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.
Colorado 13er · South Ridge from Hilliard Peak
Overview
Keefe Peak is Hilliard Peak's northern neighbor above Conundrum Creek. Most people backpack in from the Pearl Pass Road over Twin Lakes and Coffeepot Pass and camp high in upper Conundrum Basin, away from the crowds at the hot springs. The route climbs Hilliard first, then follows the ridge north to Keefe, going around two rocky obstacles on loose scree.
It is Class 2+. The ridge has one short, steep and loose traverse on its east side and a longer loose contour on the west side around a small rocky point with a deep gap behind it. The last stretch is an easy tundra walk.
The round trip is about 11.4 miles with about 5,100 feet of gain from the trailhead, including Hilliard. Mileage and gain are our estimates.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 7 a.m. from a high camp.
Turnaround
Be on Hilliard's summit by 10 a.m.
Crux
The two loose contours around rocky points on the ridge between Hilliard and Keefe.
Route-finding
Moderate. Don't try to climb over the small triangular point on the ridge; there is a deep gap behind it. Go around it on the west side.
Water
Middle Brush Creek, Twin Lakes and small ponds above them. Filter it.
From Gunnison, take Highway 135 north through Almont toward Crested Butte. About 2 miles before Crested Butte, turn right onto County Road 738, the Pearl Pass Road. It starts paved through a subdivision, then turns to gravel.
Passenger cars can go 4 to 5 miles, to just past where the East River comes in. Park at a primitive camping area on the right, just as the road starts to climb. With high clearance, keep going: stay right at a junction about a mile later, ford West Brush Creek, and drive about 4.5 more miles to the Twin Lakes parking, which turns off the road to the left.
There are good primitive campsites with some trees at the trailhead, often busy on weekends.
Trail in the treesTundraRidgeExposed 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
Twin Lakes trailhead 10,425' · 0 mi
Cross Middle Brush Creek (wade it or find a way across), climb north a little, then turn northwest on Trail 402 toward Twin Lakes.
Watch for: The crossing can be high in early summer.
2
Into the wilderness 10,900' · 1.5 mi
The trail crosses open ground and patches of high forest on the east side of the creek, then enters the Maroon-Snowmass Wilderness. Overnight visitors must fill out a permit at the boundary.
3
Willows 11,300' · 2.7 mi
About half a mile below the lakes the trail crosses to the west side of the creek and pushes through thick, wet willows. It can be hard to follow here.
4
Twin Lakes 11,580' · 3.2 mi
Reach the north end of the upper lake. There are a few campsites near the lower lake, and more on tundra benches above.
5
Pass above Twin Lakes 12,500' · 3.6 mi
A usable trail keeps climbing through lush flowers to the pass west-northwest of the lakes, then fades on the tundra benches beyond.
6
Coffeepot Pass 12,740' · 4 mi
Walk about a mile northwest over easy tundra to Coffeepot Pass and look down into upper Conundrum Basin.
7
Upper Conundrum Basin 12,200' · 4.3 mi
Drop north from Coffeepot Pass on Trail 1981 and leave it for the grassy benches east of UN 13,214. This is a good, quiet high camp about a mile above Conundrum Hot Springs.
Watch for: Camping near the hot springs needs a reserved permit. Check current rules.
8
Hilliard Peak 13,422' · 4.95 mi
Climb Hilliard Peak by its east and south ridges (see the Hilliard Peak page).
9
Rocky outcrop 13,250' · 5.1 mi
Head northeast down the ridge. A rocky outcrop on the crest forces you onto the east side for about 50 yards of steep, loose scree.
Watch for: Slow and loose.
10
Saddle 13,100' · 5.25 mi
Get back on the ridge and drop to a saddle below a small, triangular rocky point.
11
Around the point 13,100' · 5.4 mi
Contour the west side about 150 feet below the point on sloping, loose rock and scree, then climb back to the ridge beyond it.
Watch for: Don't go over the top. A deep, technical gap waits on the far side.
12
Summit 13,532' · 5.7 mi
Walk north on tundra, rocky again near the top.
Getting down
Head back south along the ridge to near the saddle, then drop east into the head of a drainage. Walk southeast over tundra until trees begin, near 11,600 feet, then contour south below Hilliard's southeast ridge on grassy benches and climb gently back to camp. If you are camped lower, an avalanche path leads down to the Conundrum trail.
If things go wrong
From Hilliard's summit, return the way you came.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
This route follows a trailless, loose ridge. 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. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.