West Ridge from Cooper Creek

Overview

Every Mountain is a high Class 2 summit at the head of Cooper Creek, near Redcloud, Sunshine and Handies. It pairs well with Cooper Creek Peak to the south.

A trail follows Cooper Creek through forest and meadows, then a branch climbs steep tundra to a saddle with an old prospect. From there you follow a rocky but stable ridge east to the top. Nothing goes beyond Class 2. Watch for elk in the gulches below, and enjoy the wildflowers in midsummer.

The round trip is about 10.2 miles with 3,170 feet of gain. Adding Cooper Creek Peak makes it about 12.2 miles and 3,650 feet.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Lake City, drive south on Colorado 149 a little over 2 miles and turn right toward Lake San Cristobal. Go around the west side of the lake on County Road 3 (shown as County Road 30 on some maps), past Williams Creek and Mill Creek campgrounds (Mill Creek is 13.2 miles from town), to the fork at Sherman, 1.2 miles farther. Cars can make it this far.

Keep right on the Cinnamon Pass road, part of the Alpine Loop. It climbs more steeply, and a higher-clearance vehicle is wise. After a little over 4 miles you reach the Silver Creek / Grizzly Gulch trailhead for Redcloud, Sunshine and Handies, about 18.5 miles and close to an hour from Lake City. Continue west just under a mile to a small pullout on the road's south side. The Cooper Creek trail begins on the opposite side and was last reported as signed.

Williams Creek and Mill Creek are Forest Service campgrounds. There are also primitive sites around Sherman, at the Silver Creek trailhead and near the Cooper Creek trailhead. Road conditions change, so check before you go.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Cooper Creek trailhead 10,640' · 0 mi

   The trail heads north-northwest up the open slope, swings east toward Cooper Creek, then turns north along the creek's west bank.

2. 2

   First creek crossing 11,175' · 1 mi

   Cross to the east side and switchback up, then walk north through forest and meadows.

3. 3

   Second creek crossing 11,580' · 2 mi

   Cross back to the west side. (A fainter trail stays on the east bank up to an old prospect; it's handy on the way back.)

4. 4

   Cooper Lake fork 12,000' · 2.8 mi

   The trail angles across the slope to the fork that drains Cooper Lake, reaching the top of a spot where the creek is cut deep into the ground.

5. 5

   Prospect saddle 12,900' · 3.8 mi

   Take a trail that branches off here and climbs steeply, mostly on tundra, to a saddle with an old prospect between Points 13,131 and 13,484.

6. 6

   Point 13,484 13,484' · 4.5 mi

   Turn east and follow the rocky but solid ridge over the point, or skirt it on the south side. Sheep paths may help.

7. 7

   Every Mountain 13,698' · 5.1 mi

   Gain the last 300 feet, passing any obstacles on the south side. A few short, steep, rocky spots stay Class 2.

Getting down

Return the same way, or continue south to Cooper Creek Peak and descend from the saddle between them (see that page).

If things go wrong

Drop back to the prospect saddle and the trail.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Every Mountain we list, with its class.

• UN 13,698 (Every Mtn) West Ridge this routeClass 2 10.2 mi