Overview
Bent Peak rises just west of Carson Pass, south of Lake City. Once you've driven to the pass, it's one of the easiest 13ers in the area, about 1,000 feet above your car.
An old mining road does most of the work. It runs west through willows, then forks; the right fork fades into a faint path through rubble to the top. You can also leave the road once it clears the willows and walk straight up the ridge. It's Class 1, and fit hikers take about an hour.
The round trip is about 2.2 miles with 1,025 feet of gain. To add Carson Peak, follow the ridge west on its south side: about 1.5 miles and 675 feet more one way. Coming back by dropping south to the Colorado Trail adds about 3.3 miles and 200 feet.
Plan of the day
By 8 a.m.
Be on top by noon.
Rubble near the summit.
Easy. Follow the road west and take the right fork.
None on the route. Carry what you need.
Getting to the trailhead
Carson Pass
From Lake City, head south on Highway 149 and turn right on County Road 3 (BLM 3306, shown as CR 30 on some maps) toward Lake San Cristobal. It's paved past the lake, then turns to good gravel that any car can drive. About 2 miles beyond Williams Creek campground, turn left (south) onto the Wager Gulch road (BLM 3308 or FS 568), signed for the old Carson townsite.
From that turn, plan on 4WD with good clearance. The road climbs through aspen and evergreens, steep in spots, to the Carson ruins. Above Carson it gets rockier and runs through willows for about the last mile to Carson Pass at 12,370 feet. Recent grading has made it easier, but it is still slow, and conditions change. If the top part makes you nervous, park near Carson and walk up.
You'll find Forest Service campgrounds at Mill Creek, Williams Creek and Lake San Cristobal. Wager Gulch has a few level primitive spots; a good one is a meadow on the west side of the road just before the Carson turnoff, near 11,240 feet. Beetles have killed many trees around it, so check above your tent before you pitch it.
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
Carson 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 →