South Ridge from Jefferson Lake

Overview

Whale Peak is a gentle, family-friendly 13er above Jefferson Lake, north of Kenosha Pass. You follow a rough fishing path along the lake, climb steeply through trees onto a broad ridge, walk tundra to the Continental Divide Trail near Glacier Peak, and follow it to Whale's broad summit.

It is Class 1 to 2, mostly tundra. Mountain goats often visit the summit.

The loop is about 9.1 miles with 2,380 feet of gain; it took one party a little over two hours from the lake to the top.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Denver, take US 285 over Kenosha Pass to the town of Jefferson. Turn north on County Road 54 (Michigan Creek Road). After about 2 miles, turn north on County Road 37 toward Jefferson Lake and drive 5.2 miles of graded dirt, fine for most cars, to the lake's parking areas, with vault toilets.

Jefferson Creek, Aspen and Lodgepole campgrounds (fee) are along County Road 37, plus some primitive sites. They fill on summer weekends.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Jefferson Lake 10,700' · 0 mi

   Cross the spillway and follow a slow fishing path along the west shore over logs, roots and rocks.

2. 2

   Leave the lake 10,800' · 1.2 mi

   Near the north end, leave the path at an opening on the left.

3. 3

   Above the trees 11,500' · 1.8 mi

   Climb steeply until you clear the trees.

4. 4

   Broad ridge 12,700' · 3 mi

   Walk tall grass and tundra up the broad ridge toward unranked Glacier Peak.

5. 5

   Continental Divide Trail 12,900' · 4.2 mi

   Near Glacier Peak, join the Continental Divide Trail and walk north, then east.

6. 6

   Summit 13,080' · 5 mi

   Reach the cairn on the broad summit of tundra and embedded rock.

Getting down

For a loop, go down the southeast ridge toward Point 12,733. At the saddle before it, drop southwest into the open Jefferson Lake Fork valley and follow it south to the lake. Avoid willows at its upper end and walk the east-shore path back. This saves about 0.9 mile.

If things go wrong

Head back down the ridge toward the lake.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Whale Peak we list, with its class.

• Whale Peak South Ridge this routeClass 2 9.1 mi