Southwest Face over Amherst Mountain

Is it right for you?

This Organ Mountain is a low granite 13er in the southern Weminuche Wilderness, between Amherst Mountain and Peak Twenty Two. It is a different peak from the higher Organ Mountain elsewhere in the San Juans.

It is a backpack trip. The Endlich Mesa Trail (#534) runs about 7 miles to a camp at the northeast end of City Reservoir #1, a Durango city water lake where camping is allowed. The trail climbs gently to treeline in about a mile and rolls along open tundra on the mesa for roughly 5 miles (high point about 12,200 feet). Then a left fork drops about 1,400 feet to the lake. At the lake, walk over the dam on its south side and follow the west shore to camp. Save energy for that climb back out. Most people climb it right after Amherst. From the Amherst-Organ saddle, gravel and tundra lead to a jumble of big granite blocks and a Class 3 summit block with room for one.

Amherst, Organ, Peak Twenty Two and Sheep Mountain make a loop from camp of roughly 7.75 miles and 3,770 feet; one party took about 9 hours. With the backpack in and out, the whole trip is about 21.75 miles and 4,770 feet. Mileage and gain are our estimates.

Plan of the day

This week on the summit

Getting there

From downtown Durango, follow Main Avenue (US 550) over the Animas River bridge and, a short way past it, turn east on 15th Street. It soon bends northeast and becomes Florida Road (County Road 240). Stay on this paved road just under 12 miles to a junction and turn left on County Road 243. In a little over 4 miles you reach Lemon Reservoir, where the pavement ends.

Drive 5.4 miles up the east side of the reservoir and past its north end to the Florida Campground turnoff. Don't turn; go straight onto Forest Road 597 (East Florida Road). It is a narrow, very rocky road that switchbacks up the mountain for nearly 10 miles to the Endlich Mesa trailhead at about 11,290 feet. The road has gotten rougher over time. Use a high-clearance AWD or 4WD vehicle, drive slowly, and plan on 2 to 2.5 hours from Durango. Conditions change, so check before you go.

There are dispersed campsites along the road and near the trailhead. Sheep graze here in summer, so you may meet livestock trucks on the road.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   City Reservoir #1 camp 10,800' · 0 mi

   Take the trail north toward Lake Marie, climbing steeply through the forest.

2. 2

   Logtown creek crossing 11,200' · 0.8 mi

   Near the old Logtown site on the map, cross the creek to the northeast. Look for a cairn where the water runs over rocks.

3. 3

   Castilleja Lake creek 11,700' · 1.4 mi

   Climb steeply through willows on a horse path that stays east of the creek draining Castilleja Lake. There is a good campsite in the open area higher up.

4. 4

   Tarns 12,000' · 2 mi

   The path fades, but tundra and grass make for quick walking. Pass three small tarns south of two larger lakes.

5. 5

   Amherst basin 12,400' · 2.5 mi

   Before the valley drops off to the north, contour east into a big basin that runs toward Amherst. It turns to broken rock near its top.

6. 6

   Southwest face 12,700' · 2.75 mi

   Choose your line. Easier: climb the reddish gully to the notch on the south ridge (Class 3) and go up the ridge and east side. Harder: go straight up the face, staying left of a dark crack.

   Watch for: Loose gravel on ledges.

7. 7

   Amherst Mountain 13,164' · 3 mi

   On the direct face, a short, almost vertical step above a sloping, gravelly shelf is Class 4. Above it, a ramp leads right to the south ridge and an easy finish.

   Watch for: Class 4 step.

8. 8

   Amherst-Organ saddle 12,600' · 3.3 mi

   Go back southeast along the summit ridge and down Amherst's steep east side on fine granite gravel, flowers and tundra. It takes about 15 minutes.

9. 9

   Organ Mountain 13,040' · 3.6 mi

   Climb the southwest face and ridge. The first 200 feet are easy. Near the top, circle a bit right into big granite blocks and scramble to the summit block, which fits one person at a time.

   Watch for: Class 3 summit block.

Getting down

Continue the loop over Peak Twenty Two and Sheep Mountain (see those pages), or go back to the saddle and over Amherst.

If things go wrong

The Amherst-Organ saddle leads south into Sheep Draw, the way the loop goes.

Last step: check in before you go →

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Organ Mountain we list, with its class.

• Organ Mtn. SW Face this routeClass 3 18.2 mi

Check in before you go

Send someone your peak, route, trailhead and when you’ll be back. If you’re late, they know where to send help.