Is it right for you?
Houghton Mountain is the eastern partner of Tuttle Mountain, above California Gulch west of Animas Forks. It is usually climbed by way of Tuttle.
After Tuttle, you walk east over its false summit and down onto a wide tundra ridge to Houghton. The last 400 feet turn to rocky rubble. It is Class 2 with no real trouble. The summit looks over the head of the Animas and toward Engineer and Cinnamon Passes.
Tuttle to Houghton is about 1.7 miles and 670 feet of gain one way. The full loop from the California Gulch parking is about 3.65 miles with 2,055 feet of gain, and takes around 3 hours.
Plan of the day
By 8 a.m.
Leave Tuttle by 11 a.m.
Rubble on the final 400 feet.
Easy. Follow the broad ridge east.
None on the route. Carry what you need.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,059'…—
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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
California Gulch parking
From Silverton, drive east through town. A block beyond the courthouse the paved road splits; bear right onto County Road 2, which has a blue sign. It is also called the Alpine Loop road. Pavement ends after about 2 miles, and good dirt road goes on to Howardsville at 4.2 miles. Keep north 4.3 more miles to the old Eureka site. Past there the road switches to the river's west bank, climbs a steeper shelf and runs up a narrower part of the canyon.
Near 10,740 feet the valley widens and the Picayne Gulch road goes left. Its lower part is very steep and only for 4WD vehicles with low gearing. Most people stay on the main road and take the left turn to Animas Forks; the first of the two turnoffs drops across the river and climbs up to the old mining town. From there head west on County Road 19 (BLM 4505). Maps disagree on whether this road needs 4WD; a high-clearance vehicle is wise. After 1.2 miles you reach the Placer Gulch road (County Road 9) on the left. This junction with California Gulch is the trailhead.
For Tuttle and Houghton, drive 0.7 mile farther west on County Road 19 and park on the left where the road splits for a short way, out of the path of the many ATVs and jeeps. You can also start from the Placer Gulch junction and walk the road. There are no Forest Service campgrounds nearby. Eureka has a pay campground that takes reservations, and there are primitive sites on the spur road to the South Fork of the Animas (Boulder Gulch) trailhead. None have services.
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
California Gulch parking. 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 →