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 · Southeast Ridge from Rustler Gulch
Overview
Belleview Mountain stands just south of Maroon Peak, above West Maroon Pass. From a camp in Rustler Gulch you climb flowery slopes northwest to a saddle, walk the ridge west over a minor summit to West Maroon Pass, and follow Belleview's southeast ridge to a false summit and the true top.
It is Class 3 near the top, with fun scrambling on a mostly cairned path around rock obstacles and a last 50 feet of badly fractured rock. It takes longer than it looks.
The round trip is about 9.5 miles with 3,450 feet of gain. It can also be reached by the West Maroon Pass trail from Maroon Lake or from Schofield Pass.
Plan of the day
Start by
From a Rustler Gulch camp, by 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at West Maroon Pass by 9:30 a.m.
Crux
The final 50 feet of cracked rock, and route-finding on the southeast ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. From camp, head north-northwest toward a small stand of trees on a bench, then up the basin to the saddle.
From Gunnison, take Highway 135 north to Crested Butte. Stay on the main road through town and continue north on County Road 317 to Mt. Crested Butte. Past the condos the pavement ends; measure from there.
At about 3.4 miles you pass Gothic, a research town with a small visitor center. Parking is limited to marked spots along this busy road. Gothic Campground (6 sites) is at about 5.3 miles. From June 15 to August 15, you may only camp in designated sites anywhere in this part of the East River valley.
At about 6.2 miles, FR 317.2B turns off for Rustler Gulch. Regular cars park here, and you wade the East River. Beaver dams have made the old vehicle ford a deep pool (as of 2025), so only a high-clearance 4WD should try it, ideally with a winch. Past the ford the road climbs steeply 0.7 mile to a gate with room for two or three cars.
Trail in the treesScramblingTundraRidgeExposed 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
Rustler Gulch turnoff 9,716' · 0 mi
Wade the East River and walk up the road.
Watch for: Can be deep in early summer.
2
Gate 10,050' · 0.9 mi
Past the gate, follow the old road north through a meadow, then a muddy, horse-churned stretch of forest.
3
Creek crossing 10,300' · 1.6 mi
Flower meadows lead to a creek crossing. You may need to take off your boots, or follow a side path right along the creek to a spot with small logs.
4
Upper Rustler Gulch 10,700' · 2.2 mi
The trail heads north, then turns east into the upper gulch through huge wildflower meadows.
5
Campsite 10,865' · 2.5 mi
Where the trail has clearly turned east and the creek tumbles over rock ledges below, cross the creek and climb east through fallen timber. Near the east edge of the trees is a small campsite for two tents, the only good spot here that doesn't flatten flowers.
Watch for: Take care not to trample the meadows.
6
Bench with trees 11,300' · 3 mi
From camp, cross the creek and the main trail and climb north-northwest through lush flowers toward a small group of trees on a bench. Walk in the drainage bottom to spare the flowers.
Watch for: Wet plants will soak your boots.
7
Upper basin 12,000' · 3.6 mi
Continue up the grassy basin through a band of easy willows.
8
Saddle 12,600' · 4 mi
Tundra leads almost to the saddle.
9
West Maroon Pass 12,500' · 4.3 mi
Walk west along the ridge over a minor summit and down to the pass, often busy with hikers.
10
Southeast ridge 13,000' · 4.55 mi
Follow a well-used, cairned path up and around rock obstacles. One section follows a wide ledge on the south side of cliff bands, then a short, steep rubble couloir back to the ridge.
11
False summit 13,150' · 4.65 mi
Reach the south false summit on flat plates of red rock.
12
Summit 13,248' · 4.75 mi
Walk north along the wide ridge. Near the summit block, swing right onto the east side, then climb the last 50 feet of fractured rock. Maroon Peak towers overhead.
Watch for: Class 3. Holds break easily; test everything.
Getting down
Carefully climb down the summit block and retrace the route to West Maroon Pass, over the minor summit to the saddle, and down to camp.
If things go wrong
West Maroon Pass has a good trail on both sides.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the Rustler Gulch trail the route is trailless. 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.
Other routes
Every way up Belleview Mountain we list, with its class.
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.