Northwest Ridges from South Fork Cement Creek

Overview

Tower Mountain stands above the South Fork of Cement Creek, north of Silverton. The valley is green and full of wildflowers in summer, and the peak makes a fairly easy day hike.

A short trail leads to an upper basin. From there you climb onto a tundra ridge and follow a chain of ridges south and southeast to the top. The ridge looks thin on a map but never gives trouble. It is Class 2, mostly on tundra with some talus and rocky stretches.

The round trip is about 9 miles with 2,400 feet of gain. East Storm can be added on the way back, and Dome Mountain is also within reach from the summit.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

Start in Silverton. At the east edge of town, a block beyond the courthouse, the paved road forks. Go straight onto County Road 110, the graded dirt road that runs north up Cement Creek to the old Gladstone town site. Do not take County Road 2, the blue-signed road that follows the Animas River; some maps label both roads 110.

Near Gladstone, go a short way southeast, climb one quick switchback, and then turn right (south) right away onto Road 52. It climbs the South Fork of Cement Creek and ends just below a small lake with no name; park there. The last 2 miles are rougher, so a high-clearance vehicle is best.

You can car-camp at the road end or at a few spots along those last 2 miles. There is private land in the area, so look for postings.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   South Fork Cement Creek trailhead 11,240' · 0 mi

   From the parking at the road end, pick up a faint old path heading east onto a low ridge above the lake. After a few hundred yards it splits. Go left on the better trail, which switchbacks up on tundra.

   Watch for: If you reach a small stream running down to the lake, you missed the fork. Look back and below you for the trail.

2. 2

   Upper basin 11,800' · 0.8 mi

   The trail tops out in a basin. It then bends north over a ridge at 12,200 feet and loops back southeast, which is the long way. Instead, walk a bit up the basin and climb one of the game trails onto the tundra ridge on its north side.

3. 3

   Point 12,601 12,601' · 2.2 mi

   A faint path climbs east along this ridge. Aim for Point 12,110, then turn northeast and climb tundra to Point 12,601 on the main ridge above.

4. 4

   Point 12,931 12,931' · 2.9 mi

   Turn south and follow a decent path up the main ridge to Point 12,931.

5. 5

   Point 13,060 13,060' · 3.4 mi

   Go over a few small bumps to Point 13,060. The path then drops a little south to a cairn with a metal stake in it. This is where the routes to Tower Mountain and East Storm split.

   Watch for: Check the weather here. The rest is high ridge with no quick way down.

6. 6

   Summit 13,545' · 4.5 mi

   From the cairn, an easy path runs south and southeast along the main ridge. Climb the last 500 feet on tundra, talus and some rocky bits to the top.

Getting down

Go back the same way. To add East Storm, turn west at the cairn below Point 13,060.

If things go wrong

Retrace the ridge north to the upper basin and the trail.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

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

• Tower Mtn. NW Ridges this routeClass 2 9 mi