Southwest Ridge over Telluride Peak

Overview

T 7 is a ranked summit on the ridge north of Imogene Pass, above Telluride and Imogene Basin. Before newer survey data it was listed one foot lower. Deer and elk are often seen on the way up.

From the Idarado Mine overlook on US 550, you climb Commodore Gulch to Ptarmigan Lake and Telluride Peak, then walk north along the ridge to Point 13,365, drop to a saddle and climb 500 feet to T 7. Everything up to T 7 is easy Class 2 on tundra and a little scree.

T 7 is about 4.1 miles and 3,505 feet of gain one way. Doing all three peaks as a loop (up Telluride Peak, over T 7 and T 8, and down T 8's south side) is about 8.5 miles with 4,000 feet of gain. The loop includes harder ground past T 7 (see the T 8 page); going back over Telluride Peak instead avoids it.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Ouray, drive south on US 550 for about 12 miles. Just before a very sharp switchback, turn right into a big paved parking loop with a view of the old Idarado Mine; most of the mine sits across the highway. Coming from Silverton, go north over Red Mountain Pass and down a little less than 2 miles; the turnoff comes right after that switchback. Any car can get here. There are no toilets.

The historic mine houses just west of the lot are under restoration and fenced off, so stay out of them. You can park on the switchback just above the overlook (room for a few cars) and walk northwest, keeping the gated area on your left. Or park at the overlook and walk up the highway to the curve to start. Where old road FS 895 leaves the highway, it has long been gated and posted closed, so don't start there.

There's no camping at the lot. Primitive sites are up the Corkscrew Gulch road, along the south side of US 550 past that road, around Ironton Park, and near Red Mountain Pass and the lower Black Bear Pass road.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Idarado Mine overlook 10,650' · 0 mi

   Walk down and northwest toward a few old mine support buildings. From the northern one, turn west and climb a little to meet old road FS 895. Follow it northwest to the creek in Commodore Gulch.

2. 2

   Commodore Gulch creek 10,950' · 0.6 mi

   Don't cross the main creek here. Turn west and follow it upstream on the south bank, through trees, for close to 400 feet of climbing. A side stream joins from the southwest; it is the easier one to cross.

3. 3

   Bench near 11,700 feet 11,700' · 1.3 mi

   Keep climbing above the side stream as it swings from southwest to northwest. Around a flat bench you may find an old trail. Game trails also wind all through the thick tundra.

4. 4

   Small pond 12,480' · 1.8 mi

   The old trail reaches a small pond a bit above 12,480 feet. Keep following it northwest toward Ptarmigan Lake. You won't see the lake until you are above it.

5. 5

   Pass south of Ptarmigan Lake 12,750' · 2.2 mi

   Old mining roads loop around the lake and a smaller pond above it. At the low pass on the lake's south side, go west over easy ground, then contour northwest until you reach Telluride Peak's south ridge. An old mining road also goes in that direction.

   Watch for: Snow patches can linger into early summer.

6. 6

   Telluride Peak 13,514' · 2.8 mi

   Follow the ridge to the top over tundra, buried rock, scree and rubble. Nothing is hard. Views open up toward Telluride and the Black Bear Pass road.

7. 7

   Saddle east of Point 13,365 12,860' · 3.6 mi

   Head north along the ridge to Point 13,365, just south of the top of Imogene Pass, then walk down to the east to a saddle at about 12,860 feet.

8. 8

   T 7 13,360' · 4.1 mi

   Climb about 500 feet of easy tundra with a little scree and chip rock. The top is wide and flat, a good spot for a break, with views to Telluride, US 550 and Ironton Park.

Getting down

Return over Telluride Peak and back down Commodore Gulch, or go on to T 8 and descend its south side (see the T 8 page).

If things go wrong

From the saddle west of T 7, head back up to Point 13,365 and down the way you came.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up T 7 we list, with its class.

• T.7 Southwest Ridge this routeClass 2 8.5 mi