San Juan Range · Colorado 13er · No. 430 of the 13ers
Southeast Ridge over UN 13,232
Mount Nebo, 13,209'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip10.4 mi
Elevation gain5,060'
TrailheadHunchback Pass
Trailhead elevation11,800'
Less traffic, less margin
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.
Mount Nebo is the highest of the summits around the head of Nebo Creek, between the Vallecito and Rock Creek valleys in the Weminuche Wilderness. It is a rocky Class 2 climb with a top view across the north half of the Weminuche, from Hunchback Pass to the Needles and the Grenadiers. This is the Weminuche Wilderness, so plan a multi-day backpack and follow wilderness rules on camping, fires and group size.
Most people reach it after UN 13,121 and UN 13,232. From UN 13,232 you drop south and southwest over tedious rubble to the outlet of the lake between the two peaks, cross it, and climb Nebo's broad southeast ridge. Tundra turns into small, loose, shale-like chips higher up. Plan on about an hour. A shorter option goes back down UN 13,232's northwest ridge and along the connecting ridge west to Nebo; cliffs on that ridge look bad from afar but don't block the way. It is about 0.75 mile and 500 feet.
The round trip is about 10.4 miles with 5,060 feet of gain from the trailhead, going over UN 13,121 and UN 13,232. From the camp near Nebo Creek it is about 4.9 miles and 3,160 feet round trip. UN 13,171 to the south can be added.
Plan of the day
Start by
From camp, leave by 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on UN 13,232 by 11 a.m.
Crux
Loose chip rock on the southeast ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. Aim for the outlet of the lake between UN 13,232 and Nebo.
Water
Nebo Creek and the tarn. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,209'…
—Summit temp now
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Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
This trailhead needs a high-clearance 4WD, and from Silverton the drive can last as long as 2.5 hours. From the northeast end of Silverton, take County Road 2 up the Animas about 4.2 miles to Howardsville. Turn right up Cunningham Gulch, then take the left fork onto the Stony Pass road. It climbs steeply over the pass and down the far side. You will ford Pole Creek, then turn right at a fork and ford the Rio Grande. Both fords are harder early in the summer. Then follow the Beartown road about 4 slow, rough miles past the old Beartown site and up a rocky, rutted stretch. The Hunchback Pass trailhead is about half a mile below Kite Lake, at roughly 11,800 feet, with limited parking.
You can also reach this area from Creede or Lake City by driving to Rio Grande Reservoir, but the road west of the reservoir has very rough sections. There is some camping near the trailhead and near the old Beartown site.
RidgeTundraTalus and screeExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Hunchback Pass trailhead 11,800' · 0 mi
Start on the Continental Divide Trail heading south toward the pass.
2
Hunchback Pass 12,490' · 0.9 mi
Hike south on the Continental Divide Trail up open tundra to the broad pass. Most people take about 45 minutes.
3
Camp near Nebo Creek 11,460' · 2.75 mi
Drop south from the pass on the Vallecito Trail through thick willows to where the Divide Trail splits off east up Nebo Creek. There are good camps on a knoll near this junction.
4
Willow valley 11,800' · 3.25 mi
From camp, follow the Divide Trail east along Nebo Creek. Above the last trees the trail can be hidden by avalanche debris or snow for a stretch. Keep climbing east up the willow-filled valley.
5
Tarn below the pass 12,300' · 4 mi
The trail turns southeast into a wide tundra basin and climbs a few switchbacks to a pretty tarn west of the pass.
6
South ridge 12,700' · 4.35 mi
Leave the trail near the tarn and angle north to the south ridge of UN 13,121, rather than going all the way up to the pass.
7
UN 13,121 13,121' · 4.75 mi
Walk north up the ridge on tundra mixed with patches of rubble.
8
Saddle 12,450' · 5.1 mi
Walk back south down the ridge to the low point between UN 13,121 and UN 13,232. The Divide Trail crosses here.
9
Flatter northwest ridge 12,900' · 5.45 mi
Climb the north-northeast ridge of UN 13,232 on broken rock. Early-season snow can cover some of it. Near the top of this rise, a steep couloir can help you reach the flatter part of the northwest ridge.
10
UN 13,232 13,232' · 5.85 mi
Follow the ridge southeast, keeping to its south side. The north side drops off in big cliffs. The rubble gets larger and slower as you near the top.
Watch for: Cliffs on the north side.
11
Lake outlet 12,500' · 6.35 mi
Head south, then southwest, down off UN 13,232 on medium-size rubble. Swing west as you go to reach the outlet of the lake between the peaks, and cross it.
12
Summit 13,209' · 6.75 mi
Climb the broad southeast ridge. Good tundra turns to small, flaky rock where you may slide back a bit with each step.
Watch for: Loose footing.
Getting down
Head back toward the UN 13,121–UN 13,232 saddle and the Divide Trail, then down Nebo Creek to camp. You can also continue south to UN 13,171.
If things go wrong
The lake basin below the southeast ridge leads back toward the saddle and the trail.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
The whole link from UN 13,232 to Nebo crosses trailless rubble and scree. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.