Is it right for you?
Pear Peak is a rocky Sawatch summit at the head of the Lake Fork valley, with a rugged north face you'll stare at all the way up the trail.
The line we describe climbs snow or rubble below the north face, follows a narrow bench to the east ridge with some exposed Class 4, then takes the slow, narrow east ridge to the top. The easier way is to reverse the descent: a loose Class 3 couloir near Point 12,818.
The round trip from the Clohesy Lake trailhead is about 7.5 miles with 2,800 feet of gain. Magdalene Mountain can be added by way of Pear Lake.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be on the east ridge by 11 a.m.
Exposed Class 4 reaching the east ridge.
Moderate to hard. Decide at the rock bench whether to take the north face or the Class 3 couloir.
Lake Fork Creek and side streams. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,459'…—
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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
Clohesy Lake
Take County Road 390 west from US 24 (about 2 miles south of Granite). About 9.8 miles in, 2.3 miles past the Missouri Gulch trailhead, turn left at the Rockdale turnoff and drive down past a few cabins. Cars park near 9,940 feet.
With a high-clearance 4WD you can ford Clear Creek; there is no bridge, and the ford can be risky or impossible until mid-July. The climb out of the creek is the roughest part. It's then a slow 2.5 miles to the Clohesy Lake trailhead at 10,880 feet, a meadow with room to camp, about 0.4 mile north of the lake. Without 4WD, add about 3 miles each way and the cold wade.
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
Clohesy 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 →