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 · East Face from East Snowmass Creek
Overview
Willoughby Mountain rises right above East Snowmass Creek, south of the town of Snowmass. From the Snowmass Creek trailhead you hike about 4 miles up the East Snowmass Creek Trail to a campsite near 11,160 feet, then climb straight up the steep east face to the summit.
It is Class 2, steep, on grass that turns into loose gravel and small rock higher up. From camp it takes about two hours up.
The round trip is about 10.1 miles with 4,740 feet of gain. It makes a good weekend backpack: hike in and climb one peak on the first day, then climb the other and hike out on the second. UN 13,255 is the other peak.
Plan of the day
Start by
From camp, by 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on the summit by noon.
Crux
Loose gravel on the steep upper face.
Route-finding
Easy. Leave the trail where it comes out of the trees above camp and head straight for the summit.
On Highway 82, about 4 miles up-valley from Basalt toward Aspen, turn south at the traffic light in the small town of Snowmass. After about 2 miles, go left at the T. Follow this road east and south: paved for 4 to 5 miles, then good gravel for about 4 more to a bridge over Snowmass Creek.
Past the bridge the road climbs to a junction. Turn right and go a few hundred yards south, past the East Snowmass trailhead, to where the road ends at the Snowmass Creek trailhead. One lot serves both trails and it overflows on summer weekends. There is no campground; car camping only. A locked ranch gate blocks the road beyond.
Trail in the treesTalus and screeTundraExposed 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
Snowmass Creek trailhead 8,400' · 0 mi
Park at the main lot and walk back down the road about a quarter mile to the start of the East Snowmass Creek Trail (1977).
2
Steep start 9,000' · 0.75 mi
The first half mile is steep, gaining roughly 600 feet, then the grade eases as it heads up the valley. It is easy to follow, even through willows.
3
Avalanche path 10,500' · 3 mi
Cross the wide swath of an avalanche path coming down off Willoughby Mountain and a meadow beside the creek.
4
Camp at 11,160 feet 11,160' · 4 mi
Where the trail re-enters the trees and starts climbing more steeply away from the creek, there is a sheltered campsite in the trees. The backpack in takes about two and a half hours.
5
Leave the trail 11,300' · 4.1 mi
Walk up the trail a short way to where it comes out of the trees, then turn west up the steep hillside.
6
Steep face 12,500' · 4.6 mi
The grass gets patchy, with lots of loose gravel and small rock between clumps of flowers.
Watch for: Loose footing.
7
Summit 13,144' · 5.05 mi
Finish on short red rock outcrops covered in orange lichen. Great view of the Snowmass-Capitol massif.
Getting down
Return the same way, or angle a little south on the way down. The wide avalanche chute just north of camp is a gentler way up or down.
If things go wrong
Camp is straight below.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the East Snowmass Creek Trail the route climbs a steep, trailless slope. 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 Willoughby Mountain we list, with its class.
Willoughby Mtn. East Facethis routeClass 2 10.1 mi
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.