Mosquito Range · Colorado 13er · No. 70 of the 13ers
Northeast Ridge
Mount Sheridan, 13,757'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip5 mi
Elevation gain1,900'
TrailheadFourmile Creek (upper gate)
Trailhead elevation12,000'
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,757'…
—Summit temp now
—Sustained wind
—Gusting to
—Freezing level
Today
—
Tomorrow
—
Day three
—
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 · Northeast Ridge
Overview
Mount Sheridan faces Mount Sherman across a high saddle in the southern Mosquito Range. This route shares Sherman's popular approach up the Fourmile Creek road past the Dauntless and Hilltop mines, then turns south at the saddle and follows a good trail up Sheridan's northeast ridge.
It is an easy Class 2 hike with a trail nearly the whole way. In winter and spring, a cornice can form where the trail reaches the saddle.
The round trip is about 5 miles with 1,900 feet of gain, usually 3 to 5 hours. It is a quieter alternative to crowded Sherman, and fit hikers often do both.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on the saddle by 11 a.m. or head down.
Crux
Nothing hard. Watch for a cornice at the saddle early in the season.
Route-finding
Easy. Road to the Hilltop Mine, a cairned trail to the saddle, then a trail just right of the ridge crest.
Head south out of Fairplay on US 285 for a little more than a mile and turn right on County Road 18. Drive about 10 miles to the old Leavick site at 11,250 feet, then another 2 miles to a gate and a small parking area.
The last stretch is rougher; most SUVs and higher-clearance cars are fine. If the upper lot is full, park in a pullout lower down.
RoadTundraRidgeExposed 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
Upper Fourmile gate 12,000' · 0 mi
Walk up the road past the gate and the Dauntless Mine.
2
Road junction 12,500' · 0.6 mi
Turn right and stay on the main road. It heads east, then north across a flat area below the Hilltop Mine.
3
Hilltop Mine 12,800' · 1.1 mi
Turn back left as you near the upper mine area and follow the road across a flat to just west of the main mine building.
Watch for: Old mine buildings are unsafe. Stay out.
4
Trail to the saddle 12,900' · 1.3 mi
Past a pile of gray rock, find a cairn and a path aiming west at the slope under the saddle between Sheridan and Sherman.
5
Sheridan-Sherman saddle 13,150' · 1.7 mi
Reach the saddle. Sherman is to the right; turn left (south) toward Sheridan, along the saddle or on a trail that skirts its west side.
Watch for: A cornice can form here in winter and spring.
6
Northeast ridge 13,200' · 1.95 mi
Pick up the trail up Sheridan's northeast ridge. It stays just right of the crest.
7
Summit 13,757' · 2.5 mi
Just below the top the trail bends left, then climbs straight to the summit.
Getting down
Return the way you came.
If things go wrong
Head back north to the saddle and down the trail to the mine roads.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
We haven’t traced this route yet; it mixes mining roads and a climber’s 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.
Other routes
Every way up Mount Sheridan 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.