Overview
Brown Mountain (marked Duco on USGS maps, also called Duco Benchmark) sits between Ironton Park and upper Cement Creek, north of Silverton. With a 4WD to the trailhead, it's a short, easy Class 2 hike.
You walk across grass toward Gray Copper Pass, climb about 600 feet of steep south-facing tundra onto the southwest ridge, and follow it over grass and some rock to the top. Expect sheep and elk in summer.
The round trip is about 3 miles with 1,705 feet of gain, about an hour and a half up. Red Mountain No. 1 is close by to the west-southwest if you want to add it.
Plan of the day
Any time; still beat afternoon storms.
Off the ridge by early afternoon.
The steep tundra slope up to the ridge.
Easy. Climb onto the southwest ridge and follow it.
None reliable. Bring it.
Getting to the trailhead
Gray Copper Pass
In Silverton, head northwest through town on the main street and pass the courthouse. At the Y a block later, go straight instead of bearing right. The paved road jogs left, then right, to another junction. Turn left on gravel County Road 110 and follow it north 7.5 miles to the Gladstone mine area.
At Gladstone, bear left above the mine works onto County Road 10, which runs north on the west side of Cement Creek. About 1.8 miles up, make a hard left at a junction, drive about 1,000 feet to another junction, and park. That last stretch is the roughest part; a stock small SUV with 4WD made it. Capable vehicles can drive on to the top of Gray Copper Pass, which is an informal name for the pass at the head of Gray Copper Gulch. The road may be worse now than it was, so check conditions.
You can also come from Ironton on US 550 over the Corkscrew Gulch road (Forest Road 886), which is steep, narrow, and has tight switchbacks with big drops; it's not for long-bed vehicles. There's a primitive site at the top of Gray Copper Pass, open camping a short way up the South Fork of Cement Creek from Gladstone, and a Forest Service campground up South Mineral Creek.
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
Gray Copper 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 →