Is it right for you?
Vallecito Mountain rises above the head of Sunlight Creek, deep in the Weminuche Wilderness, and is usually climbed together with Leviathan Peak. It's a multi-day backpack from the Hunchback Pass trailhead, with a dangerous creek ford on the way.
From the Hunchback Pass trailhead, the Vallecito Trail crosses the pass and drops about 7.85 miles to the Sunlight Creek crossing. You then ford Vallecito Creek and Sunlight Creek and climb the faint, unmaintained Sunlight trail about 3.25 miles and 1,800 feet to a camp at the last trees, near 11,550 feet. That's about 11.1 miles one way, usually two days with a full pack. From camp, you climb Leviathan by its southwest ridge, drop down a loose gully and a grassy ramp to the saddle, and follow the ridge to Vallecito. It is mostly Class 2+, maybe Class 3 depending on your line.
The round trip is about 28.45 miles with 9,025 feet of gain. From the tree camp, the loop over both peaks is about 6.25 miles and 2,800 feet, and takes at least half a day.
Plan of the day
Leave camp by 6:30 a.m.
Be on Leviathan by 10 a.m.
The loose gully off Leviathan.
Moderate. Don't follow Leviathan's southeast ridge directly; slabs make big drops.
Streams and lakes all along the way. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,440'…—
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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
Hunchback Pass
This trailhead needs a high-clearance 4WD, and you should allow as much as two and a half hours 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.
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.
Conditions on Stony Pass and the Beartown road change from year to year, so check before you go. Trips from here into the Weminuche usually take several days.
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
Hunchback 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 →