Front Range Range · Colorado 13er · No. 400 of the 13ers
Via Hoosier Ridge from Hoosier Pass
Red Mountain, 13,238'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip11 mi
Elevation gain3,875'
TrailheadHoosier Pass
Trailhead elevation11,545'
Conditions on the summit
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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 · Via Hoosier Ridge from Hoosier Pass
Overview
Red Mountain sits at the far end of Hoosier Ridge, east of Hoosier Pass. In summer the usual way is to walk the whole of Hoosier Ridge to its summit, drop about 500 feet to a saddle, and climb Red's southeast ridge, including a band of white rock near the top.
It is Class 2 with no trail beyond Hoosier Ridge. The white rock section needs a little care.
The round trip is about 11 miles with 3,875 feet of gain, with lots of ups and downs.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Hoosier Ridge's summit by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
The band of white rock below the summit.
Route-finding
Easy. From Hoosier Ridge's summit, go northwest about 100 yards to a small saddle, then turn left and descend to the Hoosier-Red saddle.
RoadRidgeTundraExposed 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
Hoosier Pass 11,545' · 0 mi
Walk east across Highway 9 to the start of road 848W, which serves some radio towers.
2
Leave the road 11,800' · 0.6 mi
After a little over half a mile the country opens up. Where the road bends toward the towers, leave it, keep left of some willows, and walk east up a broad slope.
3
Ridge crest 12,800' · 1.6 mi
Reach the ridge crest just below 12,800 feet.
4
Ridge bumps 12,900' · 2.6 mi
Walk east over a series of bumps on the crest.
5
Point 13,201 13,201' · 3.2 mi
Turn left (north) to the prominent Point 13,201.
6
Next point 13,200' · 4 mi
Go down across some rocks and keep following the crest. From the next point the true summit is in view, less than half a mile away.
7
Hoosier Ridge summit 13,362' · 4.6 mi
Cross the saddle and walk up to Hoosier Ridge's summit.
8
Hoosier-Red saddle 12,860' · 5 mi
Go northwest about 100 yards to a little saddle, turn left and drop about 500 feet to the saddle below Red.
9
Flat area 13,000' · 5.3 mi
Climb Red's southeast ridge without a trail, going around the first bump on the right.
10
Summit 13,238' · 5.6 mi
Angle up and left through a band of white rock, then right back to the crest just below the top.
Watch for: Take care on the white rock.
Getting down
Return the same way, back over Hoosier Ridge.
If things go wrong
Turn back along the ridge toward Hoosier Pass.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past Hoosier Ridge 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 Red 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.