North Ridge from Middle Peak

Overview

Dolores Peak is the southern and most separate of the three summits near Dunton, west of the Wilsons. It is almost always climbed together with Middle Peak.

You go up Middle Peak first by its west ridge, then follow the ridge south over rock rubble to Dolores. A side point, Point 13,246, can pull you off line; Dolores is farther south. The last climb is about 710 feet of broken rock. It is Class 2. You come down the north side of Dolores and back through the forest.

The loop is about 7.5 miles with 3,815 feet of gain. From Middle Peak it is about 1.5 miles and 710 feet one way.

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

   Game-trail bench 11,800' · 2.2 mi

   Use the old logging roads, staying high on the west side above the Fish Creek gorge, then climb open forest to grassy slopes. A game trail runs along a bench toward the Middle-Dunn saddle.

   Watch for: Stay out of the creek gorge.

3. 3

   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.

4. 4

   Middle Peak 13,305' · 3.6 mi

   Climb the steep, broken west ridge to Point 13,261, then stroll southeast to the true summit.

   Watch for: Steep, loose rock.

5. 5

   First saddle 13,000' · 4 mi

   Follow the ridge southeast over mostly rubble. Cornices can linger into early summer. Don't wander out toward Point 13,246; Dolores lies farther south.

   Watch for: Watch for cornices early in the season.

6. 6

   Last saddle 12,580' · 4.6 mi

   Keep on the crest to the low point below Dolores.

7. 7

   Dolores Peak 13,289' · 5.1 mi

   Climb about 710 feet of broken rock, sometimes with snow low down, to the top. The view east takes in the Wilsons, El Diente and Navajo Lake.

Getting down

Go down small broken rock and, if there's snow, broad slopes into the main gully on the north side. At the first trees, move over to the drainage's north side and drop through steep forest, over a flat area, and down to the west fork of Fish Creek. Cross on rocks or logs, scramble steeply up the far bank to the gentler ground on the west side, and follow old logging roads back. Don't drop to the creek too early.

If things go wrong

Go back north along the ridge to Middle Peak and its west ridge.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

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

• Dolores Peak North Ridge this routeClass 2 7.5 mi