Is it right for you?
UN 13,071 is a rocky summit above Lime Creek in the rugged core of the Holy Cross Wilderness, south of Mystic Island Lake. The area is full of cirques, rock glaciers, hanging valleys and waterfalls. Newer survey data cut its height by 29 feet.
You hike the Eagle Lake trail around the private land at Woods Lake and past Eagle Lake, then climb a brushy avalanche chute and drainage into a basin. Above, steep tundra leads to about 1,000 feet of big boulders and the top. It's a rugged Class 2. The ridge route from the west, near Fools Peak, is a longer, harder way and can hold a snow-filled notch.
The round trip is about 9 miles with 4,100 feet of gain. Mileage and gain are our estimates. Unranked Eagle Peak is a short scramble north along the ridge, and Ribbed Peak is a 2- to 3-hour ridge traverse away.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be in the upper basin by 11 a.m.
About 1,000 feet of big boulder talus.
Moderate. Find the right avalanche chute east of Eagle Lake; above it there's only the odd cairn.
Lime Creek and the lakes. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,071'…—
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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
Eagle Lake - Lime Creek
From Basalt, follow the Frying Pan road (County Road 104) up the valley, past Ruedi Reservoir, to Thomasville. There, turn north on the Crooked Creek Pass road, a steep graded dirt road. After about 7 miles of climbing, turn right on Forest Road 507 and go 1.6 miles to the small Eagle Lake parking area. This last stretch is rougher, and a car with extra clearance is a good idea. The lot sits a bit less than half a mile before Woods Lake, which is private land.
From I-70 at Eagle, head south through town on the Sylvan Lake road (County Road 307). The pavement ends after about 10 miles; keep right at a fork near there, now on Forest Road 400. Pass Sylvan Lake 4 to 5 miles later. The road then gets rougher for about 4 miles to the top of Crooked Creek Pass and drops roughly 2.5 miles down the far side to the Forest Road 507 turn. Careful drivers have made it in ordinary cars, but higher clearance is more relaxing.
There are a few camp spots along the road shortly before the parking area, but none good at the lot itself. Ruedi Reservoir has campgrounds farther away. Inside the wilderness there are good sites about 2 miles in, on the north shore of Eagle Lake, and at the east end of Fairview Lake.
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
Eagle Lake - Lime Creek. 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 →