Slick rocks and cold water at the crossings.
6
Three Apostles trail 11,250' · 2.2 mi
The trail climbs south through forest along a ridge above the creek, which runs in a deep channel below you.
7
Meadow below the Apostles 11,360' · 2.5 mi
The trail opens into a flat, flowery meadow. West Apostle stands directly south. A huge rock glacier spills down from Ice Mountain and West Apostle. Turn southeast here toward the basin between North Apostle and Ice Mountain.
Watch for: Last easy ground. Good place to check weather and time.
8
Foot of North Apostle 11,700' · 2.8 mi
A vague path wanders through the meadow and crosses the stream, then climbs the east side of the basin through willows and boulders at the edge of the rock glacier. Head up the steep grassy slope below North Apostle's northwest ridge.
Watch for: Easy to lose the path here. Keep heading southeast and up.
9
Grassy bench 12,000' · 3 mi
After about 600 feet of climbing, cut right across the slope on a grassy bench that threads between small cliff bands into the upper basin. Pick the bench with the most grass and least rock.
Watch for: Do not climb straight into the cliffs. Look for the grassy break.
10
Small tarn 12,100' · 3.15 mi
You reach a small tarn in the upper basin. The basin runs southeast toward the saddle, which you cannot see from below. Pass the tarn on its north side over rock slabs and boulders.
11
Upper basin 12,800' · 3.45 mi
A tundra slope leads up the middle of the basin for about 600 feet. Above 12,800 feet it turns to large boulders and loose rubble. Early in the season this is all snow.
Watch for: Loose boulders can shift. Take your time.
12
North Apostle-Ice Mountain saddle 13,200' · 3.7 mi
Reach the saddle. Ice Mountain rises steeply to the southwest. North Apostle's southwest ridge is on your left. Turn left (northeast) for North Apostle.
Watch for: Only continue to Ice Mountain if you are ready for steep, loose Class 3 rock.
13
Summit 13,869' · 4 mi
Follow the southwest ridge on loose rock. The last 500 feet follows small sandy gullies between rocks. From the top, look down the steep north and east sides, north to Huron Peak, and across to Ice Mountain's connecting ridge.
Watch for: Use the view to study Ice Mountain's route before you try it.
Landmarks to know
Three Apostles visible to the south from the trailhead
Huron trail bending off to the southeast
Crossing of the forks of South Clear Creek
Wildflower meadow with West Apostle straight ahead
Large rock glacier below Ice Mountain and West Apostle
Grassy bench between small cliffs into the upper basin
Small tarn near 12,100 feet
Saddle between North Apostle and Ice Mountain
Getting down
Return to the saddle and go back down the upper basin the way you came. The biggest mistake on descent is missing the grassy bench below the tarn and heading straight down into the cliff bands. From the tarn, contour back north onto the bench before dropping to the meadow.
The loose rubble in the upper basin is easy to slip on going down. Step on stable rocks and keep your group close so no one knocks rocks onto others. In the meadow, find the trail again before heading north into the forest.
If things go wrong
The meadow at 11,360 feet is your safe base. From anywhere in the upper basin, retreat to the tarn and then take the grassy bench down to the meadow. If a storm catches you on the ridge or at the saddle, get down into the basin quickly but carefully. If someone is injured, keep them warm, mark your location, and call 911. The Huron trail nearby sees many hikers, so help may be closer than it feels.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
About the last 1.5 miles are off-trail through the basin and up the slopes, with no set trail to follow. 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 Karl Decker Presents. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play. This video covers North Apostle and Ice Mountain together.
Jump to
Other routes
Every way up North Apostle we list, with its class.
Northeast Ridge + North Apostlethis routeClass 3 9 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.