Mosquito Range · Colorado 13er · No. 315 of the 13ers
Buffalo Peaks from the North
West Buffalo Peak, 13,330'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip10.75 mi
Elevation gain3,350'
TrailheadBuffalo Peaks Road (FR 431)
Trailhead elevation10,300'
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,330'…
—Summit temp now
—Sustained wind
—Gusting to
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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 · Buffalo Peaks from the North
Overview
West Buffalo Peak is the higher of the two Buffalo Peaks at the south end of the Mosquito Range. The usual way up from the north climbs East Buffalo first, then follows the mile-long connecting ridge west. This loop comes back along the north side of both peaks.
It is Class 2, but loose. The traverse has a rock band, loose plate-like rock and some exposure on the right side. The descent through the forest needs careful navigation.
The loop is about 10.75 miles with 3,350 feet of gain, usually 8 to 10 hours. The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is remote and quiet.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 5 a.m. It's a long day with a tricky descent.
Turnaround
Be on East Buffalo by 10 a.m. If not, go back down the way you came instead of traversing.
Crux
The loose rock on the traverse to West Buffalo, and finding your way back to the key clearing through the forest.
Route-finding
Hard. Mark the clearing at 11,600 feet on your GPS. On the descent, traverse the north side of the peaks without dropping too low, and aim for that spot.
From Fairplay, drive south on US 285 about 13 miles and turn right (west) on Buffalo Peaks Road (Forest Road 431). Reset your trip meter.
Keep left at about 3.25 miles, where the road gets rougher. The unmarked starting point is at about 8.3 miles, with parking for a few cars and a campsite to the left. If you reach the junction with road 431.2D you've gone 0.1 mile too far.
RoadTrail in the treesRidgeTalus and screeTundraExposed 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
Forest Road 431 pullout 10,300' · 0 mi
Walk up the lower of the pullouts, past a sign closing the old road to vehicles and a gate. About 100 yards up, take a trail on the left that cuts off a bend of the road.
2
Old road 10,600' · 0.4 mi
Rejoin the road. It swings southwest, then switchbacks east up a hill. It is really a trail now, overgrown in places with the odd fallen tree.
3
End of the road 11,400' · 2.3 mi
About 2 miles on, the old road gives out at the edge of the wilderness, which has no sign. Cairns lead left through a short, trench-like cut.
4
Key clearing 11,600' · 2.5 mi
The trench opens into a little clearing above the trees. Mark this spot on your GPS: you will aim back for it on the way down.
Watch for: Don't miss this clearing on the descent.
5
Willows 12,100' · 2.9 mi
Head southeast with little trail through small clearings and willows until you see East Buffalo's northeast ridge.
6
Northeast ridge 12,600' · 3.2 mi
Start up the ridge. Get around a first rocky step on its left side and keep to the left of the crest.
Watch for: Loose rock on this ridge.
7
East Buffalo Peak 13,303' · 3.6 mi
Pass a second rocky section and climb loose rock back to the crest just below the top. Walk over a small point to the summit.
8
Traverse saddle 12,800' · 4.1 mi
Leave the west side of the summit and follow the easy ridge down to the saddle.
9
Rugged ridge 12,900' · 4.35 mi
The ridge gets rougher, with some exposure on the right. Pass a rock band on its left or climb over it, then deal with loose, plate-like rock back to the crest.
Watch for: Exposure on the right side.
10
West Buffalo Peak 13,330' · 4.6 mi
Easier ground leads to the top.
Getting down
Plan the descent before you go. Rather than going back over East Buffalo, walk northwest from West Buffalo and drop to about 12,900 feet, then turn northeast and east across the north side of the mountain, losing as little height as you can. Near 11,900 feet head east into the forest and work across small drainages to clearings near 11,700 feet. Keep heading northeast to your marked clearing, then retrace the road about 3 miles to the car.
If things go wrong
Before the traverse, reverse the northeast ridge. Once on the traverse, the saddle between the peaks is the lowest point; from there, contour north and east back to the clearing.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the old road this loop is off trail through willows, forest and ridges. 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 West Buffalo Peak we list, with its class.
West Buffalo from 616-617 Junction.Class 2 9 mi
Buffalo Peaks from the Norththis routeClass 2 10.75 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.