North Ridge from Bighorn Creek (with Keller Mountain)
North Traverse Peak, 13,085'
DifficultyClass 2+
Round trip14.1 mi
Elevation gain5,715'
TrailheadBighorn Creek
Trailhead elevation8,620'
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 · North Ridge from Bighorn Creek (with Keller Mountain)
Overview
North Traverse Peak is the north end of the famous Grand Traverse ridge in the Gore Range, northeast of Vail. From the Bighorn Creek trailhead you hike almost 4 miles to an old cabin, walk up the open basin above it to the saddle between Keller Mountain and North Traverse, and climb a short rocky ridge to the top.
The route is Class 2+. The ridge near the summit is blocky, with a few very short Class 3 moves if you want them. The ridge running south to Grand Traverse Peak is Class 4 and is not part of this route.
Most people pair it with Keller Mountain. The full loop over both summits is about 14.1 miles with 5,715 feet of gain. North Traverse alone is roughly 11.6 miles round trip (our estimate). Many people camp near the cabin and make it a weekend.
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 at the Keller-North Traverse saddle by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
The last few hundred feet of blocky ridge. Hard Class 2 with a couple of brief Class 3 steps.
Route-finding
Easy to moderate. Follow the center of the basin above the cabin to its head, then choose the loose gully to the saddle or the slope on its right.
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 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
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
The trail goes on past the cabin for about a quarter mile and fades out in flower meadows. Keep to the middle of the valley. You may see bits of old trail, an old fire ring and a few cairns.
6
Marshy ponds 11,350' · 4.7 mi
Between about 11,300 and 11,400 feet you pass a wet area with small ponds that may not be on the map.
7
Head of the basin 11,800' · 5.2 mi
After roughly an hour from the cabin you reach the top of the basin, below the saddle between Keller and North Traverse. Either climb straight up the rough, rubble-filled gully to the saddle, or go up the right-hand side.
Watch for: The gully is loose. Don't climb below other people.
8
Onto the ridge 12,700' · 5.6 mi
On the right-hand option, cross some scree and climb steepening tundra, then more scree and rubble, reaching the ridge a few hundred feet above the saddle.
9
Summit 13,085' · 5.8 mi
Follow the ridge of rocky blocks to the very rocky top. Look south along the Grand Traverse ridge.
Watch for: A few brief Class 3 moves.
Getting down
Go back the way you came. To add Keller Mountain, drop to the saddle and follow the long connecting ridge north and east, about 1.7 miles and 740 feet of gain, then descend Keller's south ridge back into the basin.
If things go wrong
From the saddle, the basin leads straight back down to the cabin.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the old cabin the route climbs a trailless basin and a rocky 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 North Traverse Peak we list, with its class.
North Traverse North Ridgethis routeClass 2+ 14.1 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.