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 Ridge from Bighorn Creek
Overview
Keller Mountain is a Gore Range 13er above Bighorn Creek, just east of Vail. The route follows the Bighorn Creek Trail almost 4 miles to an old cabin, climbs the open basin above it toward the saddle with North Traverse Peak, then follows Keller's long south ridge over a false summit to the top.
It is Class 2+. The ridge is close to a mile long with rocky sections, a short sloping slab and a brief narrow edge. A few spots can feel like Class 3 depending on the line you pick, but nothing is very exposed. The ridge takes longer than you would expect.
The round trip is about 13.2 miles with 4,975 feet of gain, or 5.6 miles and 2,775 feet from a camp near the cabin. It pairs well with North Traverse Peak. There is also an east ridge route from the Rock Creek trailhead north of Silverthorne (about 9 miles and 3,610 feet); if you come that way, come back down the east ridge too, or expect a tough bushwhack through dead forest.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5 a.m. as a day hike, or by 6 a.m. from a camp near the cabin.
Turnaround
Be past the first false summit on the ridge by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
A few rocky drops on the ridge and a short, narrow slab edge before the final climb.
Route-finding
Moderate. Follow the basin above the cabin to its head, reach the ridge left of the saddle, and stay on or near the crest.
Water
Bighorn Creek and small ponds in the upper basin. Filter it.
Leave I-70 at exit 180 (East Vail), about 4 miles east of the main Vail exit. Go to the south side and follow Bighorn Road east for 0.8 mile, then turn left on Columbine Drive. The turn is easy to miss. The road climbs steeply and passes back under the interstate to a tiny lot tucked between condos.
The lot holds only six cars. If it is full, drive back to the interchange: there is a parking area on the south side of I-70 where Bighorn Road bends southeast. The closest campground is Gore Creek, a Forest Service fee site a few miles east on Bighorn Road with water and vault toilets.
Trail in the treesTalus and screeRidgeScramblingTundraExposed 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
Bighorn Creek trailhead 8,620' · 0 mi
The trail starts out steep. After about a quarter mile and 300 to 400 feet of climbing, near the wilderness sign, it gets easier.
2
Aspens and ferns 9,300' · 1.4 mi
Hike up the valley through beetle-killed forest with many fallen trees, then pleasant aspen groves. About an hour in, the trail runs next to the creek past a small patch of ferns.
3
Climb to the bench 10,400' · 2.8 mi
The trail leaves the creek, crosses meadows, then climbs hard straight up loose scree with no switchbacks. It swings right over a small talus field and levels out on a bench.
Watch for: Loose footing on the steep scree.
4
Old cabin 10,810' · 3.8 mi
About one more mile of forest brings you right to the door of an old, falling-apart cabin. A good campsite sits about 100 feet toward the creek.
Watch for: The cabin and the land around it may be a private inholding. Be respectful.
5
Upper meadows 11,000' · 4.1 mi
Continue past the cabin on fading trail into flower meadows and keep to the middle of the valley.
6
Marshy ponds 11,350' · 4.7 mi
Pass a wet area with small ponds around 11,300 to 11,400 feet.
7
Head of the basin 11,800' · 5.2 mi
About an hour from the cabin you reach the head of the basin. Rather than going straight up the loose gully to the saddle, climb its left side.
8
Onto Keller's ridge 12,500' · 5.5 mi
Bear left onto a mostly tundra slope and meet the ridge a couple hundred feet above the Keller-North Traverse saddle.
9
First false summit 12,860' · 5.7 mi
Go around the first high point on its south and east side rather than over it. From here it is about 0.9 mile to the summit.
10
Long ridge 12,800' · 6.2 mi
Stay on the crest as much as you can as the ridge turns east. It is a mix of tundra and rock with several rocky crossings. Drop to a saddle, climb back up, cross some tilted slab and a brief, narrow crest.
Watch for: A couple of drops need a hand down.
11
Summit 13,080' · 6.6 mi
The last climb is easier. There are two tops about five minutes apart; the western one is the true summit.
Getting down
Return the same way. To add North Traverse Peak, follow the connecting ridge back to the saddle and climb the short rocky ridge on the other side (about 1.7 miles and 740 feet one way).
If things go wrong
Before the false summit, drop back to the saddle and down the basin to the cabin.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the old cabin the route climbs a trailless basin and a long ridge. 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 Keller 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.