LoJ: #486 (Pre-LiDAR #490) / 13,207' UN 13207 Formerly UN 13201

Range › San Juan Range
Quadrangle › Wetterhorn Peak
Summit Location › Peak Route Icon N 38° 02' 19.00", W 107° 31' 28.87" (Not Field Checked)
Neighboring Peaks › Peak Icon UN 13313 [Formerly UN 13300 C]

Peak Summary

UN 13,207 (formerly UN 13201) is a pleasant Class 2 hike typical to this part of the San Juan Mountains. Vehicle access to the trailhead by way of the North Fork of Henson Creek to Mary Alice Creek is best accomplished with 4WD and good clearance or 2WD with well above average clearance. This summit is sequenced with UN 13,313 and both offer unparalleled views of Wetterhorn and Coxcomb as well as a host of other high summits in this remote section of the San Juans.

UN 13,207 South Ridge Route

Class 2
Medium Day // Take a Lunch
Climbed with
RT From Mary Alice Creek TH: 5mi / 2,545'
  • Trailhead
    • Mary Alice Creek TH

      Directions begin from Lake City. From Gunnison, go west on SH50 to the intersection near the beginning of Blue Mesa Reservoir with SH149 and turn south. From Montrose, drive east on SH50 to the east end of Blue Mesa Reservoir for the same turnoff on SH149. Drive west and south on 149 to Lake City, just over 45 miles from the previous intersection. Once in Lake City, watch for either 3rd or 2nd street. Turning west on either will take you to Bluff St. in two blocks and a left turn (south). 2nd St. is considered the "official" access to CR20 which heads west following Henson Creek, but if you take 3rd St., it passes by a nice city park with restroom and picnic tables for those who need a break before proceeding further.

      Once on CR20, drive 9.1 miles west to Capitol City on a graded, gravel road passable to passenger vehicles. On the Gunnison National Forest map, this road is labelled as BLM3303. At 5.2 miles into this drive, you'll pass the Nellie Creek Road (FR877) which accesses Uncompahgre Peak and several 13ers located in that area. At Capitol City take the right fork and continue NW on FR870 (aka: CR24) to the Matterhorn Creek trailhead turnoff at 11.1 miles from Lake City. The road becomes rougher but higher clearance SUV's and cross-overs should be able to handle to this point. Coordinates for that turnoff are: N 38° 01' 22.65" W 107° 29' 31.09". Many vehicles will choose to park here if doing Wetterhorn, Matterhorn or Broken Hill.

      For Mary Alice Creek, continue driving west for another .75 mile. The road continues to get rougher and may or may not be passable for cross-over type vehicles. A stock 4WD would be a better choice for continuing to Mary Alice Creek. Park in the vicinity of the intersection for the road that turns up northwestward after crossing Mary Alice Creek. That road is the beginning of the trail up Mary Alice Creek.


      Camping

      In the immediate area, there is a good primitive site just before crossing Matterhorn Creek on the uphill side of the road and a couple other sites shortly after crossing Matterhorn Creek, one on the right, then one on the left. At Capitol City there is some primitive camping, but be aware of private property in that area. Then, heading west up the road to Matterhorn Creek and Mary Alice Creek, there are a few other primitive sites before reaching Matterhorn Creek. On weekends, you can expect most of these to be occupied. On weekdays, you may have your pick. There are no National Forest campgrounds along CR20 between Capitol City and Lake City.

    Peak Icon Route Map Photos

    Route Info UN 13,207 South Ridge

    Route Description

    Year Climbed: 2004

    From the trailhead coordinates strike out to the north on Uncompahgre Trail #226 for what is called Wetterhorn Basin. We followed an old road/trail that climbed steadily and crossed to the east side of Mary Alice Creek about 1/2 mile up. The trail continued north through trees and meadows to a point where it switchbacked at about 11,720 ft. It was here, that we left the trail. Google Earth photos seem to indicate there may be some trail damage from the 2018 - 2019 avalanche season. So you may have to improvise to reach the upper basin.

    From the switchback, drop down to the creek, climb up the other side and skirt willows by a group of trees while heading generally west. Head for the south ridge of UN 13,207. As we hiked up the ever steepening slope, we crossed numerous, domestic sheep trails. At 12,320 ft, we gained the ridge, having hiked this far on nice tundra. A nice attraction we observed was a group of Bighorn sheep that were on the ridge ahead of us and kept peering over it, looking down on our approach. By the time we reached the ridge, they had headed on up and over the summit. In the bright, morning sun, we continued hiking north along the ridge. At 12,800 ft., contour to the right, to avoid a rocky, cliff section along the ridge, then regain the ridge for the finish to the fairly broad and flat summit. It only took us a little over two hours to arrive here.


    Additional BETA

    Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful.
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