Is it right for you?
Finnegan Peak (UN 13,352) is an unofficially named summit in the Holy Cross Wilderness, at the head of the New York Lake valley next to Gold Dust Peak. The hike to New York Lake is one of the most beautiful, quiet walks in Colorado.
You follow trails past the old Polar Star Mine, drop through a cliff band and walk a long bench to New York Lake. Then you climb a huge rock glacier and a couloir to the ridge north of the summit, with Class 3 scrambling on the way. The distance isn't great, but the boulders make for a long day.
The round trip is about 7 miles with 3,550 feet of gain. Go early in summer if you can, when snow still covers the boulder field.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be at the top of the boulder field by 11 a.m.
Loose couloir and Class 3 blocks below the ridge.
Moderate. The bench trail is faint, with cairns; scout the climb before you reach the lake.
Small streams on the bench and New York Lake. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,352'…—
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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
New York Mountain
Leave I-70 at Eagle and cross the river heading south. At the roundabout just past the river, go west on old US 6, then turn south at the next roundabout, about a mile on, following signs for Sylvan Lake State Park. The road winds south and southeast through neighborhoods to the Brush Creek Road (County Road 307, also Forest Road 400) just after a creek crossing. Turn right (southeast) and drive 11.8 miles, past a large golf course, to a signed junction and turn left (east) on Forest Road 415.
Go 6 miles on this road to Yeoman Park Campground, then about 0.3 mile more and turn left on Forest Road 418 toward Fulford. It's 3.8 miles of decent gravel with potholes to the Fulford turn. Stay on Forest Road 418 (the Nolan Creek road) past junctions with roads 419, 435 and 421. It gets rougher, but a high-clearance SUV can manage.
Some 8.7 miles after leaving Forest Road 415 for Fulford, you come to the Polar Star Hut parking at a switchback. Turn left there; the last 0.7 mile to the New York Mountain trailhead (11,210 feet) needs high-clearance 4WD. Plan on at least an hour from Eagle. There's room to camp by the car and good tent sites a short way up the trail, but mosquitoes can be fierce in July. Yeoman Park Campground is the developed option.
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
New York Mountain. 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 →