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
Overview
Snow Peak rises above Snow Pass, between Deluge Lake and the wild Snow Lake basin east of Vail. From Deluge Lake a goat path angles up to Snow Pass, and the north ridge leads from the pass to a blocky summit.
It is mostly Class 2 with a short Class 3 scramble on big blocks at the top. Below the pass, finding the goat path matters: without it you face a long, miserable scree slope.
The round trip is about 10.8 miles with 4,350 feet of gain from the trailhead, or 1.8 miles and 1,300 feet from a camp at Deluge Lake. Many pair it with Mount Silverthorne.
Plan of the day
Start by
From a camp at the lake, by 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at Snow Pass by 10 a.m.
Crux
The Class 3 blocks at the summit, and finding the goat path to Snow Pass.
Route-finding
Look for the path on steep tundra right of the talus below the cliffs; it angles east toward the pass.
From I-70, get off at exit 180 for East Vail, roughly 4 miles past the main Vail exit heading east. Go south, then east on Bighorn Road for about 2.3 miles through homes and condos. The road passes under the interstate and curves east and southeast; the trailhead parking is on that curve, just before the Gore Creek Campground.
Any car can get here. The lot overflows on weekends, so arrive early. There may be more parking on the shoulder past the campground.
Trail in the treesTundraTalus and screeRidgeExposed 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
Gore Creek trailhead 8,710' · 0 mi
Start on the Deluge Lake Trail. It climbs steeply through switchbacks in aspen and pine right away.
2
Deluge Creek 10,200' · 2.5 mi
The trail keeps climbing into the Deluge Creek valley, easing a little higher up.
3
Deluge Lake 11,740' · 4.5 mi
Reach the lake below a ring of Gore peaks. Most people camp here for a multi-day trip.
4
East side of the lake 11,800' · 4.6 mi
From the lake's east side, follow a stream east-southeast toward Snow Pass on tundra, then climb a steep step of giant boulders to a boulder bench below Valhalla's south ridge.
Watch for: Cross the stacked boulders carefully.
5
Goat path to the pass 12,300' · 5 mi
Climb steep tundra just right of the talus below the cliffs. A clear path appears and turns east, angling up across scree fields toward the pass.
Watch for: Finding this path saves a miserable scree climb.
6
Snow Pass 12,680' · 5.4 mi
The last few hundred feet are braided goat and hiker paths on loose gravel. The view of the peaks around Snow Lake is stunning.
7
North ridge 12,780' · 5.5 mi
Head south up the ridge on tundra. Bypass a rocky step on the left to a small tundra saddle.
Watch for: Remember this saddle if you are heading on to Snow Lake.
8
Upper ridge 12,950' · 5.7 mi
The ridge steepens and turns to broken rock.
9
Summit 13,039' · 5.8 mi
Where the ridge meets a sheer wall on the right, go left onto the big blocks, then work back right and scramble to the small summit.
Watch for: Class 3 with a big drop on the right.
Getting down
Reverse the ridge to Snow Pass and go back down the goat path to Deluge Lake.
If things go wrong
Snow Pass is the escape point; everything below it is Class 2.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above Deluge Lake the route follows goat paths and an open 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.
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.