East Notch from Carter Creek

Overview

UN 13,002 rose into the 13ers after new lidar measurements. It sits deep in the Holy Cross Wilderness above the chain of Carter Creek lakes, looking down on Lime Creek and the Strawberry Lakes, with Ribbed Peak to the north.

You hike the Savage Lakes trail, drop to Carter Lake, and follow a faint, overgrown trail up the creek past five lakes. From the sixth lake you climb a steep slope to a notch, then work up ledges to the summit ridge. It is Class 2+ with Class 3 moves.

The round trip is about 11.6 miles with 4,380 feet of gain, counting the drop to Carter Lake. Many people backpack it. A 2023 blowdown made the trail down to Carter Lake nearly impassable; check with the White River National Forest first. The other way in is from Missouri Lakes over to Blodgett Lake and the top of the Carter drainage.

Plan of the day

Getting to the trailhead

From Highway 82, take the exit into downtown Basalt and follow Midland Avenue east; it becomes the Frying Pan Road (County Road 104). Drive the winding road along the north side of Ruedi Reservoir and down to the inlet. After the road crosses the river there, go 4.1 more miles and turn left on Road 501, signed for Elk Wallow Campground.

Pass Elk Wallow, then stay left where a road branches south toward Cunningham Creek, about 1.6 miles on, near the Josephine Lake trailhead. The Savage Lakes trailhead is 3.2 miles farther. The road gets rougher near the end, but most cars make it. There is a big lot that fills on weekends.

Elk Wallow is a small fee campground. There are primitive sites along the road, mostly near the Josephine Lake trailhead, and you can sleep in a vehicle at the trailhead.

Next: the route, step by step →

The route

1. 1

   Savage Lakes trailhead 9,900' · 0 mi

   Hike the Savage Lakes trail. The Carter Lake trail branches left most of the way to the lower Savage lake.

2. 2

   Carter Lake trail 10,700' · 1.8 mi

   Turn left and follow broad switchbacks down through forest.

   Watch for: Fallen trees may block this trail.

3. 3

   Carter Lake 10,300' · 2.4 mi

   Cross the outlet at the south end of the lake on a mat of logs, if it is still there. The trail does not go around the east side. Campsites are nearby.

4. 4

   Small pond 10,700' · 3 mi

   Follow the trail up the west side of the creek through thick plants. Keep northeast at a junction with a trail from Henderson Park.

5. 5

   First upper lake 11,300' · 3.8 mi

   The trail crosses to the east side below a small gorge, runs above the creek on rock outcrops, and crosses back at the top of the gorge in low willows.

6. 6

   Lake 6 11,900' · 4.9 mi

   Pass lakes 2 through 5 on the fading trail, then go off trail to lake 6.

7. 7

   Notch 12,700' · 5.5 mi

   On the west side of the lake, climb a steep slope of flowers to a bench of big blocks. Angle right to a talus and low tundra slope under a notch in the ridge, and climb it. There's no need to go to the saddle farther northeast.

   Watch for: Class 3 moves at the top. Snow early.

8. 8

   Summit 13,002' · 5.8 mi

   Turn left and climb ledges diagonally southwest on mostly solid rock, then follow the rocky ridge to the top.

   Watch for: Exposed Class 2+.

Getting down

Return the same way. A route up the southwest ridge from Josephine Lake may be possible but is untested.

If things go wrong

Back down to lake 6.

3D flyover

See the trail on video

Other routes

Every way up UN 13,002 we list, with its class.

• UN13002 this routeClass 3 11.6 mi