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 · South Flank
Overview
Red Peak sits northwest of Silverthorne, across South Willow Creek from Buffalo Mountain. This route follows the Buffalo Cabin and Gore Range trails into the upper South Willow Creek valley, then leaves the trail and climbs a basin and the rocky south flank to the top.
It is Class 2 with no exposure, but the last 1,000 feet is boulder talus. Early in the season expect snowfields, runoff streams and mosquitoes.
The round trip is about 11.5 miles with 4,250 feet of gain, including about 400 feet you climb back out of the South Willow Creek valley on the way home. Plan on 8 to 10 hours. It is a good first Gore Range peak.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at the bench at 12,200 feet by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
The 1,000 feet of boulder talus from the bench to the summit.
Route-finding
Trail most of the way. Leave the Gore Range Trail where it swings southwest and follow the drainage into the basin south of the peak.
From I-70, take exit 205 for Silverthorne and Dillon. Go north on Highway 9 a short way and turn left at the first light onto Rainbow Drive / Wildernest Road. Follow it about 3.6 miles up through condos (it becomes Ryan Gulch Road) to a trailhead lot on the left at the top.
Two trails leave this lot. Start on the Buffalo Cabin trail, the northern one. There are no toilets, and the lot fills early on weekends.
Trail in the treesScramblingOff-trail, no set pathTundraTalus and screeExposed 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
Buffalo Cabin trailhead 9,775' · 0 mi
Head west-northwest on the wide trail through beetle-killed forest.
2
Buffalo Mountain junction 9,950' · 0.75 mi
Keep straight. This branch drops into the South Willow Creek valley, where it meets the long Gore Range Trail.
3
Drop to South Willow Creek 9,500' · 1.6 mi
The trail drops steeply northwest through rocky ledges and follows an old ditch. Cross runoff streams and the main creek on a bridge.
Watch for: Muddy and wet early in the season.
4
Gore Range Trail 9,700' · 2.1 mi
Climb to the Gore Range Trail and follow it west. It is rocky at first, then switchbacks above a waterfall.
5
Leave the trail 11,000' · 4 mi
As the trail starts swinging southwest toward Red Buffalo Pass, leave it and head up the drainage on the east side of the ridge, past an old mine, into the basin south of the summit.
6
Bench on the south flank 12,200' · 4.9 mi
Near the head of the basin, go right up a rocky slope (or snowfield early on) to a flat bench.
7
Summit 13,186' · 5.75 mi
Climb about 1,000 feet of boulder talus straight to the top.
Watch for: Large, loose boulders. Move carefully.
Getting down
Descend the way you came, or walk the west and south ridges down to Red Buffalo Pass and pick up the Gore Range Trail. Save energy for the 400-foot climb out of South Willow Creek.
If things go wrong
Drop back into the basin and down to the Gore Range Trail.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the Gore Range Trail this route is off trail. 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.
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.