Overview
Hayden Mountain South is one of two ranked summits on the long Hayden Mountain ridge, west of Ironton Park between Ouray and Red Mountain Pass. It's often paired with Hayden Mountain North, but the ridge between them is hard, so the Class 2 way drops into the head of Fall Creek.
You walk a road along the west edge of Ironton Park, climb an old mining road, then grind up very steep, loose scree in Full Moon Gulch to an open basin. A steep gully off the northeast side, mostly tundra, leads to the ridge and the top. Elk and deer are common. It is Class 2 with moderate route finding.
The round trip is about 6 miles with 3,460 feet of gain. The Richmond Pass trail and the south ridge are reported to be an easier way up, though the trail's start off US 550, a little south of this trailhead, is hard to find.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at the base of the gully by 10:30 a.m.
Steep, loose scree low in Full Moon Gulch.
Moderate. Stay above the creek in the gulch, then aim northwest for the gully.
The creek in Full Moon Gulch. Filter it.
Getting to the trailhead
Ironton Park
From Ouray, drive south on US 550 up the switchbacks, through the Uncompahgre Gorge, and up four more switchbacks into Ironton Park, a large flat valley more than two miles long. The Hayden Mountains are on your right (west).
At the south end of the park, past a big tailings pond, a gravel road turns right toward Gray Copper and Corkscrew Gulches. About 1,200 feet beyond it, park at a pullout on the west side of the highway by an old cabin. Any car can get here.
There are no Forest Service campgrounds on US 550 between Ouray and the South Mineral Creek turnoff near Silverton. Primitive sites are in the trees up the Gray Copper / Corkscrew road (often taken by trailers), down a dirt road on the left about 2,000 feet south of the trailhead, along the highway south of Ironton Park, and near Red Mountain Pass. They fill on weekends.
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
Ironton Park. 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 →