North Ridge from UN 13,221

Overview

Wayah Peak is a Class 2 summit south of UN 13,221, east of Ruedi Reservoir. New mapping lowered it from 13,284 to 13,277 feet. It's usually climbed with UN 13,221.

From UN 13,221 you go back to the saddle, cross the false south summit, and stroll the ridge to Wayah. The ridge looks harder than it is, winding through rocks and tundra shelves, and takes about half an hour. Two more soft-ranked points lie farther south if you have time.

With UN 13,221, the round trip is about 8.05 miles with 3,610 feet of gain. From UN 13,221 it's about 0.8 mile and 385 feet one way. Plan on about 7 hours.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

Get to Basalt on Highway 82 and take the main exit (with a traffic light) into town. Follow Midland Avenue through downtown; it becomes the Fryingpan River Road and heads east to Ruedi Reservoir. The paved road is winding and narrow, so take it slow.

After the road crosses the river at the reservoir's east end, go 4.1 miles to the Forest Road 501 turnoff and keep straight on the pavement, then pass the Chapman Reservoir turnoff. About 4 miles later, at a fork, go right on Forest Road 505 (left goes toward Hagerman Pass). The gravel road runs about 6.6 miles along the mountainside to a dead end at a stream gauging station, the trailhead for Lilypad Lake and the Fryingpan Lakes.

Cars can make it, but a little extra clearance is nice. Chapman Campground (78 sites, water, toilets, some reservable) is the nearest; it's close to an hour from Basalt. You can car camp at the trailhead, but there are no toilets and few good spots along Forest Road 505.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Lilypad/Fryingpan Lakes trailhead 9,990' · 0 mi

   Cross the bridge below the spillway, head west, and pick up an old trail going southwest up Marten Creek. It's closed and not maintained.

2. 2

   Willow section 10,300' · 1.2 mi

   The trail fades after about a mile, and willows hide it. Push through, then find a faint trail skirting marshes on the creek's west side.

   Watch for: Thick willows.

3. 3

   Creek crossing 10,500' · 2 mi

   After about two miles, the trail crosses to the east bank. You may have to make your own crossing.

4. 4

   Leave the creek 10,600' · 2.2 mi

   Go a little farther south to where the trees close in on both banks, just below 10,600 feet. Walk through the trees and start up the steep grass east.

5. 5

   Bench 11,400' · 2.6 mi

   About 800 feet up, reach a bench with signs of an old fire. Above it the slope gets steeper.

6. 6

   Saddle 12,900' · 3.3 mi

   Keep climbing steep grass and tundra, about 2,300 feet from the creek in all, to the saddle between the true north summit and a false south summit.

7. 7

   UN 13,221 13,221' · 3.5 mi

   Drop a little on the west side and follow a rocky ramp north to the big summit blocks, then scramble to the top boulder.

   Watch for: Class 2+, easy to make it Class 3.

8. 8

   Saddle again 12,900' · 3.7 mi

   Head back south down the ridge to the saddle.

9. 9

   False south summit 13,100' · 3.9 mi

   Walk over the false summit.

10. 10

    Wayah Peak 13,277' · 4.3 mi

    Follow the easy ridge south to the top.

Getting down

Go back north to the saddle with UN 13,221 and drop west down the grass, joining your ascent route near the bench at 11,400 feet. Then retrace the creek trail through the willows.

If things go wrong

Drop west from the saddle to Marten Creek.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Wayah Peak we list, with its class.

• Wayah Peak North Ridge this routeClass 2 8.05 mi