Is it right for you?
Jones Mountain rises south of the Cottonwood Pass road, above Ptarmigan Lake. The name covers both the 13er and a ranked 12,995-foot point at the north end of the ridge, so this route takes in both.
You hike the Ptarmigan Lake trail most of the way to the lake, climb the east face of North Jones, and stroll south on a wide tundra ridge to the broad summit. It is easy Class 2, with wildflowers early in summer. You come back past Ptarmigan Lake.
The loop is about 8.5 miles with 2,955 feet of gain; plan on most of a day. Gladstone Ridge to the east adds about 2.7 miles each way.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be on North Jones by 11 a.m.
Nothing hard; just the length.
Easy. Leave the trail below the small tarn at about 11,750 feet.
Ptarmigan Creek and Ptarmigan Lake. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,214'…—
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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
Ptarmigan Lake
From the traffic light on US 24 in the center of Buena Vista, head west on County Road 306 toward Cottonwood Pass. It is paved, so any car can make it. After 11 miles you pass Collegiate Peaks Campground; 3.7 miles beyond it, a road on the left (south) goes to the Ptarmigan Lake trailhead. A short spur through the trees ends at a small paved lot (room for about a dozen cars) with a vault toilet. The turn is easy to miss.
Collegiate Peaks Campground is a fee campground with 56 sites, water and vault toilets; some sites can be reserved, and it fills on summer weekends. Overnight camping isn't allowed at the Denny Creek or Ptarmigan Lake trailheads. One more option: about 13.9 miles from Buena Vista, County Road 346 turns south; a short drive leads to a locked gate where you can car camp. Watch for private land if you camp along the highway.
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
Ptarmigan Lake. 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 →