Is it right for you?
Frasco Benchmark is an unranked high point on the ridge joining French Mountain and Casco Peak, just west of Mount Elbert. Most people stand on it while walking from French to Casco.
You walk an old 4WD road up South Halfmoon Creek, climb grass to the French-Frasco saddle, tag French, then go back to the saddle and up Frasco's northeast ridge. The ridge to Frasco is a bit rockier than the one to French, with outcrops to weave around, but it stays Class 2. The ridge on to Casco is rougher Class 2+.
Doing French, Frasco and Casco together is about 11.85 miles round trip with 4,555 feet of gain. From French to Frasco alone is about 0.6 mile and 255 feet one way. If you skip Casco, go back to the French-Frasco saddle to come down.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be at the French-Frasco saddle by 10:30 a.m.
Rocky outcrops just below Frasco's summit.
Easy. Leave the road at the cabin ruins near 12,500 feet.
Halfmoon and South Halfmoon creeks, plus side streams. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,885'…—
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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.
Getting there
South Halfmoon Creek
From Leadville, drive about 3 miles southwest on US 24 to the sharp bend where the highway turns south. Turn west on Highway 300, cross the railroad tracks, and go 0.8 miles. Turn left (south) on County Road 11 and go 1.3 miles, then bear right to stay on County Road 11, which becomes Forest Road 110. Follow the graded road about 5 miles past the Halfmoon campgrounds and the Elbert Creek campground to the Mount Massive trailhead. Cars without good clearance should park here.
With good clearance, continue west about 2.1 more miles on rougher road to the junction with Forest Road 110J. Turn south and drop to Halfmoon Creek. Park near the creek; this is where the route starts. Some short 4WD vehicles drive on another mile to the South Halfmoon Creek crossing, but that crossing has stopped many vehicles, and there is almost no room to park or turn around there. Walking from Halfmoon Creek is the safer plan. There is dispersed camping near the 110J turnoff.
Base towns and camping for this climb
Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.
Before you go
Check these the week of your climb.
Official forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.
NWS point forecast →Directions to the trailhead
South Halfmoon Creek. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Get directions →Roads and highways
Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.
COtrip road conditions →Closures and fire rules
Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.
Forest Service alerts →Snow on the route?
From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.
Avalanche forecast →Cell signal
Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.
FCC coverage map →