Overview
UN 13,385 is a broad tundra hump on the long northeast ridge of Mount Harvard, with a great view of Harvard and Mount Columbia and of Missouri, Belford and Oxford farther north.
A good trail follows Frenchman Creek to treeline. From there you cross the creek, pick up an old mining road, and climb steep but easy grass north to a false summit, Point 13,242, then stroll to the top. It is easy Class 2.
The round trip is about 9.2 miles with 3,055 feet of gain from the upper 4WD trailhead; it took one party under 3.5 hours up. Columbia or Harvard can be added from here.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at treeline by 10 a.m.
Steep grass below Point 13,242.
Easy. Leave the old road anywhere and head north.
Frenchman Creek. Filter it.
Getting to the trailhead
Frenchman Creek
Turn west off US 24 onto County Road 386, 7.8 miles north of the main light in Buena Vista or 27.1 miles south of Leadville. Keep straight past a road on the right; the road then bends sharply south, and right after that you must turn right to stay off private property.
Cars park at the lower trailhead 1.5 miles from the highway, which has little space. With high-clearance 4WD, keep left where County Road 387 forks right and drive 1.6 more miles on a narrow track through lodgepole, with one short rocky stretch, to the upper trailhead. You can camp at the upper trailhead, but room is tight. Campgrounds are around Twin Lakes.
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
Frenchman 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 →