Is it right for you?
South Lookout Peak rises northwest of Clear Lake, above South Mineral Creek west of Silverton. It has a reputation as a spooky peak: an easy walk up, then a short, hard finish.
From the lake you hike to a false south summit on grass and tundra. A rock wall blocks the crest, so you traverse onto the east face, scramble a Class 4 rib, cross a narrow slot couloir, and finish with a short Class 3 scramble on solid rock. The rocky top west of the lake is a different, lower summit, and the high point is the middle of three bumps.
From Clear Lake the round trip is about 2 miles with 1,500 feet of gain. If you walk up the Clear Lake road from South Mineral Creek, it's about 10.8 miles and 3,600 feet.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at the false summit by 10:30 a.m.
The Class 4 rib and the slot couloir.
Difficult near the top. Mark where you cross the rib so you can find it going back.
Clear Lake. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,420'…—
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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
Clear Lake
From the US 550 junction at the west edge of Silverton, go north on US 550 a little more than 2 miles and turn left (west) on Forest Road 585, the South Mineral Creek road. Coming from Ouray, cross Red Mountain Pass and the turn is on your right before Silverton. The graded dirt road reaches South Mineral Campground and the Ice Lake trailhead lot in about 4.7 miles. Cars can do this part; the last mile is a bit rougher.
About 4 miles up Forest Road 585, a narrow road turns off to the right at about 9,795 feet. This is the Clear Lake road (Forest Road 815). It's about 4.4 miles to the lake, with eight switchbacks in the trees and four more above. A stock 4WD handles it, and some higher all-wheel-drive cars manage. Allow half an hour or more.
A few vehicles can park at the first switchback, about 0.9 mile up, for the upper Ice Lake trail. There's parking at the lake (11,985 feet) and at the mouth of the basin. A few camp spots sit at the last two switchbacks in the trees, and there's treeless camping at the lake.
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
Clear Lake. 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 →