Is it right for you?
Trico Peak rises just west of Red Mountain Pass and looks down on the highway. If you can drive to Black Bear Pass, it is one of the easiest 13ers around, close to Class 1.
On foot from the highway, you climb tundra benches in Mineral Basin to Black Bear Pass, then walk north up a broad ridge of grass, chip rock and small stones. It is easy Class 2 with no exposure.
The round trip is about 7 miles with 2,250 feet of gain from the highway; driving to Black Bear Pass cuts it to about a mile and 500 feet. UN 13,509 is less than a mile north, but the first 400 feet down Trico's north ridge is exposed Class 3.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m. on foot; later is fine if you drive to the pass.
Be at Black Bear Pass by 11 a.m.
Nothing hard; just the steep pitches below the pass.
Easy. Follow the broad ridge north from the pass.
Small streams in Mineral Basin early in summer. Filter it, or carry it all.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,329'…—
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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
Red Mountain Pass
Drive US 550 to the top of Red Mountain Pass, about 20 to 25 minutes from Ouray, or north from Durango through Silverton. Park in the pullout on the west side of the highway, a little south of the top, where Forest Road 823 (the Black Bear Pass road) starts. Any car can reach this spot.
With a high-clearance 4WD you can drive Forest Road 823 to the top of Black Bear Pass, which cuts a lot off the hike. The east side up to the pass is steep in places rather than rough, but a switchback near 11,700 feet keeps getting worse with heavy use. The notorious part of the Black Bear road is on the Telluride side, beyond the pass. Conditions change, so check before you go.
There are no campgrounds right at the pass. A knoll with trees about 0.3 mile up the Porphyry Basin fork (around 11,600 feet) makes a good primitive camp. There are also primitive sites at the south end of Ironton Park near the Corkscrew Pass road (from Ouray), or up the South Mineral Creek road (from Silverton).
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
Red Mountain 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 →