Is it right for you?
Emma Burr Mountain is a short Class 2 climb from the valley south of Mirror Lake, near Tincup. It's mostly tundra, with a pretty approach.
You cross the creek and a short band of willows, climb through the trees into a big basin, and walk up tundra to the saddle south of the summit. A short ridge walk with more rock leads north to the top.
The round trip is about 3.8 miles with 2,365 feet of gain from the 4WD trailhead. Tincup Peak, south along the ridge, is an easy add.
Plan of the day
By 7:30 a.m.
Be at the saddle by 11 a.m.
The willows by the creek.
Moderate. Find a good creek crossing and aim for the big basin.
The creek in the valley. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,544'…—
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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
Mirror Lake
From Gunnison, take Highway 135 north 17.4 miles to Almont and turn right on Forest Road 742, paved all the way to Taylor Park Reservoir. At the junction on the reservoir's east-southeast corner, keep on Forest Road 765, good gravel, to Tincup (24 miles from Almont).
In Tincup, turn left (east) on Forest Road 267. Mirror Lake is 3.5 miles up; cars with some clearance can get this far. Past the lake the road soon turns to 4WD, dropping to the east shore and heading up the valley. Early in the season, high water can flood the road along the shore. Park off the road at the trailhead, across from the big basin below the saddle between Emma Burr and Tincup Peak. A second start, about 0.3 to 0.4 mile farther up the valley, has fewer willows.
Mirror Lake has a campground with toilets, and there's a primitive site at the lake's south end. There are dispersed sites on the drive up from Tincup, and the Garden Basin trailhead lot just below the lake may work for one night in your car.
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
Mirror Lake. 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 →