Is it right for you?
Rolling Mountain stands at the head of the South Fork of Mineral Creek, southwest of Silverton. It's a good family climb with big views of the Ice Lake and Lake Hope peaks and the upper Cascade Creek valley.
About half the route is on the Rico-Silverton Trail. Then you climb a big east-facing basin of willows, tundra and talus to the south ridge and follow a talus trail to the higher eastern summit. It is Class 2.
The round trip is about 7 miles with 3,050 feet of gain from the end of the 4WD road. A family took about 2.5 hours to reach the top.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be on the south ridge by 11 a.m.
Willows and loose talus in the basin.
Moderate. Older maps show the trail in the wrong place; stay south of the creek in the basin.
Plenty of creeks. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,697'…—
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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.
Getting there
South Fork of Mineral Creek
Leave Silverton on US 550 heading north. A little over 2 miles out, turn left (west) on Forest Road 585, the South Mineral Creek road. From Ouray, come south over Red Mountain Pass and look for the same turn on the right before you reach Silverton.
Drive about 4.7 miles to South Mineral Campground and keep going straight past it. The road bends left and climbs southwest. In under a mile it turns rough, rocky and slow, and you'll need 4WD with high clearance. Conditions change, and the road gets heavy summer use.
The road crosses open slopes below Fuller Peak. Just below the Bandora Mine the road forks. Take the left fork through some puddles and a low-water creek crossing to the meadow where the road ends, at about 10,685 feet. There are good campsites here. Without 4WD, expect to walk about 5 more miles round trip.
Base towns and camping for this climb
Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.
Before you go
Check these the week of your climb.
Official forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.
NWS point forecast →Directions to the trailhead
South Fork of Mineral Creek. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Get directions →Roads and highways
Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.
COtrip road conditions →Closures and fire rules
Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.
Forest Service alerts →Snow on the route?
From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.
Avalanche forecast →Cell signal
Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.
FCC coverage map →