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 Basin and Ridge from Lost Lake
Overview
Peak N rises above Lost Lake on the northeast side of the Gore Range. From the Brush Creek trailhead, good trails lead about 3.85 miles to Lost Lake. From there you bushwhack south through dead forest, cross about a mile of boulder fields below the peak's east side, climb west up the basin south of the peak, and scramble up to the south ridge.
The summit climb is Class 3 on ramps and slabs. The hard part is everything between Lost Lake and the basin: about 1.5 miles of fallen trees with no trail, then endless boulder-hopping. A strong party took over 12 hours. A GPS with the lake and meadow marked is close to essential for the return.
The round trip is about 13.7 miles with 4,100 feet of gain. Add 4.8 miles if you can't drive the 4WD road to the trailhead.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5 a.m. Plan on a very long day.
Turnaround
Be on the tundra slope below the south ridge by 11 a.m. If you are not, turn around.
Crux
The bushwhack and boulder fields past Lost Lake, both ways. The slabs below the ridge are Class 3.
Route-finding
Difficult. Stay west of the stream that drains the south basin. You can rarely see Lost Lake on the way back, so mark the lake and the north end of the meadow east of it on a GPS.
Water
Brush Creek, Lost Lake and the stream below the basin. Filter it.
From I-70, take exit 205 for Silverthorne and drive north on Highway 9 for about 16.8 miles. County Road 30 to Heeney goes left just past mile marker 118. Half a mile along it, the old Grandview Cemetery lot is on your right. Without a high-clearance 4WD, park here and walk the road (2.4 miles each way).
Brush Creek Road (FR 1695) starts across from the cemetery. The first climb is the worst part: big potholes that can hold mud after rain. Then the road switchbacks up an open hillside, steep and a bit rocky, and winds up a dry gully through dead forest to a small lot in the aspens. At a fork about 1.75 miles up, stay left. Early in the season, fallen trees can block the road.
Camping is no longer allowed in the field by the cemetery. There are a few spots in the last quarter mile before the trailhead, plus fee campgrounds at Green Mountain Reservoir (Prairie Point, McDonald Flats) and Blue River.
Trail in the treesOff-trail, no set pathTalus 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
Brush Creek trailhead 9,035' · 0 mi
The trail follows an old, dry ditch west to the Gore Range Trail.
2
Gore Range Trail 9,000' · 0.7 mi
Turn left (south). Right away you drop down and wade Brush Creek. There is no bridge.
Watch for: Can be high in early summer.
3
Lost Lake Trail 9,100' · 1.9 mi
After about a mile on the Gore Range Trail, turn southwest on the Lost Lake Trail. It gains most of its height in the first half mile, then eases.
4
Marsh meadow 9,850' · 3.7 mi
Near the lake the trail passes the end of a big, open, marshy meadow to the south. The trail nearly disappears in one wet spot; keep looking and you will find it.
Watch for: Save a GPS point here. It is your target on the way back.
5
Lost Lake 9,900' · 3.85 mi
A calm lake ringed by dead trees, with Peak N rising above. The trail ends here.
6
Bushwhack 11,000' · 5 mi
Head south above the east shore, staying west of the stream from the south basin. Fight through fallen timber, climb a steeper slope, pass an open, bouldery clearing, and climb an even steeper slope into more open forest near 11,000 feet.
Watch for: One of the worst bushwhacks in the state. Slow and tiring.
7
Boulder fields 11,200' · 6 mi
The next mile is boulder-hopping below Peak N's east cliffs, some boulders small and some huge. Cross a couple of bouldery ribs, then turn west up the basin.
8
Upper basin 11,900' · 6.35 mi
Head west up the drainage on smaller boulders and some tundra to a tundra-covered talus slope below the south ridge.
9
Ramps and slabs 12,700' · 6.7 mi
Climb northwest up the slope as tundra turns to scree. With a spire and rock wall on your right, go up the ramps and big sloping slabs on the left. They are steeper than they look.
Watch for: Class 3 in spots. Don't climb below others.
10
Summit 13,110' · 6.85 mi
Above the slabs, walk up talus to the ridge, then 5 to 10 minutes over rocks and tundra to the top. Views over Green Mountain Reservoir.
Getting down
Return the way you came. The north ridge is said to be even longer boulder fields. On the way down through the forest, aim for the north end of the marsh meadow east of Lost Lake. One steep stretch in the trees may need careful side-stepping. A small stream leads down into the marsh; skirt the edge of the meadow, watching for hidden logs, to rejoin the trail.
If things go wrong
Turning back anywhere still means reversing the bushwhack. Leave yourself plenty of daylight.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past Lost Lake there is no trail: dense deadfall, boulder fields and a scramble. 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 Pk N we list, with its class.
Peak N South Basin & Ridgethis routeClass 3 13.7 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.