Is it right for you?
Aztec Mountain is a gentle 13er in the southern Weminuche Wilderness, northeast of Durango. Its summit gives a great look down into Chicago Basin and its three 14ers.
It is a backpack trip. The Endlich Mesa Trail (#534) runs about 7 miles to a camp at the northeast end of City Reservoir #1, a Durango city water lake where camping is allowed. The trail climbs gently to treeline in about a mile and rolls along open tundra on the mesa for roughly 5 miles (high point about 12,200 feet). Then a left fork drops about 1,400 feet to the lake. At the lake, walk over the dam on its south side and follow the west shore to camp. Save energy for that climb back out. From camp, a trail climbs past Lake Marie onto Silver Mesa, and an easy Class 2 walk across a basin and up the west ridge reaches the top. Elk are common here.
The full trip is about 24.5 miles with 3,675 feet of gain. From camp it is about 10.5 miles round trip with 2,675 feet of gain; allow up to four hours to the top. Mount Kennedy is a short side trip from the saddle, and Mount Valois can be added on the same day.
Plan of the day
Leave camp by 6:30 a.m.
Be at the Aztec-Kennedy saddle by 11 a.m.
Picking out the right summit from the south.
Moderate. The trail on Silver Mesa is faint; a GPS helps find Aztec.
Streams near the City Reservoir #1 camp. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,311'…—
—
—
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
Endlich Mesa
From downtown Durango, follow Main Avenue (US 550) over the Animas River bridge and, a short way past it, turn east on 15th Street. It soon bends northeast and becomes Florida Road (County Road 240). Stay on this paved road just under 12 miles to a junction and turn left on County Road 243. In a little over 4 miles you reach Lemon Reservoir, where the pavement ends.
Drive 5.4 miles up the east side of the reservoir and past its north end to the Florida Campground turnoff. Don't turn; go straight onto Forest Road 597 (East Florida Road). It is a narrow, very rocky road that switchbacks up the mountain for nearly 10 miles to the Endlich Mesa trailhead at about 11,290 feet. The road has gotten rougher over time. Use a high-clearance AWD or 4WD vehicle, drive slowly, and plan on 2 to 2.5 hours from Durango. Conditions change, so check before you go.
There are dispersed campsites along the road and near the trailhead. Sheep graze here in summer, so you may meet livestock trucks on the road.
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
Endlich Mesa. 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 →