Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 168 of the 13ers
Southeast Basin and Ridge
UN 13,552, 13,552'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip11.4 mi
Elevation gain4,665'
TrailheadWillow Lake
Trailhead elevation8,850'
Conditions on the summit
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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.
Colorado 13er · Southeast Basin and Ridge
Overview
UN 13,552 rises north of Willow Lake, west of Mount Adams, with a close view of Adams' west ridge. You can do it in a long day from the trailhead, or as part of a backpack trip.
From the lake you climb steep grassy slopes and a side valley to a short east ridge, then walk easy tundra to the top. It is Class 2 and took one party about two hours from the lake. Look for bighorn sheep.
The round trip from the trailhead is about 11.4 miles with 4,665 feet of gain. Most people backpack to Willow Lake and climb from there.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on the south ridge by 11 a.m.
Crux
Steep grass slopes.
Route-finding
Easy. Cross the side stream early and stay above the willows.
Water
Willow Creek, the lake and side streams. Filter it.
Take Colorado 17 to Moffat in the San Luis Valley. At the south edge of town, follow the sign for Crestone and turn east on County Road T. Drive about 11.5 miles to Crestone. Go straight into town, turn left on Alder Street, then right on Galena Avenue.
Galena leaves town and turns to dirt as Forest Road 949. The trailhead is about 2 miles up this road, at about 8,850 feet. The road is rough in places but most vehicles can make it when it is dry. The route enters the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, which has its own rules on group size, camping, fires and dogs; check with the Forest Service before you go.
Trail in the treesTundraRidgeExposed 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
Willow Creek trailhead 8,850' · 0 mi
Cross Crestone Creek (logs, or wade in high water). The trail climbs an open hill, switchbacks through forest, crosses a ridge and contours high above Willow Creek.
2
Waterfall 10,900' · 3.8 mi
Switchback more steeply south, cross Willow Creek below a big waterfall and climb a rubbly slope as the trail swings east.
3
Willow Lake 11,564' · 4.75 mi
A waterfall pours into the far end of the lake. Camp in the signed sites away from the shore, mostly above the north side. It's busy on weekends.
4
Side stream 12,000' · 5.05 mi
Take the climbers' trail along the north shore about a third of the way, then head north up through trees and a steep grassy slope, past some campsites.
5
Upper valley 12,400' · 5.35 mi
Cross the stream draining the valley below UN 13,552 and Mount Adams, and follow higher ground up the valley above the willows.
6
South ridge 13,200' · 5.75 mi
Turn west and climb about 800 feet of steep grass up an east ridge to the south ridge.
7
Summit 13,552' · 5.95 mi
Walk north on easy tundra to the top.
Getting down
Return the same way, or continue to UN 13,159 or Mount Adams.
If things go wrong
The grassy slopes lead straight back to the lake.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above Willow Lake 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.
Other routes
Every way up UN 13,552 we list, with its class.
Southeast Basin and Ridgethis routeClass 2 11.4 mi
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.