San Juan Range · Colorado 13er · No. 227 of the 13ers
West-Southwest Ridge over UN 13,318 and UN 13,351
Ute Ridge, 13,466'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip7.3 mi
Elevation gain3,990'
TrailheadBear Town Trail
Trailhead elevation11,400'
Less traffic, less margin
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.
Colorado 13er · West-Southwest Ridge over UN 13,318 and UN 13,351
Is it right for you?
Ute Ridge is a remote thirteener reached from near the old Beartown site, at the end of a long 4WD drive. Once you're there, the climb is easy Class 1 to 2 walking, and it combines well with UN 13,318 and UN 13,351 for a three-summit day.
A trail climbs to Indian Ridge and on to the pass between UN 13,318 and UN 13,351. You tag UN 13,318, then UN 13,351, then follow the ridge southeast over a rocky false summit, down to a saddle, and up the southwest ridge of Ute Ridge through a cliff band near the top. Elk are common.
The round trip over all three summits is about 7.3 miles with 3,990 feet of gain, returning by a shortcut through Starvation Gulch. Allow about 4 hours to the summit and 6 for the whole loop. The trailhead elevation shown is our estimate.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on UN 13,351 by 11 a.m.
Crux
Loose rock on the false summit at 13,220 feet.
Route-finding
Moderate. The willows in Starvation Gulch take some care on the way back.
Water
Streams in Starvation Gulch on the return. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,466'…
—Summit temp now
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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.
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. Ute Ridge starts lower down, near the old Beartown site.
Just past the Beartown site the road fords Bear Creek, and there is good camping near this crossing. Less than 0.3 mile farther, a jeep track (shown on some maps as the Bear Town Trail, FR 869) branches left and drops to cross a smaller fork of Bear Creek. Park along this track. There is a camp spot here too.
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.
RidgeTalus and screeExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Bear Town Trail 11,400' · 0 mi
Follow the track east toward Indian Ridge. A couple of switchbacks lead through forest; the first 400 feet are the steepest.
2
Indian Ridge 12,000' · 1 mi
Come out on a broad ridge of tundra and grass. The trail turns nearly south along the east side of UN 13,318, staying well below its north ridge.
3
Pass 12,710' · 2 mi
Stay on the trail to the pass between UN 13,318 and UN 13,351. Skip the steep gully through the cliffs under the east ridge; it is loose gravel and saves no time.
4
UN 13,318 13,318' · 2.5 mi
Turn right and climb the ridge west onto large rock blocks, a little harder Class 2. About two hours from the car.
5
UN 13,351 13,351' · 3.3 mi
Go back down to the pass. The west ridge gets rocky about halfway but goes. To avoid that, swing onto the south side and climb across the southeast slopes on tundra, rock and gravel. Large blocks sit near the top.
6
Saddle at 12,616 feet 12,616' · 4.2 mi
Follow the ridge southeast, dipping and then climbing to a 13,220-foot false summit. This is the roughest bit, all loose rock. Past it, descend milder tundra to the saddle, where a game trail crosses.
Watch for: Loose, unstable rock.
7
Ute Ridge 13,466' · 5.05 mi
Go northeast, contouring up the southeast side of Point 13,092 to the ridge beyond. Follow game trails in the gravel for the last half mile. A cliff band rings the summit; one way through is a narrow slot. Big rock blocks guard the top.
Getting down
Go back down the ridge to a flatter area near 13,120 feet. Descend northwest down steep talus that turns to tundra about 700 feet lower. At 12,200 feet, take a game trail west below Point 13,092, enter the trees near 11,800 feet, cross a small drainage and bushwhack briefly down to the flat, open floor of Starvation Gulch.
Cross the boggy, grassy valley northwest, then climb about 500 feet back to Indian Ridge, linking groups of trees to dodge the worst willows. Rejoin the trail and follow it to the car. From UN 13,351 over Ute Ridge and back to the trailhead is about 4 miles.
If things go wrong
The pass below UN 13,318 has a trail straight back to Indian Ridge and the trailhead.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
The trail ends at the pass below UN 13,318; after that the route is off-trail ridge and a willow bushwhack. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.