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 · From Lily Lake Trailhead via the Lindsey Saddle
Overview
Iron Nipple is the rocky bump on the ridge between Mount Lindsey and Huerfano Peak. From the Lily Lake trailhead you cross the Huerfano River, climb through forest to a high basin, reach the saddle between Iron Nipple and Lindsey, pass between two cliffs called the goalposts, and climb the Nipple's center.
It is Class 2 with a short, semi-exposed, blunt knife edge at the very top. If you find yourself on Class 3, you've left the easiest line.
The round trip is about 8.4 miles with about 3,800 feet of gain. Mileage and gain are our estimates. Huerfano Peak is easy to add along the same ridge.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at the Lindsey saddle by 10 a.m.
Crux
The short knife edge at the summit.
Route-finding
Moderate. After crossing the river, the trail climbs away from it to a boulder field. Climb its right side, then follow a gully to treeline.
Water
The Huerfano River and the gully stream. Filter it.
From Gardner, northwest of Walsenburg, drive west on Colorado 69 about half a mile and turn west on County Road 550. Measure from here: dirt at 7.0 miles; keep left onto Forest Road 580 at 11.8; stay left at the Singing River ranch at 15.7 (narrower but usually OK with good clearance); pass the Aspen River ranch at 16.7.
At about 20 miles, past a big landslide where the road was rerouted, a steep section needs 4WD. It is about 2 more rough, narrow miles to the Lily Lake trailhead, with dispersed camping along the way.
Trail in the treesTalus and screeTundraRidgeScramblingExposed 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
Lily Lake trailhead 10,725' · 0 mi
Walk south on the Lily Lake trail, through trees and downhill into a large meadow.
2
Huerfano River 10,500' · 1 mi
Where the Lily Lake trail turns right, go straight on the unmarked main trail and cross the river about 100 yards later.
3
Boulder field 10,800' · 1.8 mi
The trail climbs away from the river and zigzags through the forest to a boulder field.
4
Gully 11,600' · 2.5 mi
Starting at the boulder field's right edge, climb about 600 feet through the trees to a gully. Follow its left side and cross it near 11,600 feet.
5
Treeline 12,000' · 2.8 mi
Hike south to treeline, above a high basin.
6
Crest 13,000' · 3.6 mi
Drop a little, walk to the east side of the basin, climb to 12,200 feet, and follow a small ridge up to a crest.
7
Lindsey saddle 13,150' · 3.8 mi
Cross a boulder field to the saddle between Iron Nipple and Mount Lindsey. Turn left (north).
8
Goalposts 13,300' · 4 mi
Follow the ridge to cliffs blocking the way. Turn left and climb a rocky section between two big cliffs to a flat spot.
9
Summit 13,502' · 4.2 mi
Keep left of some cliffs and climb Class 2 ground up the center of the Nipple. On the summit ridge, move right (west) and carefully walk the left side of a short, blunt knife edge to the top.
Watch for: Semi-exposed.
Getting down
Retrace the summit ridge, head to its south end and go down a talus slope to the goalposts, then 200 feet to easier ground and out the way you came.
If things go wrong
From the goalposts, head back to the saddle.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the Huerfano River 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 Iron Nipple we list, with its class.
Huerfano - South Slopes (with Iron Nipple option)this routeClass 2 8.75 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.