Sangre de Cristo Range · Colorado 13er · No. 564 of the 13ers
Northwest Ridge over Mas Alto and Alto
Menos Alto Peak, 13,031'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip8.3 mi
Elevation gain4,265'
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 · Northwest Ridge over Mas Alto and Alto
Overview
Menos Alto Peak is the southern end of the ridge around Mas Alto Lake, above a steep drop to Rito Alto Lake. This is a short backpack over Hermit Pass to a lovely camp at Rito Alto Lake, from which you can climb several 13ers.
From Alto Peak, the ridge south is easy tundra and small rock, then rockier near the end. There are two summits of almost the same height; you cross both. It is Class 2. Mas Alto, Alto and Menos Alto circle Mas Alto Lake and make a good half-day loop from camp. Clouds often hang on this side of the range.
The three-peak loop from Hermit Pass is about 8.3 miles with 4,265 feet of gain.
Plan of the day
Start by
Leave camp by 7 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Mas Alto by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
Rocky slabs near the Mas Alto-Alto saddle.
Route-finding
Moderate. Head for the knoll north of the Mas Alto Lake drainage, then the bulge on the southeast ridge.
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.
RidgeTundraScramblingExposed 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
Dry drainage 11,900' · 2.5 mi
From camp, climb about 600 feet up through the forest to the dry drainage from Mas Alto Lake.
6
Meadow 12,200' · 2.8 mi
Follow it to the north side of a 12,200-foot knoll and into a meadow full of flowers.
7
Southeast ridge 12,600' · 3.2 mi
Cross the little valley toward a bulge on the ridge southeast of the summit, passing a crumbling rock pinnacle.
8
Mas Alto Peak 13,065' · 3.6 mi
Climb steepening tundra, grass and rock. A band of rock near the top has an easy way through.
9
Saddle 12,730' · 3.85 mi
Head south along the ridge. Near the saddle there's an extra bump and a rocky section of slabs and outcrops.
10
Alto Peak 13,059' · 4 mi
Scramble the crest (up to Class 3), or drop about 50 feet east on a tundra ramp, contour south below the outcrops, and climb back up slabs and tundra ledges. Finish on the west side of the ridge.
Watch for: Steep but secure; Class 2+.
11
Saddle 12,700' · 4.25 mi
Walk the crest south, losing about 360 feet.
12
West summit 13,038' · 4.65 mi
Climb over a minor point, then southeast to the west summit, which may be as high as the main one. Easy tundra and small rock.
13
Menos Alto Peak 13,031' · 4.9 mi
Follow the rockier ridge east to the summit on the map, above a big drop to Rito Alto Lake.
Getting down
From Menos Alto, head north-northwest down talus and scree to Mas Alto Lake, then on to a small tarn and into the high valley just west of Rito Alto Lake. Rejoin your route up and walk back down through open forest to camp.
If things go wrong
From the saddle south of Alto, the slopes toward Mas Alto Lake are the quickest way down.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Above Rito Alto 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 Menos Alto Peak we list, with its class.
Menos Alto West & NW Ridgethis routeClass 2 8.3 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.