West Ridge from Fish Creek

Overview

Middle Peak is the center of a group of three summits west of the Wilson group, in a quiet corner of the San Juan National Forest near Dunton. The closest big town is Telluride. Dolores Peak sits to the south, and Dunn Peak, a 12er, is to the west.

You climb through forest on old logging roads above Fish Creek, follow game trails along a bench to the Middle-Dunn saddle, then go up the steep, rocky west ridge. It is Class 2, with moderate route finding in the trees.

The round trip is about 7.2 miles with 3,105 feet of gain. Most people keep going south to Dolores Peak, and you can add Dunn Peak too.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Telluride, take Colorado 145 south over Lizard Head Pass. About 6.3 miles below the top, turn right onto the Dunton road (Forest Road 535, also called County Road 38). This gravel road gets plenty of summer use. Expect bumps and washboard, but most cars can handle it. Go past the Navajo Lake trailhead and the Burro Bridge campground turnoff. In another 1.6 miles, about 0.7 mile before you reach Dunton, you come to the junction for the Dunton Guard Station.

Turn west here on Forest Road 611 and drive about 5.2 miles. The road bends hard to the left where it crosses Fish Creek. Park at the bend, or follow a short spur that runs north up the west side of the creek to a small lot where you can car camp. Cars with a little extra clearance do best. Coming from Durango instead, drive US 160 to Mancos, Colorado 184 to Dolores, then Colorado 145 to County Road 38, which follows the West Dolores River a long way up to Dunton. The guard station junction is 0.7 mile past Dunton; turn left onto Forest Road 611 there.

There are a few primitive camp spots along Forest Road 611, and a spot to pitch a tent just before the creek crossing. Burro Bridge campground is north of Dunton. West Dolores and Mavreeso campgrounds are well south, so they are less handy.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Fish Creek parking 10,195' · 0 mi

   From the end of the short spur on the west side of Fish Creek, take a path uphill to the left. It reaches an old logging road that winds through cut-over meadows and forest.

2. 2

   Logging roads end 10,800' · 0.9 mi

   Many old, grown-over logging roads stack up the slope. Use whichever ones help. Fish Creek drops into a gorge here, so don't go down to it. Stay high on the west side and follow a small ridge up to a couple of flat benches.

   Watch for: Stay out of the creek gorge.

3. 3

   Grassy slopes 11,500' · 1.7 mi

   When the roads run out, keep climbing steadily through open forest on the ridge above the creek until grassy slopes open up to the west. Elk are common here.

4. 4

   High bench 11,800' · 2.2 mi

   Pick up a game trail along a high bench toward the saddle between Middle and Dunn Peak. It runs just below the rock piles under Dunn's eastern cliffs.

5. 5

   Middle-Dunn saddle 12,100' · 2.8 mi

   The trail fades into the middle of the drainage. Walk tundra to near the saddle, then turn east onto Middle Peak's west ridge.

6. 6

   Point 13,261 13,261' · 3.4 mi

   The first 400 feet of ridge are rocky but simple. The next 600 feet are much steeper on broken rock. It looks worse than it is, but it is slow. The last 200 feet ease off to Point 13,261.

   Watch for: Steep, loose rock.

7. 7

   Middle Peak 13,305' · 3.6 mi

   Walk a short, easy stretch southeast along the ridge to the true summit.

Getting down

Go back the same way, or continue south to Dolores Peak and come down its north side.

If things go wrong

From the ridge, return to the saddle and the tundra bench.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Middle Peak we list, with its class.

• Middle Peak West/NW Ridge this routeClass 2 7.2 mi