Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 292 of the 13ers
East Ridge from Music Pass
Music Mountain, 13,365'
DifficultyClass 3
Round trip10 mi
Elevation gain3,700'
TrailheadMusic Pass
Trailhead elevation10,680'
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 · East Ridge from Music Pass
Overview
Music Mountain rises above Sand Creek on the west side of the Sangres. From the Music Pass trailhead you cross Music Pass, drop to Sand Creek, climb to Lower Sand Creek Lake, head off trail up a drainage to a notch on the east ridge, and scramble to the summit.
The ridge is Class 3, with one steep section just left of the crest.
The round trip is about 10 miles with 3,700 feet of gain from the 4WD trailhead.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at the notch on the east ridge by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
The steep Class 3 section above the notch.
Route-finding
Moderate. From Lower Sand Creek Lake, head north into the forest, then west into the drainage east of Music Mountain. Look for a notch near the base of the east 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 treesScramblingExposed 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
Lower Sand Creek Lake junction 11,000' · 2.6 mi
Turn left, cross a log bridge and zigzag southwest up through the forest.
5
Lower Sand Creek Lake 11,470' · 3.6 mi
Follow the shore northwest a little over 0.1 mile.
6
Into the drainage 11,600' · 4 mi
Leave the shore and hike north into the forest without a trail. At flatter ground, turn west into clearings and the drainage east of Music.
7
Notch 12,700' · 4.6 mi
Follow the drainage out of the trees; it eases above 12,000 feet. Climb into a notch at the base of the east ridge.
8
Top of the east ridge 13,300' · 4.8 mi
Just left of the crest, climb a steep Class 3 section, then easier ground.
Watch for: Class 3.
9
Summit 13,365' · 5 mi
Follow the summit ridge about 0.25 mile northwest, dropping left to get around some rough spots.
Getting down
Return the same way.
If things go wrong
Below the notch, the drainage leads back to the lake.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past 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.
Other routes
Every way up Music Mountain we list, with its class.
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.