Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 491 of the 13ers
East Ridge from Rito Alto Creek
UN 13,130, 13,130'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip11.2 mi
Elevation gain4,550'
TrailheadHermit Pass Road
Trailhead elevation13,000'
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 Rito Alto Creek
Overview
UN 13,130 sits northwest of Rito Alto Lake, above Cherry Lake, with a good view south to Mas Alto Peak. This is a short backpack over Hermit Pass to a lovely camp at Rito Alto Lake, from which you can climb several 13ers.
From the lake you follow the trail down Rito Alto Creek and west past Cotton Creek, then climb a steep avalanche chute and contour through flowery tundra basins to the east ridge. It is steep but easy Class 2.
The round trip from Hermit Pass is about 11.2 miles with 4,550 feet of gain. A long Class 2 ridge also connects it to Cotton King Peak.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on the east ridge by noon.
Crux
The steep, debris-filled avalanche chute.
Route-finding
Moderate. After Cotton Creek, count avalanche chutes coming down from the north; take the third, near 10,800 feet.
Water
Rito Alto Creek and the streams near camp. Filter it.
Hermit Road (County Road 160) leaves Colorado 69 heading west just 0.3 mile south of the 69/96 junction in Westcliffe. After 6 miles, stay left at a fork. The road soon gets rough; it needs 4WD with good clearance above about 9,100 feet.
You pass the Rainbow Trail about 2 miles from the fork and the Hermit Lake trail at about 6 miles. The last 3 miles to Hermit Pass are very rough. Below 11,400 feet there are many pull-offs and camp spots, including a great one on the left near 10,960 feet.
Mileage below starts at Hermit Pass. A capable stock 4WD can usually reach it, though the road is now very rocky. If yours can't, park lower and walk; it's about 3.6 miles up the road from the camp spot near 10,960 feet.
RidgeTundraTrail in the treesExposed 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
Hermit Pass 13,000' · 0 mi
Past the pass, the drivable road ends. Follow the old roadbed, now grassy, as it descends west.
2
Third switchback 12,560' · 0.8 mi
The old road zigzags three times near 12,700 feet. At the third bend, leave it and head straight down a broad tundra ridge.
3
Trail junction 11,880' · 1.4 mi
Low trees and willows appear near the junction of Trails 747 and 745. There are tent spots on benches a short way north.
4
Rito Alto Lake 11,340' · 2.1 mi
Go straight (west) down Trail 745, through two sets of switchbacks with a view of the lake and a big headwall. The trail runs along the west side of the lake. A good campsite sits up a short slope on the left, just before a stream coming from the northwest.
5
Rito Alto Creek crossing 10,900' · 3.1 mi
Walk north down the creek trail about a mile and cross to the east side. It's easy once the runoff drops.
6
Cotton Creek 10,800' · 3.4 mi
Continue north, then northwest, about 0.3 mile and cross Cotton Creek.
7
Avalanche chute 10,800' · 4.4 mi
Go west about a mile, through some mud, to the third big avalanche chute from the north.
8
Top of the chute 12,100' · 4.9 mi
Climb about 1,300 steep feet over rocks and logs until the gully widens, then work out toward a ridge on the west.
9
East ridge 12,800' · 5.4 mi
Contour north-northwest below the ridge toward Cotton King, over open tundra with game trails, into the basin southeast of the summit. Join the east ridge.
10
Summit 13,130' · 5.6 mi
Follow the east ridge west on tundra and some rock.
Getting down
Return the same way.
If things go wrong
Retrace your steps down the chute to the trail.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past Rito Alto Lake the route leaves the trail for an avalanche chute and open tundra. 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 13,130 we list, with its class.
UN 13,130 E. Ridge & Rito Alto Ck.this routeClass 2 11.2 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.