Sawatch Range · Colorado 13er · No. 387 of the 13ers
North Ridge around Silver Basin
UN 13,251, 13,251'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip10.35 mi
Elevation gain4,755'
TrailheadSouth Winfield
Trailhead elevation10,560'
Conditions on the summit
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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.
Colorado 13er · North Ridge around Silver Basin
Overview
UN 13,251 is the fourth summit on the ridge that wraps around the head of Silver Basin, south of Sheep Rock Mountain.
From Sheep Rock it is the longest leg of the day, nearly two miles over three small unranked points with many small ups and downs on tundra and broken rock. It is easy, but it adds up.
Virginia, West Virginia, Sheep Rock, UN 13,251 and UN 13,258 make a rare five-summit day, all Class 2, circling Silver Basin: about 10.35 miles and 4,755 feet from the end of the South Winfield road, a little over 10 hours. Starting from Winfield adds about 4 miles.
Plan of the day
Start by
By 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be on Sheep Rock by 11 a.m.; later summits come in the afternoon, so watch the weather.
Crux
Just the length.
Route-finding
Easy on the ridge. Finding the creek crossing near the start takes care.
From US 24 between Leadville and Buena Vista, turn west on County Road 390 toward Clear Creek Reservoir. Drive about 11.7 miles on the graded dirt road to Winfield. The road narrows, gets potholed and is often washboarded near the end.
At Winfield, turn left (south), cross the creek, and follow the road about 2.25 miles to its end at a gated trailhead. Passenger cars should park soon after crossing the creek, as the road gets rough beyond. High-clearance vehicles can usually reach the end without 4WD. Parking at the end is limited because Huron Peak hikers use the same lot. There are dispersed campsites along the last two miles.
Trail in the treesRidgeTundraTalus and screeExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
South Winfield trailhead 10,560' · 0 mi
Walk about 100 yards south on the old road, then turn right (west) through an opening in the forest.
2
Creek crossing 10,500' · 0.3 mi
Push through willows and marsh and cross the creek just below where the Silver Basin fork joins. Then head northeast to a trail on the far side.
Watch for: Willows; a 4WD track near the Banker Mine is another way across.
3
Southeast ridge 10,900' · 0.6 mi
The trail crosses the broad southeast ridge of Virginia Peak low down. Pick one of two open, flowery slopes up to the ridge; it's steep at first.
4
Virginia Peak 13,094' · 1.75 mi
Climb grass and tundra past little benches of small trees and bright alpine sunflowers. Rock increases near the top.
5
West Virginia Peak 13,152' · 2.65 mi
Follow the ridge west about a mile over low tundra, embedded rock and medium boulders, past a rock window with a view north.
6
Sheep Rock Mountain 13,261' · 3.3 mi
Walk the ridge south. More broken rock slows you a little; about half an hour.
7
Point 13,115 13,115' · 4.3 mi
Head west, then south, around the head of Silver Basin over two small points, losing and regaining a few hundred feet each time.
8
UN 13,251 13,251' · 5.25 mi
Go over another small point and climb the last 375 feet. This two-mile stretch took one party nearly two hours.
Getting down
Continue to UN 13,258, then from UN 13,258, walk back northwest about 3/4 mile to a saddle and drop east into Silver Basin, past a small pear-shaped lake near 12,300 feet, on grassy slopes. Watch for elk. Follow the valley down to the trees near 11,600 feet and about 2 more miles along the old pack trail on the north side of the creek back to your morning crossing.
If things go wrong
Drop east into Silver Basin from a saddle.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past the creek crossing the route is mostly trailless ridge. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.