Front Range Range · Colorado 13er · No. 439 of the 13ers
Via Andrews Pass and Taylor Peak
Powell Peak, 13,195'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip15.8 mi
Elevation gain4,855'
TrailheadGlacier Gorge (Rocky Mountain National Park)
Trailhead elevation9,240'
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 Andrews Pass and Taylor Peak
Overview
Powell Peak is the next summit south of Taylor Peak on the Continental Divide, with a summit that seems to hang over Loch Vale. The easiest way is to go up Andrews Glacier to Andrews Pass, over Taylor Peak, and along the Divide, alternating tundra and rock, to Powell's blocky top.
It is Class 2, with big blocks near the summit and a snowfield on Andrews Glacier. Powell's north ridge from Sky Pond is a completely different, exposed Class 4 to 5 climb and is not this route.
The round trip is about 15.8 miles with 4,855 feet of gain, a Longs Peak-sized day. One party took 11 hours.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 4:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Taylor Peak by 10 a.m.
Crux
Length and big blocks near the summit.
Route-finding
Easy. Follow the Divide south from Taylor. On the way back you can skirt Taylor's summit on its west side and head north to Andrews Pass.
From Estes Park, enter Rocky Mountain National Park at the Beaver Meadows entrance and drive Bear Lake Road to the Glacier Gorge trailhead. The lot fills very early; a park shuttle also stops here.
The park charges an entry fee and may require a timed-entry reservation in summer. Check the park website.
Glacier Gorge (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 treesRidgeTundraExposed 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
Glacier Gorge trailhead 9,240' · 0 mi
Leave from the southwest end of the lot, cross Glacier Creek and pass a small fern forest.
2
Bear Lake trail junction 9,300' · 0.3 mi
Turn left toward Alberta Falls.
3
Alberta Falls 9,400' · 0.8 mi
Continue past the falls to the junction where the Glacier Gorge trail goes left. Stay right toward The Loch.
4
The Loch 10,190' · 2.7 mi
Pass the lovely lake at the head of Loch Vale.
5
Andrews Glacier turnoff 10,600' · 3.5 mi
About 0.8 mile past The Loch, turn onto the trail for Andrews Tarn and Glacier.
6
Andrews Tarn 11,380' · 4.5 mi
Past the valley called The Gash, with the Sharkstooth spire at its head, climb steeply about 400 feet to the tarn.
Watch for: Snow may cover the trail early in summer.
7
Andrews Pass 12,000' · 5.2 mi
Climb about 600 feet up the Andrews Glacier snowfield to the pass. A path is usually kicked in.
Watch for: An ice axe is good to have, especially coming down.
8
Taylor Peak 13,157' · 6.2 mi
Walk about a mile southwest up moderate tundra with bands of rock, about 1,200 feet, to the summit. Huge cliffs drop 1,500 feet to Sky Pond.
Watch for: Stay back from the cliff edges.
9
Along the Divide 12,800' · 7 mi
Drop a little under 400 feet from Taylor and walk south over tundra and rocks, peering into the couloirs above Loch Vale.
10
Summit 13,195' · 7.8 mi
It gets rockier near the top, with big blocks to work through. The summit is a rocky perch over Loch Vale.
Watch for: Cliffs drop off the east side.
Getting down
Return north, skirting Taylor's summit a few hundred feet below on its west side, to Andrews Pass, then down the glacier and trail.
If things go wrong
Andrews Pass is the way out.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above Andrews Pass 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 Powell Peak we list, with its class.
Powell Peak via Andrews Passthis routeClass 2 15.8 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.