Is it right for you?
White Dome is a Grenadier Range thirteener that towers over Eldorado Lake in the Weminuche Wilderness. With a high-clearance 4WD to Kite Lake it is a short day on its own, and it is the first stop on a longer loop over Peaks One, Three and Two. You can also backpack in: start at Molas Lake, descend to Elk Park, and follow the Colorado Trail up Elk Creek to camp at Eldorado Lake; up Vestal Basin and over the ridge locals call Trinity Pass to Trinity Lake; or start at the top of the Cunningham Gulch road (passing the Highland Mary Lakes or not), climb to the Continental Divide Trail and follow it south to Kite Lake. The last is probably the shortest backpack. Driving to Kite Lake is the only realistic way to do the group in a day.
A trail takes you to the pass east of Kite Lake. You then follow the crest south, cross under the north face on a bench above Eldorado Lake, and climb the north-northwest ridge on broken rock and ledges. It is Class 2+ with no real exposure.
The round trip is about 4 miles with 1,700 feet of gain. White Dome, Peak One, Peak Three and Peak Two make one long loop from Kite Lake: about 8.6 miles and 5,700 feet in all.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
On top by 11 a.m.
Broken rock on the upper ridge.
Easy. Stay high on the bench rather than dropping to Eldorado Lake.
Small tarns and lakes along the route, and Eldorado Lake on the way out. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,628'…—
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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
Kite Lake
This trailhead needs a high-clearance 4WD, and plan on as much as 2.5 hours of driving from Silverton. From the northeast end of Silverton, take County Road 2 up the Animas about 4.2 miles to Howardsville. Turn right up Cunningham Gulch, then take the left fork onto the Stony Pass road. It climbs steeply over the pass and down the far side. You will ford Pole Creek, then turn right at a fork and ford the Rio Grande. Both fords are harder early in the summer. Then follow the Beartown road about 4 slow, rough miles past the old Beartown site and up a rocky, rutted stretch. The Hunchback Pass trailhead is about half a mile below Kite Lake, at roughly 11,800 feet, with limited parking.
For the Kite Lake peaks, drive or walk the last half mile of road above the trailhead to Kite Lake, at about 12,100 feet. That final piece is the roughest part of the whole road. You can also reach this area from Creede or Lake City by driving to Rio Grande Reservoir, but the road west of the reservoir has very rough sections. There is some camping near the trailhead and near the old Beartown site.
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
Kite Lake. 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 →