The northeast ridge has loose chimneys with one or two Class 4 moves, an exposed ledge, and about 100 feet of exposed Class 3 at the top. Wear a helmet. This page is an outline, not a move-by-move guide.
DifficultyClass 4
Round trip9 mi
Elevation gain2,779'
TrailheadSan Sophia Station
Trailhead elevation10,540'
Less traffic, less margin
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.
Colorado 13er · Northeast Ridge from the Telluride Gondola
Is it right for you?
Palmyra Peak is the sharp summit at the top of the Telluride ski area, above Bear Creek. You start from the free gondola, so there is no road to drive.
From the top of the gondola, ski-area roads and paths lead to the Gold Hill Stairs. Then you leave the ski runs, cross to the southeast side of the ridge, and climb a series of three grassy chimneys and notches to the top of Senior's run. A short, exposed Class 3 step and a slab finish it. The hard part is Class 4. You come down the northwest ridge, which is steep and loose but not exposed, then follow ski runs back to Mountain Village.
The loop is about 9 miles with 2,779 feet of gain. From the top of the stairs, a fast hiker reaches the summit in about 50 minutes and an average one in about 1.5 hours. Step elevations and miles are our estimates.
Plan of the day
Start by
On the first gondola of the day.
Turnaround
Decide on weather and energy at the top of the Gold Hill Stairs.
Crux
The first Class 4 chimney.
Route-finding
Moderate. Many choices in the chimneys; pick carefully. Descend on the marked route down the northwest ridge.
Water
None on the ridge. Carry it all.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,320'…
—Summit temp now
—Sustained wind
—Gusting to
—Freezing level
Today
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Tomorrow
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Day three
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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.
From the middle of Telluride, go west on West Colorado Avenue for 3.4 miles to the roundabout and take the second exit, south on Highway 145. After 1.7 miles, turn left (east) on Mountain Village Boulevard. Go 1.6 miles and turn left to the parking garage that sits behind the Mountain Village Market.
The gondola is just east of the garage. Ride it up, walk through Village Plaza, and take the next gondola to San Sophia Station. Check the gondola's current season and hours before you go.
TundraScramblingExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
San Sophia Station 10,540' · 0 mi
Follow the See Forever Trail toward the top of Revelation Lift. To save effort, stay on the clear dirt road instead of climbing the grassy bumps to the lift tops.
2
Top of Revelation Lift 12,100' · 2.7 mi
Follow signs for Gold Hill Chutes 1 to 10 on the well-used path over dirt and grass.
3
Gold Hill Stairs 12,300' · 3 mi
Climb the stairs. This is the place to decide whether to go on.
4
First chimney 12,700' · 3.3 mi
Pass Chutes 9 and 10 with their chains above, then go left through a small notch to the southeast side of the ridge. Sidehill below the first towers, then cut right to a notch on the crest. Put on your helmet and climb a tan grassy chimney. The first Class 4 chimney is ahead.
Watch for: Class 4 moves; loose rock.
5
Second and third chimneys 13,000' · 3.5 mi
The easiest line goes up the dirt gully on the right, then traverses left on solid rock into the grassy chimney. Climb to a notch, downclimb a bit, and cross loose dirt. Go right (northwest) around a big slab on an exposed dirt ledge, then back to the southeast side to the last grassy chimney.
Watch for: Exposed ledge.
6
Top of Senior's 13,220' · 3.7 mi
Above the chimneys it is hard Class 2 along the crest, back onto ski-area land.
7
Palmyra Peak 13,320' · 3.75 mi
Climb about 100 feet of exposed Class 3 and a short slab to the top.
Watch for: Exposed Class 3.
Getting down
Go down the northwest ridge along the resort's flag poles. It is steep and loose but not exposed. It takes about 45 minutes to get down to where lift 12, Prospect Express, tops out, about 0.85 mile from Senior's. Then follow Galloping Goose, Ute Park and Sundance runs down to Mountain Village.
If things go wrong
Before the chimneys, go back to the Gold Hill Stairs. Above them, the northwest ridge is the easier way down.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past the Gold Hill Stairs the route follows a rough, mostly trailless ridge. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
Other routes
Every way up Palmyra Peak we list, with its class.