Over Mount Lady Washington from the Longs Peak Trailhead
Storm Peak, 13,323'
DifficultyClass 3
Round trip11.4 mi
Elevation gain4,700'
TrailheadLongs Peak (Rocky Mountain National Park)
Trailhead elevation9,400'
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,323'…
—Summit temp now
—Sustained wind
—Gusting to
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Day three
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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 · Over Mount Lady Washington from the Longs Peak Trailhead
Overview
Storm Peak is the rocky summit north of Longs Peak, above the Boulderfield. From the Longs Peak trailhead, you hike the busy East Longs Peak Trail past Mills Moraine, climb straight up to Mount Lady Washington, drop 500 feet into the Boulderfield, and climb about three-quarters of a mile of Class 3 rock to Storm Peak.
It is sustained Class 3, with plenty of harder Class 4 options if you wander. The route up Storm is steep enough to be dangerous when wet or icy.
The round trip is about 11.4 miles with 4,700 feet of gain, including Lady Washington.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 4 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Lady Washington by 9:30 a.m.
Crux
Three-quarters of a mile of steady Class 3 rock up Storm Peak.
Route-finding
Moderate. Leave the Boulderfield trail about a quarter mile past the Chasm Lake junction and head straight for Lady Washington's ridge.
The trailhead is west of Colorado 7. From the junction of US 36 and Colorado 7 in Estes Park, drive 9.2 miles south; from the junction of Colorado 7 and Colorado 72, drive 10 miles north. Turn west and go 1 mile to the Longs Peak trailhead and ranger station.
No car camping in the lot. There is a tent campground nearby and more campgrounds near Meeker Park. The park charges an entry fee and may require a timed-entry reservation in summer. Dogs aren't allowed on trails. Check the park website.
Longs Peak (Rocky Mountain National Park). Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Trail in the treesTalus and screeScramblingExposed 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
Longs Peak trailhead 9,400' · 0 mi
Start up the East Longs Peak Trail. Stay left at a junction after half a mile.
2
Alpine Brook 10,500' · 1.8 mi
Climb through Goblins Forest and cross Alpine Brook on log bridges.
3
Treeline 11,000' · 2.5 mi
Leave the forest. Turn left at the signed Battle Mountain junction and continue west along Mills Moraine.
4
Chasm Lake junction 11,550' · 3.5 mi
Turn right toward the Boulderfield. After about a quarter mile, leave the trail to the left.
5
Lady Washington's ridge 13,150' · 4.3 mi
Climb steep tundra, then Class 3 rock, straight up to the ridge.
6
Mount Lady Washington 13,277' · 4.5 mi
Turn west to the summit and study the route up Storm Peak.
7
Boulderfield 12,750' · 5 mi
Descend from the saddle between the summit and its north sub-peak, drifting toward Storm, about 500 feet down into the Boulderfield.
8
Summit 13,323' · 5.75 mi
Climb about three-quarters of a mile of steady Class 3 rock to Storm's summit ridge. The easternmost high point is the summit.
Watch for: Dangerous when wet or icy.
Getting down
Descend Storm's south side toward the Boulderfield and Granite Pass, pick up the Boulderfield trail and follow it back to the trailhead.
If things go wrong
The Boulderfield trail is close below.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the Longs Peak Trail the route climbs trailless tundra and boulders. 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 Storm Peak we list, with its class.
From Longs Peak ranger stationthis routeClass 3 11.4 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.