Is it right for you?
UN 13,166 is the third of the four 13ers on Snow Mesa's northern rim, east of Spring Creek Pass. It's usually reached over Baldy no es Cinco and Baldy Cinco.
From Baldy Cinco you walk nearly two miles down a gentle ridge to a saddle and up the crest to the top. It's grassy tundra almost the whole way, with a little talus near the summit. It's Class 1.
From Baldy Cinco it's about 1.9 miles and 493 feet one way. Doing all four Snow Mesa 13ers (Baldy no es Cinco, Baldy Cinco, UN 13,166 and UN 13,505) is about 16.9 miles with 4,563 feet of gain. Plan on a full day of about nine hours. You can also drop to the trail from here and skip UN 13,505, which saves about 3.5 miles.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be on Baldy Cinco by noon.
Nothing hard; just the distance.
Easy. Follow the ridge east from Baldy Cinco.
None at the trailhead. A pond on Snow Mesa is the only source noted. Carry plenty and filter.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
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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.
Getting there
Spring Creek Pass - Snow Mesa
From Creede, start at the main junction in town where Highway 149 turns after crossing the creek. Drive 33 miles southwest and then north to the top of Spring Creek Pass. From Lake City, take 149 south, stay on it past the Lake San Cristobal turnoff, climb over Slumgullion Pass and come down to Spring Creek Pass. That's 17.3 miles, a good half hour. Any car can make it.
On the west side of the highway, a short paved road leads to a small trail lot with a vault toilet. It goes on to a loop with picnic tables and a second toilet; this was a campground, but camping there is now closed. There's no water. The Snow Mesa trail starts on the east side of the highway.
Nearby Forest Service campgrounds include Slumgullion (at that pass) and North and South Clear Creek. Rito Hondo Reservoir and the Brown Lakes area are a little farther. Primitive sites are easiest to find south of Spring Creek Pass.
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
Spring Creek Pass - Snow Mesa. 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 →