San Juan Range · Colorado 13er · No. 329 of the 13ers
Southwest Ridge over UN 13,403 and UN 13,544
C.T. Peak, 13,317'
Loose, steep descent
Going down the east ridge of UN 13,544 means steep, loose scree among rock outcrops for several hundred feet. This page is an outline, not a move-by-move guide.
DifficultyClass 3
Round trip9.5 mi
Elevation gain2,350'
TrailheadCinnamon Pass
Trailhead elevation12,640'
Conditions on the summit
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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.
Colorado 13er · Southwest Ridge over UN 13,403 and UN 13,544
Overview
C.T. Peak is the third summit on the ridge northeast of Cinnamon Pass, facing Sunshine and Redcloud across the valley. It was once listed as UN 13,312 A.
Go over UN 13,403 and UN 13,544, then down UN 13,544's east ridge. That is the hardest part: steep outcrops with small, slippery scree. Then skirt Point 12,896 on big rubble, cross a wide tundra plateau, and walk up the southwest ridge on game trails. It is rated Class 3.
Out and back is about 9.5 miles. The 2,350 feet of gain covers the 4.75 miles to the summit; the return over UN 13,544 and UN 13,403 adds a lot more. With a second car at the Cooper Creek trailhead, you can traverse UN 13,403, UN 13,544, C.T. Peak and Gudy Peak and walk down to Cooper Creek, about 8.5 miles and 3,050 feet in all, with one short Class 3 stretch past UN 13,544.
From Lake City, go south on Colorado 149 and turn right toward Lake San Cristobal. Follow County Road 30 around the lake. Two campgrounds, Williams Creek and then Mill Creek, come before the fork at Sherman. A normal car is fine to here. Go right; higher clearance is now wise. You pass the Grizzly Gulch / Silver Creek trailhead in a bit over 3 miles and the Cooper Creek trailhead about a mile later. After the American Basin turnoff the road gets steeper and rougher. Park at the top of Cinnamon Pass or in a pullout close by.
From Silverton, head east and keep right on County Road 2 where the paved road splits just past the courthouse. It's 4.2 miles to Howardsville, 4.3 more to the old Eureka site, 3.5 more to the Burns and Grouse Gulch turnoff, and 1.1 more to the signed Cinnamon Pass road on the right. Stay on the Engineer Pass road here; don't drift left up California Gulch.
Cinnamon Pass needs 4WD with good clearance from either side, and road conditions change, so check before you go. Without it, expect a lot of extra walking. The pass has no trees, but you could sleep in a vehicle or small tent there. Campgrounds and primitive spots are lower on the Lake City side. Private land is common all through this area.
TundraTalus and screeRoadRidgeExposed 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
Cinnamon Pass 12,640' · 0 mi
From the parking near the top, walk north-northeast across tundra toward Point 13,112.
2
Below Point 13,112 12,950' · 0.6 mi
Contour around the point just under 13,000 feet.
3
Head of Cleveland Gulch 12,950' · 1.1 mi
Rocky gullies show up soon after you round the point. Stay high, above where they start, and cross the top of the gulch on rubble, talus and tundra.
4
Old mining road 13,050' · 1.7 mi
Traverse the south slopes below UN 13,250 and pick up an old mining road.
5
Saddle 13,150' · 2 mi
The road reaches the saddle between UN 13,250 and UN 13,403.
6
UN 13,403 13,403' · 2.25 mi
Walk east, mostly on tundra, to the top.
7
Next saddle 13,150' · 2.4 mi
Follow the crest east down steep tundra to a saddle that comes quickly.
8
Minor summits 13,400' · 3 mi
Go east and northeast along the crest over at least three small bumps. The tundra turns to rock.
Watch for: Watch your footing on the rocky ridge.
9
UN 13,544 13,544' · 3.4 mi
From a last saddle, climb nearly 200 feet to the summit, high above the Lake Fork of the Gunnison.
10
East ridge of UN 13,544 13,000' · 3.8 mi
Descend the east ridge carefully. Not far down it turns steep and loose for several hundred feet.
Watch for: Slippery scree. Go slowly.
11
Around Point 12,896 12,850' · 4.2 mi
Contour the south side of the point on large rubble.
12
Tundra plateau 12,900' · 4.4 mi
Walk east-northeast across the broad tundra.
13
Summit 13,317' · 4.75 mi
Join the southwest ridge wherever you like and follow animal trails over tundra and rock to the top.
Getting down
Return the same way, including the loose climb back up UN 13,544, or continue to Gudy Peak and down to a car at Cooper Creek.
If things go wrong
The tundra plateau below the peak; from there, the way back is over UN 13,544.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
The route is trailless apart from a short old mining road. 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.
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.