West Ridge

Overview

Fortress Peak, once called U 3, is a craggy summit on the east side of the West Fork of the Cimarron. It is mostly Class 2 and 2+, with brief Class 3 scrambling and some route finding.

You leave the trail past the peak's west ridge, follow a drainage and a dry side fork, and climb steep grass to two cliff bands. Short breaks get you through both. Above, steep small scree leads up the ridge, past a sheer-sided summit block that is easy to get around, and over one narrow spot to the top.

The round trip is about 5 miles with 2,500 feet of gain from the 4WD trailhead. With a car, add about 1.4 miles each way and 350 feet. A twin point just north looks about as high, but reaching it means a rotten ridge and a crumbling wall.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From US 550, take County Road 10 east toward Owl Creek Pass. The turn is 1.8 miles north of the stoplight at Ridgway. Stay on County Road 10 until County Road 8 joins (from Montrose, County Road 8 is a shortcut), then follow County Road 8 past a ranch and over Cow Creek. The road climbs through scrub oak into the national forest, where it is Forest Road 858 and gets rougher, though careful cars can go on. Plan on about 45 minutes to the pass. From US 50, turn south toward Silverjack Reservoir 2.7 miles east of Cimarron, drive the long graded road past the reservoir, turn right to cross the creek, and stay on Forest Road 858 toward the pass.

Less than half a mile east of Owl Creek Pass (about 6.5 miles from the creek crossing if you come from the reservoir, just after a big switchback), turn south on Forest Road 860. It is usually good and has many camp spots. About 1.7 miles in is the Courthouse trailhead. Cars must stop just past it, where parking is limited. From there it adds about 1.4 miles each way and 350 feet of gain.

With 4WD and good clearance, keep going: a steep, rocky climb, then big potholes. After about 0.75 mile the road dips and turns sharply left to ford the West Fork, which can run high early in summer; use good judgment. The road ends about 0.7 mile past the ford; park where you can. Camping is at the meadow west of the pass, on top of the pass, along Forest Road 860 (busy on weekends), and at the Forest Service campgrounds north of Silverjack Reservoir. The 2026 Gold Mountain Fire closed some campgrounds and trailheads on the Cimarron side. Check current Forest Service closures before you go.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   West Fork trailhead 10,750' · 0 mi

   Hike south on Trail 226 through open meadows. Note Fortress Peak and its west ridge, which runs down to the valley floor.

2. 2

   Leave the trail 11,000' · 1.2 mi

   Once you are past the west ridge, the trail enters trees and crosses two drainages. Just past the second, leave the trail and head east along its south side.

3. 3

   Dry left fork 11,400' · 1.5 mi

   Bushwhack along the creek, maybe on a faint path, then walk in the bed if it is low. Take the dry fork that comes in from the left, aimed at the big buttress on the west ridge. Do not stay in the main drainage.

4. 4

   Lower cliff band 12,100' · 1.9 mi

   The fork is steep and rocky. Leave it on the right just above where a line of trees ends, and climb steep grassy tundra to the first cliff band. Two breaks lead through, each with at most one Class 3 move.

5. 5

   Upper cliff band 12,500' · 2.1 mi

   From the sloping bench, find a narrow break nearby and scramble about 30 feet of Class 3. You can also follow the bench east until the cliff ends, then walk back up to the ridge.

   Watch for: Go one at a time.

6. 6

   Summit 13,246' · 2.5 mi

   Climb steep scree up the ridge. Go around the summit block's cliff, cross one short, narrow stretch with drops on both sides, and stroll to the cairn.

Getting down

Return the same way, through the same cliff breaks.

If things go wrong

The bench between the cliff bands leads east to easier ground.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

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

• Fortress West Ridge this routeClass 3 5 mi