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 · Northwest Slope
Overview
Turret Peak stands just east of Pigeon Peak in the Needle Mountains, deep in the Weminuche Wilderness. No road comes near it. You ride the Durango and Silverton train to the Needleton stop, then backpack up the steep, hard-to-follow Ruby Creek trail to a high meadow camp below a ring of peaks. From camp, a steep Class 2 slope climbs to the saddle between Pigeon and Turret, and a well-used path leads up Turret's northwest slope to the top. By the listed numbers the round trip is about 11.5 miles with about 7,140 feet of gain.
Turret itself is the easiest summit in the Ruby Creek group, a walk-up on talus, gravel and tundra with no exposure. The hard part is getting there. The Ruby Creek trail is faint at the start, very steep in places, and choked with willows near Ruby Lake. Many parties lose the trail at least once. The 1,500-foot climb from camp to the Pigeon and Turret saddle is steep, loose Class 2+.
This trip suits strong, experienced backpackers who are comfortable finding their way. Plan on at least three days: one to hike in, one to climb (often with Pigeon or other nearby peaks), and one to hike out and catch the train. You are far from help the whole time.
Plan of the day
Start by
From the upper Ruby Creek camp, leave by 5:30 or 6 a.m. The saddle and summit are fully exposed, and San Juan storms often build before noon.
Turnaround
Be at the Pigeon and Turret saddle by 9:30 a.m. If not, or if clouds are building, go back down to camp. From the saddle to the top and back takes about an hour.
Crux
The approach. Finding and staying on the Ruby Creek trail is the hardest part of the trip, followed by the steep, loose 1,500-foot slope from camp to the saddle.
Route-finding
Very hard low on the Ruby Creek trail. The start is hidden off the side of Campers Meadow, the path turns south and east before climbing, and there are forks near 9,500 and 9,800 feet. Near Ruby Lake the trail disappears in willows. Above camp, the slope to the saddle and Turret's northwest slope are easy to follow in clear weather.
Water
Plenty along the lower trail, in Ruby Creek, and in the meadow at camp. There is none above camp once the snow melts. Filter all water.
There is no road to this peak. Ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to the Needleton flag stop. Book ahead and check the railroad's current rules about where you can board and where the trains stop, as these have changed over the years. Plan your return train before you go.
At Needleton, cross the Animas River on the footbridge. There is camping in the meadows north and south of the stop if you arrive late. Walking in from the nearest road instead is extremely long and is not a practical option for most people.
Needleton (Durango & Silverton train). Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
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
Needleton footbridge 8,235' · 0 mi
Get off the train and cross the Animas River on the sturdy footbridge. Turn left (north) right away on a trail past the private cabins along the river.
Watch for: Respect the private cabins.
2
Pigeon Creek and Campers Meadow 8,300' · 0.4 mi
Cross Pigeon Creek, usually easy, and continue north-northeast into a large, open, grassy meadow.
3
Ruby Creek trail start 8,350' · 0.6 mi
Near the middle to north end of the meadow, look for a log across the trail with a section cut out. Just past it, a faint trail climbs a dirt bank on the right. Take it.
Watch for: The start is easy to miss. Check your map and GPS.
4
Upper meadow and old mine 8,600' · 1.1 mi
The trail enters a smaller meadow and fades. It leaves heading south, which feels wrong, then winds east through the trees to an old mine at the foot of the mountain. From there a built trail angles steeply up the slope.
Watch for: The trail doubles back; trust it.
5
North Pigeon Creek crossing 9,500' · 1.8 mi
After rounding a small ridge, cross North Pigeon Creek. Right after, the trail forks; take the steeper, fainter branch heading northeast above the creek.
Watch for: Take the less-used, steeper fork.
6
Junction at 9,800 feet 9,800' · 2 mi
About 0.15 miles farther, another junction. The right fork goes up North Pigeon Creek. Take the left fork toward Ruby Creek. The climb from here is brutally steep; you may pull on aspen trunks.
Watch for: Very steep, loose trail.
7
South ridge of Ruby Creek 10,700' · 2.9 mi
The trail crests the ridge on the south side of the Ruby Creek drainage and turns up the valley. If you lose the path, the ridge line helps keep you on course.
8
Ruby Lake willows 10,900' · 3.6 mi
Near Ruby Lake the trail gets swallowed by thick willows. Push through and look for bits of path as you head up-valley.
Watch for: Slow going in the willows; keep the group together.
9
Upper Ruby Creek camp 11,625' · 5 mi
Reach a large, flat, flower-filled meadow with Ruby Creek winding through it. Pigeon, Turret, Monitor, Peak Thirteen and Animas Mountain tower above. This is your base camp.
Watch for: Marmots here will chew through tents and gear. Hang food and salty items.
10
Slope to the saddle 12,300' · 5.2 mi
From camp, climb south up the broad north- to northeast-facing slope toward the saddle between Pigeon and Turret. Stay near the main drainage low down to avoid willows. Higher up, the ground turns to scree and loose small rock.
Watch for: Steep and loose; snow early in the season.
11
Pigeon and Turret saddle 13,100' · 5.4 mi
Reach the rocky saddle at about 13,100 feet. New York Basin drops away to the south. Turn left (east) toward Turret.
Watch for: Decision point: weather and time check.
Turret and Pigeon peaks · Photo: Kylie Stewart
12
Turret northwest slope 13,500' · 5.6 mi
Climb east and east-southeast up Turret's west-facing slope on a fairly well-used path through broken rock, talus, gravel and tundra. Going up the right (south) side of the face on boulders works well.
13
Turret Peak summit 13,837' · 5.75 mi
The summit gives a close look at rugged Peak Fifteen, the steep east face of Pigeon, and the Eolus group to the east. Monitor, Peak Thirteen and Animas Mountain rise across Ruby Creek.
Along the route
Turret and Pigeon · Photo: Jeremiah LaRocco
Landmarks to know
The Needleton footbridge over the Animas River.
Campers Meadow and the log with a section cut out, near the Ruby Creek trail start.
An old mine at the foot of the slope where the built trail begins.
North Pigeon Creek crossing near 9,500 feet and the junction near 9,800 feet.
Thick willows near Ruby Lake.
The flat, flowery meadow at 11,625 feet surrounded by peaks.
The rocky Pigeon and Turret saddle overlooking New York Basin.
Getting down
From the summit, go back down to the saddle. Coming down the left (north) side of the face on scree is often easier than the boulders. From the saddle, head north down the steep slope toward Ruby Creek, about 1,500 knee-jarring feet, staying near the main drainage at the bottom to avoid willows.
The hike out is where many people lose the trail. Below Ruby Lake, stay on the south side of the drainage and look for the path as it drops to the ridge. At the 9,800-foot junction and the North Pigeon Creek fork, make sure you head downhill toward Needleton, not up North Pigeon Creek. Leave extra time to catch your train; missing it means another night out.
If things go wrong
Camp at 11,625 feet is the nearest safe base. From anywhere above it, the way off is back down the slope to the meadow; do not try to descend into New York Basin to the south, which is steep and remote. If lightning starts on the saddle or summit, head down right away. There is no cell service to count on here, so carry a satellite messenger. If someone is hurt, keep them warm and sheltered in camp and send for help or use your messenger; call 911 if you can get through. Rescue in this area usually needs a helicopter and can take a long time.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past the first half mile out of Needleton, the Pigeon Creek and Ruby Creek approach has no mapped trail, only cairns and bushwhacking. 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
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
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.
