Overview
Italian Mountain rises above the head of Cement Creek, east of Crested Butte. With a high-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead, it is an easy morning hike: grassy, flowery slopes past a rock glacier to a meadow, a rubbly gully to the saddle south of the peak, and about 900 feet up the south ridge.
It is Class 2, on grass, small talus and chip rock. Unranked UN 12,830 is a 15-minute side trip from the saddle.
The round trip is about 4 miles with 2,595 feet of gain. Without a good vehicle it is a much longer walk up Cement Creek.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at the saddle by 10:30 a.m.
Nothing hard; about 500 feet of rubble in the gully.
Easy. Head east up the slopes on the south side of a small side creek, go around the right end of a rock glacier, then up the gully to the saddle.
Cement Creek and a small stream in the meadow. Filter it.
Getting to the trailhead
Cement Creek
From Gunnison, drive north on Highway 135 just over 20 miles and turn right on County Road 740, the Cement Creek Road, between mile markers 20 and 21. It is paved for a mile, then good gravel. Cement Creek Campground is at 3.6 miles.
Past groups of cabins and the Deadman Gulch trailhead, the road becomes a rough track. It crosses Cement Creek at about 8 miles, climbs some switchbacks, and crosses back to the west side at about 13.2 miles. Park in the small spot right after that crossing. Clearance matters more than 4WD; plan on about an hour from the highway.
There are primitive campsites at about 8.6, 9.0 and 11.1 miles (the last is the Hunter Creek trailhead), often full on weekends.
Base towns and camping for this climb
Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.
Before you go
Check these the week of your climb.
Official forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.
NWS point forecast →Directions to the trailhead
Cement Creek. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Get directions →Roads and highways
Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.
COtrip road conditions →Closures and fire rules
Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.
Forest Service alerts →Snow on the route?
From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.
Avalanche forecast →Cell signal
Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.
FCC coverage map →