South Ridge over UN 13,115 and UN 13,005

Overview

Baldy Lejos is a quiet 13er at the head of West Willow Creek north of Creede. It looks west over West Mineral Creek and east over Cascade Creek, north of San Luis Pass.

You walk a jeep road to a pass, then follow a long, broad ridge north over UN 13,115 and UN 13,005 to the top. It is almost all tundra and small rock set in the ground. Most rate it Class 1 to easy Class 2. The steep jeep road at the start is the hardest part. Watch for moose on the drive in, and ptarmigan and wildflowers up high.

UN 13,115, UN 13,005 and Baldy Lejos are usually done together along one long tundra ridge: about 10.2 miles round trip with 2,630 feet of gain from the upper 4WD trailhead. Starting at the Equity Mine adds roughly 3 miles. The last mile from UN 13,005 takes less than half an hour.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Highway 149 in Creede, turn north on Main Street where the highway crosses Willow Creek, and drive up through town. Start counting miles at the Rio Grande National Forest field office on the right. The road turns to graded gravel and climbs a tight canyon, becoming County Road 503. Keep left at a fork at 1.2 miles to stay on 503, and keep on 503 again where County Road 504 goes left at about 5 miles. About 7.2 miles from the field office you reach parking next to the Equity Mine. This is the end of the road for regular cars.

With a high-clearance 4WD, take Forest Road 503 north. It splits off just before the Equity Mine lot, climbs steeply, then runs up the valley. It fords West Willow Creek to the east bank after about 0.6 mile and back to the west bank at about 1.25 miles. The Forest Service has closed the road at this second ford in the past because of washouts higher up, so check current status. If it's open, drive about 0.6 mile more to a sharp uphill bend with room for just a few vehicles. Most stock SUVs can get this far. The trail to San Luis Pass leaves north from here. Road conditions change, so be ready to walk.

There is no good camping at the parking spot. A capable vehicle can climb the short, steep pitch above it to a big, flat, open area with room to camp but no trees. Lower down, the road runs through fenced private land before the Equity Mine, so don't camp there. The best site below is about a mile short of the mine, and there are a couple of level car-camp spots near the two fords.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   West Willow trailhead 11,500' · 0 mi

   Walk west up the jeep road. It starts with a steep climb, then eases onto a wide, nearly flat bench.

2. 2

   Pass south of UN 13,115 12,500' · 2 mi

   Keep on the road as it heads for the pass just south of UN 13,115. Machines have chewed up one stretch badly; a gentler side track goes around it. From the pass you look down into Rat Creek.

   Watch for: Shared with ATVs and jeeps.

3. 3

   UN 13,115 13,115' · 2.6 mi

   Leave the road and walk north up easy tundra to the summit. Allow about an hour from the trailhead.

4. 4

   Saddle below Point 12,942 12,700' · 3.4 mi

   Head north-northwest on the wide, grassy ridge. A rocky bump just past the summit is easy to skirt. Cross two more small bumps and drop to the one real saddle.

5. 5

   Point 12,942 12,942' · 3.6 mi

   Climb the steeper, rockier slope above the saddle. This is the roughest part of the ridge.

6. 6

   UN 13,005 13,005' · 4.1 mi

   Keep north on tundra to the summit, which is a bit rocky but easy. You could pass it by, but it costs little to go over the top.

7. 7

   Saddle 12,800' · 4.6 mi

   Drop north-northwest to one more saddle.

8. 8

   Baldy Lejos 13,118' · 5.1 mi

   Walk up the tundra ridge to the top.

Getting down

Go back along the ridge. To save climbing, walk around the sides of the bumps instead of over them; plan on about 200 feet of extra gain on the way back.

If things go wrong

The jeep road and Rat Creek basin are below the ridge on the west side; head back south to the pass.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Baldy Lejos we list, with its class.

• Baldy Lejos South Ridge this routeClass 1 10.2 mi