West Ridge from Noname Creek

Is it right for you?

The Heisspitz rises on the north side of Noname Creek in the Weminuche Wilderness, with Animas Mountain across the valley and Arrow, Vestal and the Trinities to the north. There is no road; you ride the Durango and Silverton train to Needleton and backpack in.

From the Noname Creek trail you climb an open avalanche path and very steep grass with game trails to a saddle beside Point 12,552 on the west ridge. The ridge has some fun Class 3 boulder scrambling low down, then eases to steep Class 2+ talus. There are two summits of nearly equal height; the east one is thought to be higher, past a deep gap.

From the Needleton drop it's about 14 miles round trip with 5,400 feet of gain. Most people camp at a good site roughly 3 miles up the Noname trail, a few minutes above where the route starts. Mileage and gain are our estimates.

Plan of the day

This week on the summit

Getting there

There is no road access. Take the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and ask to be dropped at the Needleton stop. Train policies on where you can board and get off have changed over the years, so check with the railroad before you plan the trip. Know the pickup time for your return and do not miss it.

From the Needleton stop, cross the Animas River on the footbridge to the east side. The route starts here at about 8,235 feet. There are cabins on private land near the bridge, so stay on the trail until you are past them.

For Noname Creek, turn left (north) after the bridge and walk past the cabins. There is camping in the meadows past Pigeon Creek, beyond the private cabin land. Some years the railroad has let riders board in Silverton, but recent reports say the afternoon southbound train from Silverton only stops at Elk Park, so plan around the railroad's current rules.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Needleton footbridge 8,235' · 0 mi

   Cross the Animas on the footbridge, turn left (north) past the cabins and cross Pigeon Creek into a big grassy meadow. At its north end the Ruby Creek trail goes right; take the faint path that angles left, down to a second meadow, and joins the Animas River trail.

   Watch for: The old marker tree is gone; use a map or GPS here.

2. 2

   Watertank Hill 8,450' · 0.7 mi

   Cross North Pigeon Creek and climb about 200 feet over the hill on a clear trail, then come down a steep, partly brushy gully on the far side.

   Watch for: The gully is slick when wet.

3. 3

   Noname Creek 8,400' · 2.6 mi

   Keep close to the river and ignore side paths that lead uphill. Cairns guide you through rock piles to Noname Creek. Wade across, then go north about 80 yards past a campsite to a cairn.

   Watch for: Wade with poles. Don't head east on the creek's north side; it's a bushwhack.

4. 4

   Noname trail 8,450' · 2.75 mi

   A cairned path climbs a short, steep bank. The trail runs north-northeast through a field, then turns east-southeast and climbs hard along the north side of the creek, more than 1,000 feet in the first mile. Expect some deadfall.

5. 5

   Route start 10,500' · 5.65 mi

   About 3 miles up the Noname trail, at the foot of a runout slope (5 to 10 minutes below the first good campsite), turn north up the open avalanche path.

6. 6

   Saddle by Point 12,552 12,500' · 6.35 mi

   Bear left, across the gully that falls from the summit, and through trees to the next gully. Climb the steep grass on that gully's west side, using game trails, to the saddle east of the big rock point. The last few hundred feet are loose rock.

   Watch for: Very steep grass; slick when wet.

7. 7

   Upper west ridge 12,950' · 6.65 mi

   Follow the ridge east. Low down there's Class 3 scrambling on large boulders; higher up it turns into steep Class 2+ talus.

   Watch for: Class 3.

8. 8

   The Heisspitz 13,268' · 6.9 mi

   Swing a little onto the north side to reach the west summit. Then drop into the gap and climb out to the slightly higher east summit.

Getting down

Go back the same way. Take care on the Class 3 boulders, then follow game trails down the tall grass.

If things go wrong

Retrace your steps to the saddle and down the grass.

Last step: check in before you go →

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up The Heisspitz we list, with its class.

• The Heisspitz West Ridge this routeClass 3 17 mi

Check in before you go

Send someone your peak, route, trailhead and when you’ll be back. If you’re late, they know where to send help.