Is it right for you?
Three Needles is a spiky summit west of Red Mountain Pass, above Porphyry Basin and Bridal Veil Basin. The summit block looks like it needs a rope, but the easiest way is a fun Class 3 scramble.
You follow old mining roads into Porphyry Basin, past Bullion King Lake to Porphyry Lake. Right beside the summit block, on its left, a very steep gully looks like Class 4; skip it. Farther left, a loose rocky slope leads into a narrowing couloir and up to a notch on the south ridge. From the notch, cairns lead over easy Class 3 to the top.
The round trip is about 7.5 miles with 2,500 feet of gain from the highway; 4WD can cut that down. Bridal Peak is a little over a mile south-southwest, and T 10 connects by ridge from the south.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be at the notch by 10:30 a.m.
The loose couloir up to the notch.
Moderate. At Porphyry Lake, pick out the right couloir: not the steep one beside the summit block, but the one farther left.
Lakes and streams in Porphyry Basin. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,494'…—
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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
Red Mountain Pass
Drive US 550 to the top of Red Mountain Pass, about 20 to 25 minutes from Ouray, or north from Durango through Silverton. Park in the pullout on the west side of the highway, a little south of the top, where Forest Road 823 (the Black Bear Pass road) starts. Any car can reach this spot.
With a high-clearance 4WD you can drive farther. About a mile up the Black Bear road, a left fork leads toward Porphyry Basin. Just past the knoll on that fork, the road climbs a very steep, loose stretch that only skilled drivers should try; others should park at the knoll. Forest Road 822, which leaves US 550 less than a mile south of the pass, skips that stretch and joins near 11,750 feet. Washouts higher up may stop vehicles anyway, and conditions change.
There are no campgrounds right at the pass. A knoll with trees about 0.3 mile up the Porphyry Basin fork (around 11,600 feet) makes a good primitive camp. There are also primitive sites at the south end of Ironton Park near the Corkscrew Pass road (from Ouray), or up the South Mineral Creek road (from Silverton).
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
Red Mountain Pass. 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 →