Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 552 of the 13ers
North Ridge from San Isabel Lake
Pyramid Mountain, 13,054'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip9.7 mi
Elevation gain5,030'
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 · North Ridge from San Isabel Lake
Overview
Pyramid Mountain tops a group of peaks west of the main Sangre crest, above the remote San Isabel Lake and Groundhog Basin. It makes a good day from a camp near the trail junction below Hermit Pass or at Rito Alto Lake.
A rough horse trail crosses a 12,220-foot pass and leads to San Isabel Lake. The slope straight up from the lake to the saddle south of it is steep and airy, with narrow tundra benches between rock. It is better to go around the west side and up the north slope of Point 12,445. Then it is a long Class 2 ridge of tundra and embedded rock to the summit.
The round trip from Hermit Pass is about 9.7 miles with 5,030 feet of gain. The ridge is long and exposed, so don't linger if weather builds.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 6:30 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at the saddle above San Isabel Lake by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
Getting from San Isabel Lake up to the ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. Watch for cairns where the trail crosses San Isabel Creek. Above the lake, avoid the steep direct slope.
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 treesTalus and screeExposed 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
Pass 12,220' · 2.1 mi
Turn left (southeast) on the trail over a pass. It is steep and rugged near the top.
5
San Isabel Creek 11,500' · 2.6 mi
Drop steeply into trees and cross the creek through willows. Look for cairns showing where the trail continues.
6
San Isabel Lake 11,700' · 3 mi
Follow the trail to the lake, which has campsites.
7
Point 12,445 12,445' · 3.5 mi
Contour west around the buttress and climb its north slope, a broad tundra slope above a bench, to Point 12,445.
8
Saddle 12,380' · 3.6 mi
Walk down to the saddle south of the lake. Watch for elk.
9
Ridge high point 12,850' · 3.95 mi
Climb southeast over tundra, embedded rock, some outcrops and boulders to the highest point of the ridge around the lake.
10
Point 12,957 12,957' · 4.35 mi
Turn south along the ridge.
11
Summit 13,054' · 4.85 mi
Continue south past a false summit to the top. A cleft on the northeast face looks down into Groundhog Basin.
Getting down
Return north to the saddle and over Point 12,445, then down its north slope and the bench back to the lake. A deep gully helps guide you. Avoid rock outcrops and steep slabs.
If things go wrong
Head back to the saddle above San Isabel Lake.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above San Isabel 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 Pyramid Mountain we list, with its class.
"Pyramid Mountain" North Ridgethis routeClass 2 9.7 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.