North Side of Square Top from Lamphier Lake

Overview

Henry Mountain is a remote Class 2 peak right in the middle of the Fossil Ridge Wilderness, a separate corner of the Sawatch best reached from Gunnison. The area is gentle and full of wildlife, and Lamphier Lake on the way is very photogenic.

A rocky old roadbed leads to Lamphier Lake. From the lake's west end you climb a steep, rocky gully to the ridge west of Gunsight Pass, contour on a faint path around the north side of Square Top Mountain, and walk tundra to Henry. Only the top is rocky.

The loop is about 10.5 miles with 3,775 feet of gain, using a different way down over Square Top, Fossil Mountain and Sheep Mountain. Returning the way you came is a bit shorter. Mileage and gain are our estimates.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Gunnison, drive 11.7 miles east on US 50 to Parlin (from Poncha Springs it's 48.5 miles west over Monarch Pass). Turn north on County Road 76 and drive 8.7 miles up a wide, green valley to Ohio City.

Two roads leave Ohio City heading north; take the second one, County Road/Forest Road 771. It's fast, well-kept gravel for most of its 8.25 miles. The last 2 miles need slower, careful driving, but not high clearance; crossover SUVs do fine. At the road's end, the small Gold Creek campground sits west of Lamphier Creek. Cross the creek and turn left right away into a parking area in the trees with a kiosk. That's the trailhead.

Gold Creek campground has only 4 or 5 sites, an old toilet, picnic tables and fire rings. There's no water; use the creek and filter it. If it's full, there are primitive spots along the last half mile of road. Comanche campground, about 2 miles north of Ohio City, is another small option.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Gold Creek trailhead 10,075' · 0 mi

   Take Trail 428 toward Gunsight Pass and Lamphier Lake. It follows an old roadbed that is loose and rocky, worst at the start. Newer switchbacks may not match older maps.

2. 2

   Lamphier Lake 11,700' · 2.7 mi

   Walk along the north shore. The grass here can be soggy during snowmelt.

   Watch for: Snow can linger above 11,000 feet into early summer.

3. 3

   Gully top 12,500' · 3.4 mi

   Instead of going to Gunsight Pass, head for the break at the west end of the ridge and climb a steep, rocky gully to the ridge crest.

   Watch for: Steep and loose in places.

4. 4

   North side of Square Top 12,900' · 4 mi

   Climb tundra toward Square Top. About 200 feet below its top, follow a faint path across its north side to save the drop.

5. 5

   Saddle 12,800' · 4.5 mi

   Reach the saddle south of Henry.

6. 6

   Henry Mountain 13,272' · 5 mi

   Walk northwest up tundra with forget-me-nots and moss campion. It gets rocky near the top.

Getting down

Return the same way, or make a loop: go southeast over Square Top and Fossil Mountain, then follow Fossil's southeast ridge toward Sheep Mountain, with views of Boulder Lake. From Sheep Mountain, head southeast down very steep, open forest to meet the Fossil Ridge Trail (Trail 478), and follow its switchbacks back to the campground.

If things go wrong

Retrace your steps to the gully and Lamphier Lake.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up Henry Mountain we list, with its class.

• Henry Mountain via Square Top Mtn. this routeClass 2 10.5 mi