San Juan Range · Colorado 13er · No. 569 of the 13ers
North-Northwest Ridge over Hayden
The Corpse, 13,025'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip10.8 mi
Elevation gain3,740'
TrailheadBox Factory Park
Trailhead elevation9,280'
Less traffic, less margin
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.
The Corpse is UN 13,025, a plain summit on the Dallas Divide north of Telluride. Some guidebooks call it S 10, though another list gives that label to a lower peak, so the nickname is handy. The view south over Deep Creek to the Wilsons is excellent.
From Box Factory Park, the Dallas Trail (trail 200) links a string of old roads to an old mining area. From there you climb into the grassy basin east of Hayden, an unranked summit, and up its east side to its south ridge. A short drop and a climb over broken rock and scree lead to the top. It is Class 2. The trail and road links take some thought, and elk are common.
The round trip is about 10.8 miles with 3,740 feet of gain. The Hayden summit, with a benchmark and register, is a 15 to 20 minute walk back along the ridge.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be in the basin east of Hayden by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
Steep tundra on Hayden's east side.
Route-finding
Moderate. Several old roads and trail pieces join up; carry a good map.
Water
Small creeks along the trail. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,025'…
—Summit temp now
—Sustained wind
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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.
From the junction of US 550 and Highway 62 on the east side of Ridgway, go west on 62 across the Uncompahgre River and through town. Climb the hill, passing County Road 7 on the left about 5.5 miles out, and go about 1.5 miles more to County Road 9 on the left.
Take County Road 9 south about 6.7 miles to a cattle guard where National Forest land begins. Lower cars may stop here, but leave room, since horse trailers turn around in this spot. Otherwise drive about one more mile, fording the West Fork of Dallas Creek at a low-water crossing just before you arrive, to the long meadow of Box Factory Park. High clearance is best.
Box Factory Park is the best place to camp: a big, flat, open meadow with no facilities. You won't pass any Forest Service campgrounds on the drive. Much of County Road 9 runs through private and BLM land, so wait until you are on National Forest land to camp.
RoadTrail in the treesRidgeTalus and screeExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Box Factory Park 9,280' · 0 mi
From the north end of the meadow, take the Dallas Trail west (some maps call it the Alder Creek Trail). It climbs north-northwest, crosses a wooded ridge, and drops to a clearing at a small creek.
2
First old road 9,700' · 1 mi
Climb to an old road bed that is often running with water. Where it starts to turn away from the ridge, take the Dallas Trail west across a small creek, then northwest for over a mile, staying just under 10,000 feet.
3
Second old road 9,950' · 2.8 mi
At another old road bed, go southwest about 200 yards, then pick up the Dallas Trail again west for about a third of a mile to a third road, which splits almost at once.
4
Old mining area 10,800' · 3.8 mi
Take the fainter left fork up to a switchback; either road from there works, since they meet again. Cross a small stream and climb to a flat spot with old equipment in open forest and meadow.
5
Basin east of Hayden 11,400' · 4.4 mi
Look south for a steep open slope beside a wooded ridge on Hayden's left side. Climb toward it, keeping to the trees and away from Hayden's cliffs, and drop briefly into the basin near the last trees.
6
Hayden's south ridge 12,900' · 5.1 mi
Walk southwest up the right side of the basin on grass and tundra, then turn west up a flowery tundra slope. Climb toward Hayden's south-southeast ridge, coming out on the ridge above the saddle with The Corpse.
Watch for: Don't aim straight for the saddle; it has cliffs.
7
Summit 13,025' · 5.4 mi
Drop to the saddle and climb small broken talus and scree to the top.
Getting down
Go back the way you came, maybe over the Hayden summit. Don't try to drop off the saddle itself; a later party that tried another way back had trouble.
If things go wrong
The basin east of Hayden leads back to the old mining area.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past the old mining area the route is trailless. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.