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 · North Ridge by the Hidden Ramp
Overview
UN 13,403 sits on the ridge south of Lower Sand Creek Lake and is the first of four summits many people climb in one long day with Cleveland Peak, Dead Man Peak and UN 13,392.
A hidden ramp from the basin under Tijeras Peak gets you onto the ridge. From there, contour past Point 13,495 and climb a rocky north ridge. It never goes above Class 2+, but it is slow.
The round trip from the upper Music Pass trailhead is about 12 miles with 3,100 feet of gain. Most people backpack over Music Pass and camp in upper Sand Creek, then climb the next day. The ridges are rocky and slow the whole way, and you retrace most of them to get home. Pick a day with a solid forecast; the whole crest is exposed to lightning.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 5:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on UN 13,403 by 10 a.m.
Crux
Slow, rocky ridge walking and the length of the day.
Route-finding
Moderate. Find the hidden ramp below Tijeras; after that, follow the ridge.
Head south out of Westcliffe on Colorado 69 and take Colfax Lane right after 4.5 miles. Where it ends, 5.5 miles along, go left on Music Pass Road (County Road 119). About 5.2 miles of good dirt brings you to the Grape Creek trailhead, the end of 2WD.
A 4WD can ford Grape Creek and climb almost 3 more miles of narrow, rocky road to the upper Music Pass trailhead, about 10,680 feet.
RidgeTrail in the treesTalus and screeTundraExposed 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
Music Pass trailhead 10,680' · 0 mi
From the north end of the upper lot, take the trail to Music Pass.
2
Music Pass 11,400' · 1.25 mi
Enjoy the view over Sand Creek to Tijeras Peak and Music Mountain.
3
Sand Creek flats 10,950' · 2 mi
Descend about 450 feet northwest to the flats.
4
Meadow camps 11,060' · 2.6 mi
At the top of the long meadow, just before the trail enters the trees, there are good campsites. Most people base here or at Lower Sand Creek Lake.
5
Lower Sand Creek Lake 11,470' · 3.6 mi
Take the side trail across the creek and up through the forest to the lake. There are more campsites on the east shore.
6
South end of the lake 11,500' · 3.8 mi
Follow trails along the east shore, in the trees, past the south end of the lake.
7
Basin under Tijeras 12,000' · 4.4 mi
Climb southwest through thinning forest, crossing a small stream, into the rubble basin below the southeast face of Tijeras Peak. The trees go higher than the map shows.
8
Hidden ramp 12,600' · 4.8 mi
Head west past the foot of a rock buttress coming down from Point 13,495. Where the basin bends south, keep close to the buttress and pick up a path up a wide ramp.
9
Saddle 13,150' · 5.2 mi
Rubble gives way to tundra near the top of the ramp, which brings you to the saddle between Point 13,495 and Point 13,369.
10
Next saddle 13,200' · 5.5 mi
Climb a little, then contour the east side of Point 13,495 on mostly solid rock to the saddle south of it.
11
UN 13,403 13,403' · 6 mi
Climb the rocky north ridge: big blocks and tundra benches, slow but not hard.
Watch for: Class 2+.
Getting down
Return along the ridge. You can contour below Point 13,495 instead of going over it, then take the hidden ramp back down to Lower Sand Creek Lake. Contouring around UN 13,403 on the east side is rough; stay on the crest.
If things go wrong
The hidden ramp is the way down. The north flank of Point 13,369 has ledges, willows and bugs; avoid it.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above Lower Sand Creek 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.
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.