Overview
Chief Mountain is a remote, fairly plain summit near the middle of the Weminuche Wilderness, south of Rio Grande Reservoir. Most people make it a backpack of three or four days and pair it with UN 12,992 (once listed as UN 13,010) across the valley. The forest along the way is mostly dead from beetles.
The Squaw Creek trail leads about 11.7 miles to Squaw Pass, gaining only about 1,900 feet. From camp, climb UN 12,992 first, then come back to the pass and follow the Continental Divide Trail northeast about 2.5 miles to a high pass. From there, about 1.25 miles of tundra on the southeast ridge leads to the top. It's Class 2. You don't need to visit the north summit, which looks higher but isn't.
From the trailhead, the whole trip with UN 12,992 is about 35.85 miles with about 5,295 feet of gain. From Squaw Pass, the two peaks together are about 12.45 miles and 3,395 feet. Chief Mountain alone is about 3.75 miles one way from where the Squaw Creek trail meets the Divide Trail.
Plan of the day
Leave camp by 6 a.m.
Be at the high pass on the Divide Trail by noon.
Just the distance.
Easy. Stay on the Divide Trail through the willows until you are within about a quarter mile of the pass.
Squaw Creek and side streams. Filter it.
Getting to the trailhead
Thirtymile Campground
From Highway 149, turn west onto Forest Road 520. The turn is about 20.5 miles west of Creede, or about 32 miles south of Lake City over Slumgullion and Spring Creek passes. The road starts paved, then becomes graded dirt. Stay on the main road toward Rio Grande Reservoir; most junctions are signed. Thirtymile Campground is about 10.8 miles from the highway.
The road is fine for passenger cars. Drive south across the river on a bridge into the campground. Hiker parking is on the north side of the campground road. Walk south across the campground loop to the trailhead for the Weminuche Creek trail, which shares a start with the Squaw Creek trail. Thirtymile and nearby River Hill are fee campgrounds that can be reserved.
Squaw Creek trail (Trail 814) starts from the same kiosk at Thirtymile Campground as the Weminuche Creek trail and heads south. It climbs steeply for half a mile, crosses Squaw Creek on a solid bridge, and then stays on the east side of the creek all the way. Past a gorge with cascades, the valley flattens into a long, gentle walk through mostly dead forest.
About 7 miles in, a trail to Squaw Lake crosses the creek; there's a good campsite just across it. To go on, don't cross: follow a fainter trail south on the east side through a marshy stretch. About 4 miles farther, the trail pushes through tall willows and meets the Continental Divide Trail at about 11,190 feet, just north of Squaw Pass. There are possible campsites in the trees west of the pass. Moose feed in these willows.
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
Thirtymile Campground. 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 →