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 · East Slope
Overview
Rio Grande Pyramid is the big, pointed peak you can see from all over the eastern San Juans. It sits deep in the Weminuche Wilderness, far from any road. From Thirtymile Campground you hike about 5 miles up the Weminuche Creek trail to Weminuche Pass, then follow a high trail west across open slopes and climb the peak's east side over broken volcanic rock.
The route is Class 2 with no exposure. Its difficulty is distance and remoteness. The round trip is about 19.7 miles with about 4,725 feet of gain. Most people backpack to Weminuche Pass and climb from there, which makes the summit day about 9.5 miles round trip. The top 600 feet is a pile of loose, shifting boulders that is slow and hard on the shins.
As a day hike, plan on 12 to 14 hours. From a camp near the pass, allow 5 to 7 hours. Help is many hours away. This peak suits strong hikers with backpacking experience who can take care of themselves in wild country.
Plan of the day
Start by
From a camp near Weminuche Pass, by 5:30 a.m. As a day hike from Thirtymile Campground, by 3:30 a.m. with a headlamp. You spend several hours above treeline on the upper route.
Turnaround
If you are not at the 12,645-foot saddle on the northeast ridge by 10 a.m., or clouds are building, turn around. Leave the summit by noon.
Crux
The final climb from the 13,185-foot saddle to the summit, on unstable volcanic boulders with no trail.
Route-finding
The Weminuche Creek trail is clear. The high trail west from the pass is faint, overgrown in places, and easy to lose; the Continental Divide Trail via Rincon La Vaca is a longer but more traveled option. Above 12,200 feet, use trails come and go among the rocks.
Water
Weminuche Creek and its tributaries are near the trail most of the way to the pass. A tributary stream near the pass campsites is a good source. Water is scarce above treeline. Filter everything.
From Highway 149, turn west onto Forest Road 520. The turn is about 20.5 miles west of Creede, or about 32 miles south of Lake City over Slumgullion and Spring Creek passes. The road starts paved, then becomes graded dirt. Stay on the main road toward Rio Grande Reservoir; most junctions are signed. Thirtymile Campground is about 10.8 miles from the highway.
The road is fine for passenger cars. Drive south across the river on a bridge into the campground. Hiker parking is on the north side of the campground road. Walk south across the campground loop to the trailhead for the Weminuche Creek trail, which shares a start with the Squaw Creek trail. Thirtymile and nearby River Hill are fee campgrounds that can be reserved.
Trail in the treesRidgeTundraTalus and screeExposed 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
Thirtymile Campground trailhead 9,330' · 0 mi
Start at the trailhead kiosk on the south side of the campground and register. Head west on an old roadbed that soon turns into trail, above the south shore of Rio Grande Reservoir.
2
Reservoir shore 9,400' · 1.25 mi
The trail stays nearly flat for the first mile or so, with the reservoir below on your right.
3
Turn south 9,650' · 1.75 mi
The trail climbs a few hundred feet, then makes a clear turn south, away from the reservoir, into the Weminuche Creek valley.
4
Weminuche Creek bridge 9,700' · 1.95 mi
Cross Weminuche Creek on a solid footbridge where the creek pours down from above. This is a good first break spot.
5
Open meadows 10,000' · 2.8 mi
Past the bridge the trail climbs briefly, then turns southwest along the edge of the forest. Open grassy meadows line the creek. The grade is gentle. Many trees here were killed by beetles.
Watch for: Dead trees can fall in wind. Do not camp under them.
6
Upper valley 10,400' · 4.1 mi
The trail enters more trees for the last mile to the pass. You start to see possible campsites.
7
Weminuche Pass camp area 10,650' · 5.1 mi
Just north of the broad, forested pass, cross a tributary stream coming in from the west. Campsites sit east of the trail. A trail heads west near here. This is the high trail toward the peak.
Watch for: Bears live here. Store food properly.
8
High trail through the trees 11,300' · 5.7 mi
The high trail climbs west up a broad ridge through open forest. It gets less use and can be faint.
Watch for: Watch for cairns and tread. The trail is easy to lose.
9
Treeline 11,900' · 6.3 mi
The trail leaves the trees and runs below the ridge crest on the south side. Rio Grande Pyramid comes into full view ahead, with the Window, a deep notch in a rock wall, to its south.
10
Long contour 12,000' · 7.2 mi
The trail contours west with small ups and downs and passes through tall willows. Wet willows will soak you. You may see elk.
Watch for: Trail can be overgrown and hard to follow through the willows.
11
Spur trail 12,200' · 8.2 mi
The trail turns south along the peak's east side. Near 12,200 feet, a spur trail heads right (northwest) toward the northeast ridge. There may be more than one path.
Watch for: If you came via the Continental Divide Trail, you reach this area from the south.
12
Northeast ridge saddle 12,645' · 8.7 mi
Reach the saddle on the northeast ridge. Turn southwest and west toward the summit on paths through tundra and rock.
Watch for: Check weather and time here before the final climb.
13
13,185-foot saddle 13,185' · 9.3 mi
Climb a steep, sandy slope where the path is easy to spot, to a higher saddle. From here the ground turns to broken volcanic rock and the path fades.
14
Boulder pile 13,500' · 9.6 mi
Pick your way up loose, unstable boulders. Progress is slow and the summit seems to stay far away. Test each rock.
Watch for: Loose boulders can roll and trap a leg. Watch your shins.
15
Summit 13,825' · 9.85 mi
The summit gives a huge view west to the Grenadier Range and the Needle Mountains, and across much of the Weminuche.
Watch for: Descend carefully. The boulder field is just as slow going down.
Here Pine River Trail goes off straight ahead. Turn right to follow Skyline/Highline-Opal Lake Trail.
Coming down: Turn left to stay on Weminuche Trail. Don’t take Pine River Trail.
Landmarks to know
Rio Grande Reservoir below the first stretch of trail
Footbridge over Weminuche Creek
Long open meadows along Weminuche Creek
Tributary stream and campsites just north of Weminuche Pass
High trail heading west from near the pass
The Window, a deep notch in a rock wall south of the peak
Saddle at 12,645 feet on the northeast ridge
Broken volcanic boulders on the final summit cone
Getting down
Go back the way you came to the 12,645-foot saddle and down to the high trail. The boulders above the 13,185-foot saddle are easy to twist an ankle on; take your time. In clouds, head for the saddle on the northeast ridge and do not drift south toward the Window.
The high trail back to the pass is faint in the willows; watch for it carefully. If you lose it, keep heading east below the ridge crest toward the pass. Once at the pass, the Weminuche Creek trail is easy to follow back to Thirtymile.
If things go wrong
Your safe ground is the Weminuche Creek trail and the forest near the pass. If weather turns on the upper mountain, get off the boulder field and down below the saddle, then follow the high trail east and back into the trees. You are far from help. If someone is injured, stabilize them, keep them warm and dry, and call 911 if you have signal. A satellite messenger is strongly recommended here, as rescue can take many hours or longer.
3D flyover
Press play to fly the East Slope. 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 Jeff Rife. The video belongs to them and only plays when you press play.
Other routes
Every way up Rio Grande Pyramid 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.