Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 528 of the 13ers
North-Northwest Ridge from Huerfano Creek
Huerfanito, 13,083'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip7.4 mi
Elevation gain2,700'
TrailheadLily Lake
Trailhead elevation10,725'
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 · North-Northwest Ridge from Huerfano Creek
Overview
Huerfanito is a small, rocky 13er in the upper Huerfano basin, surrounded by Blanca, Lindsey and Ellingwood. The approach follows the Mount Lindsey trail from the Lily Lake trailhead.
From the tundra basin you angle around the cliffs on the north face to a saddle on the north-northwest ridge, then climb about 400 feet of broken rock with a little scrambling. The eastern of the two summit points is higher and feels a bit exposed. It is Class 2. Bighorn sheep are common here.
The round trip is about 7.4 miles with 2,700 feet of gain. Mileage and gain are our estimates. Landowners have closed the upper part of Mount Lindsey in recent years; check current access before you go.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at the ridge saddle by 11 a.m.
Crux
A little scrambling on broken rock near the top.
Route-finding
Moderate. Swing southwest and west below the north-face cliffs to the saddle on the north-northwest ridge.
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
North-northwest ridge saddle 12,700' · 3.3 mi
Walk up the wide tundra valley. The north face has 200- to 300-foot cliffs, mostly on its east end, so angle southwest and then west to a saddle on the ridge.
7
West point 13,081' · 3.6 mi
Turn south and southeast up about 400 feet of broken rock and talus, with a little scrambling.
8
Summit 13,083' · 3.7 mi
Walk the rocky ridge east to the slightly higher east summit, which feels more exposed.
Getting down
Return the same way, or scramble down loose rock east-southeast about 500 feet into a small bowl, walk to the saddle toward Iron Nipple and Lindsey, and pick up the Lindsey trail back down, past a small tarn.
If things go wrong
The basin and the Lindsey trail are close below.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above the Lindsey trail 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 Huerfanito we list, with its class.
UN 13,083 Huerfano Ck Approachthis routeClass 2 7.4 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.