Overview
Wasatch Mountain rises at the head of Bridal Veil Basin above Telluride, a scenic area full of old mining history. Newer survey data added 5 feet to its height.
Old mining roads lead deep into the basin. Past a pair of tarns you climb tundra benches toward the Wasatch-La Junta saddle, then a steeper slope to the north-northeast ridge, and walk up talus to the top. It is Class 2 with no exposure.
The round trip is about 8.5 miles with 3,215 feet of gain. Wasatch Mountain, La Junta Peak and Jackass Point make a loop of about 8.4 miles and 4,160 feet, coming down through Jackass Basin. Strong parties do all three in about 7 hours.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at the 12,815-foot tarn by 11 a.m.
Talus on the final 400 feet.
Easy. Take the right fork at the Blue Lake junction.
Bridal Veil Creek and the tarns. Filter it.
Getting to the trailhead
Bridal Veil Basin
From Colorado Avenue in Telluride, drive east out of town. The road becomes County Road 648, the Black Bear Pass road. It climbs five or six switchbacks above some mine ponds, then runs southeast toward Bridal Veil Falls and crosses Ingram Creek.
Next come the switchbacks up toward the falls. Some parking at the fourth one is for the via ferrata. Go two more switchbacks and finish south to the trailhead parking, just above Bridal Veil Falls and the old power plant. High clearance is best. Don't drive on past the trailhead: the road above is one-way coming down from Black Bear Pass.
There's no camping close by, and dispersed camping near Telluride is scarce and mostly not allowed. Try the Telluride Town Park campground (first come, first served) or Sunshine Campground about 5 miles south of Society Junction on Highway 145. A few dispersed spots exist south of Ilium on 63J or along 145, but watch for private land.
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
Bridal Veil Basin. 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 →