Is it right for you?
UN 13,121 rises at the head of Nebo Creek, deep in the Weminuche Wilderness, just north of the Continental Divide Trail. It is an easy Class 2 hike and usually the first summit of a longer day. This is the Weminuche Wilderness, so plan a multi-day backpack and follow wilderness rules on camping, fires and group size.
From a camp near Nebo Creek you follow the Divide Trail east up the valley into a tundra basin, then leave it near a tarn and walk up the south ridge. The footing is mostly tundra with some rubble. In July the slopes are full of wildflowers.
The round trip is about 9.5 miles with 3,560 feet of gain from the trailhead. The camp near Nebo Creek is about 2.75 miles from the trailhead, over Hunchback Pass; from camp it is about 4 miles and 1,660 feet round trip. Most people climb UN 13,121, UN 13,232 and Mount Nebo in one day from a camp near Nebo Creek, and some add UN 13,171 farther south.
Plan of the day
From camp, leave by 7 a.m.
Be on the summit by 11 a.m.
Nothing hard.
Easy. Leave the trail near the tarn and head north to the ridge.
Nebo Creek and the tarn. Filter it.
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
Hunchback Pass
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.
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
Hunchback Pass. 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 →