Is it right for you?
Gladstone Ridge rises north of South Cottonwood Creek, west of Buena Vista. It sees few visitors, at least from this side.
There's no trail. You fight north through thick aspen and fallen trees for about half an hour, then turn into an open side gulch and climb steep but easy grass past old bristlecone pines. Higher up, the tundra turns rocky, and you hit the west ridge roughly 0.3 mile short of the top. It's Class 2.
The round trip is about 4 miles with 2,660 feet of gain; fit hikers are back before lunch. Mark your car on a GPS; the forest makes it easy to drift off line.
Plan of the day
By 7:30 a.m.
Be above the bristlecones by 10:30 a.m.
Deadfall and brush in the lower gulch.
Moderate. Keep the creek on your right, then turn into the open side gulch near 11,200 feet.
Jonesy Gulch creek. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,212'…—
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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
Jonesy Gulch
From US 24 in Buena Vista, drive west on County Road 306 (Cottonwood Pass road) 7.7 paved miles and turn left (south) on County Road 344. It is graded gravel 3.6 miles to a picnic area at the east end of Cottonwood Lake. Cottonwood Lake Campground, just west of the lake, has 28 first-come sites with water and vault toilets and fills on summer weekends.
Keep west 3.35 miles to the Hope Gulch trailhead (easy to miss), 0.95 mile more to the Green Timber Gulch trailhead, and 0.9 mile more to where the road crosses the creek from Jonesy Gulch. Park nearby; there is no sign or trail. Many cars can make it. There are primitive sites along the road, including a good one about half a mile west of Jonesy Gulch, but some parcels here are private.
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
Jonesy Gulch. 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 →