LoJ: #590 (Pre-LiDAR #594) / 13,073' Sheep Mountain Sheep Mountain D

Range › San Juan Range
Quadrangle › Columbine Pass
Summit Location › Peak Route Icon N 37° 32' 45.72", W 107° 33' 27.06" (Not Field Checked)

Peak Summary

Ranked among the lowlier 13ers, Sheep Mountain D is a Class 2 hike with a broad and flat summit finish. In our proposed route, Sheep Mtn. is part of a 4-day backpacking-climbing trip. Vehicle access to the Endlich Mesa trailhead requires better than average clearance, 4WD useful, but aggressive 4WD not required. Lidar added 3 feet in elevation to this summit, listing it as 13,073 ft.

Sheep Mtn. D North Ridge Route

Class 2
Peak Icon Peak Icon Peak Icon Peak Icon
Short Day // A Wee Little Climb
Climbed with Amherst Mountain + "Peak Twenty Two" + Organ Mountain
RT From Endlich Mesa Trailhead: 20.6 mi / 4,770'
RT From City Reservoir #1 with Amherst Mountain+"Organ Mountain B"+"Formerly UN 13105": 6.6 mi / 3,770'
From "Formerly UN 13105": 0.75 mi / 370' (One-Way)
  • Trailhead
    • Endlich Mesa Trailhead

      This trailhead description will begin from downtown Durango. If coming from the north of town on US550, drive south until 550 (aka: Main Street) crosses the Animas River. Less than 2 blocks after that crossing, turn east (left) onto 15th St. In a few blocks, this road turns NE and becomes Florida Rd., which in turn is CR240. Follow this paved road through mostly residential areas as it gains elevation for just under 12 miles to an intersection. Turn left onto CR243 and drive north to Lemon Reservoir. It's just over 4 miles to the reservoir where the road turns to graded gravel. Now drive 5.4 miles along the east shore of the reservoir and past the north end of it to a turnoff for the Florida Campground. Do not turn, but continue straight onto what will become FR597, aka: "East Florida Road" on the Trails Illustrated map. The road soon degenerates and heads generally NE, climbing up the mountainside on numerous switchbacks. The long and winding road continues from the Florida Campground turnoff for nearly 10 miles to the trailhead. There will be several at-large camping opportunities along the way as well as in the vicinity of the trailhead. The road is basically "single-lane," and though you really don't need 4WD, extra clearance is of help because the road is arduously rocky. You can never go very fast unless you want to rattle your vehicle to death. It took us about an hour and a half from Durango. Along FR597, there are numerous meadows with abundant yellow wildflowers. There were some potholes toward the end, but nothing challenging. We drove this road in 2006. Be aware that during our 2006 visit, we saw clear indications that a large group of domestic sheep are moved up this road and trail for summer grazing. You may encounter large trucks as a result.

      Update 2020: We received this update from a site user. As with many Forest Service roads, apparently budget constraints restrict the amount of grading and other work that can be done on FS roads so most roads tend to fall into neglect and worsen in condition over the years. This road has apparently become one of those casualties. We were advised that the road has become even rockier, requiring slower driving and more time from Durango. The site user suggests that it may now take a minimum of two hours to 2.5 hours to make this drive. He also strongly advises that AWD or 4WD vehicles should be used with higher clearance. He did report seeing a RAV4 at the trailhead with apparent undercarriage damage from the drive. Please take this information into consideration when planning your trip.

    Approach Map Photos
    • From Endlich Mesa TH via City Reservoir #1 & "Formerly UN 13105":

      • Endlich Mesa to City Reservoir #1  Easy | RT: 14 mi / 1,000’

        From the trailhead parking area, the trail (#534) heads NE on a switchback path of an old, highly rutted roadbed toward Endlich Mesa. We found a trail that ran somewhat parallel but which avoided the half dozen switchbacks by taking a more direct route upward. A steady but fairly gentle climb for a mile brings you to treeline. When we hiked this, the trail was covered with sheep prints and numerous smelly deposits. Once on the open ridge, there will be several miles (about 5) of open, tundra hiking with distant, spectacular vistas in most every direction except east. Take the opportunity at times to walk off the trail to the east and gaze down into the basins where we spotted elk on more than one occasion. The trail remains easy to walk and just as easy to follow, cresting out at about 12,200 ft.

        After about 5 miles the trail crossed a small ridge and there was a fork to the left. Take this fork that heads down to City Reservoir #1 in the City of Durango watershed. Unlike the City of Boulder watershed in the Indian Peaks, you can legally enter here and even camp without threat of prosecution. The trail drops steeply down initially for a knee-bashing descent of 1,400 vertical feet to the reservoir. Remember that when you leave this area, you may have to pack back up this section of trail. You may observe some nice wildflowers along the way. The Trails Illustrated map shows the trail branching down near the reservoir. Either fork will get you there, but the right fork, may be a little shorter if the trail is still visible. Cross the dam at the south end and walk along the west shore toward the NE and the upper end of the reservoir. There is a nice campsite at that NE end on the edge of the trees with easy access to the lake. Streams are nearby for fresh water. The largest campsite can accommodate several tents easily, while nearby are several other smaller campsites. It took us about 4.5 hours to make this backpack in.


        Route shown is an approximation. Not intended for use as a GPX track.

        Campsite Locations

        City Reservoir #1 Camp N 37° 32' 39.18", W 107° 35' 04.52"

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      • Amherst Mtn. SW Face  Class 4 / 3.0 mi / 2,250’ One-Way

        From the proposed base camp at the NE end of City Reservoir #1, head north on the trail up to Lake Marie hiking steeply up the forested drainage. In the vicinity of where the USGS map indicates to site of "Logtown," cross the creek to the NE. In 2006, we found a rock cairn marking a place to cross the stream where it passes over some rocks. After crossing, we bushwhacked up steeply through some willows on a fairly well-defined trail that showed passage of horses recently. The trail eventually took us on the east side of the creek that drains Castilleja Lake (Durango Reservoir #4). We passed a nice campsite on the way up along this stream in the open area that the map shows NE of Logtown. In the upper reaches of the valley, the trail fades away, but hiking is easy and quick across tundra and grass. Walk on past the three small tarns south of the two larger, unnamed lakes. Just before where this valley drops off steeply to the north, contour east and work your way over into another large valley/basin that heads eastward to Amherst. This basin will also be filled with tundra and grass until you come below the SW face of Amherst. The upper end of the basin becomes mostly broken rock.

        At the time we made this climb, the only beta we had was the 'Guide To the Colorado Mountains" which said to "hike" up the SW face of Amherst, then to continue over to Organ. That was certainly an understatement. The word "Hike" is not an adequate description for the rocky and steep SW face. From here, note that there are two basic ways to the summit that we will mention. Looking over to the south ridge of Amherst, you'll notice a significant notch with a reddish gully that runs up to the notch. "Furthermore" on LoJ went up that gully to the notch, rating it a 3rd class scramble, but did not proceed up the south ridge, Instead, he angled over to the Amherst/Organ saddle and climbed Organ first, then went back to the saddle and ascended Amherst by its east ridge. His account is not very clear as to how he descended Amherst, but it sounds as though he descended the south ridge back to the notch. He does not mention anything harder than 3rd class. We did not choose to go that way, but our notes observe that the notch and the south ridge would have been easier than how we went.

        The route we took went directly up the SW face. We walked up a moderately steep runout slope until it steepened and we began to scramble up the main face. We headed in the general direction of a dark, almost black crack, staying to the left generally. At one point we found ourselves navigating a steep, sloping shelf covered with loose gravel. We actually used a short piece of rope here to belay each other up this shelf with one of us taking the lead ascending a short, but near vertical step to another shelf from which a belay could be offered. This was only for a few feet, but this was the crux, 4th class section. The rope was mainly used because of the loose gravel. The upper shelf really offered nothing to belay from. Once above this crux, things eased up a bit. A little further up, we found a steep ramp leading right that brought us out on the south ridge, and east flank of the peak, just below the summit for a more pleasant finish. Looking back down the south ridge to the notch mentioned earlier confirmed to us that the notch and south ridge/east flank combo would have been simpler. This is one of those cases where we do not recommend our own route.

        From the summit, you'll enjoy a good view over to Organ Mountain which pairs very nicely with Amherst if time and weather allows. There's also a great view looking across Johnson Creek to McCauley and Grizzly.

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      • Organ Mtn. SW Face  Class 3 / 0.6 mi / 450’ One-Way

        Organ Mountain is sequenced with Amherst Mountain before and UN13,105 following. Mileage and elevation gain estimates are measured from Amherst. From the summit of Amherst, head back SE along the summit ridge, then descend the east side/ridge of the mountain toward the Amherst/Organ saddle. This east flank is steep but easy to navigate, being comprised higher up of small, granite gravel, interspersed with clumps of tundra and flowers and some boulders. More tundra becomes dominant lower down. It only takes about 15 minutes to make this descent.

        Begin ascending Organ along the SW face and ridge on similar terrain, encountering more granite gravel higher up. The first 200 feet are easy with spectacular views looking down into Johnson Creek and across to Echo Mountain, if you're close enough to the ridge. The upper/final portion of Organ is fractured into great blocks of granite, much like Sunlight Peak, but far less of it. To gain the summit, we circled to the right some and hiked steeply up into these blocks to find a path to the summit. Depending on your choice of path, you may have a little 3rd class scrambling. Have some fun wit it. At the base of the summit block, you'll find it to be one of those one-person-at-a-time type summits. Take turns to make the 3rd class scramble to the top. If you want to stop for lunch, you'll have to find a place nestled in between the boulders.

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      • UN13,107 NW Ridge  Class 2+ / 1.5 mi / 700’ One-Way

        UN13,107 (Peak Twenty Two) is sequenced with Amherst and Organ Mountains. Elevation and mileage estimates are from the summit of Organ, which is the second summit in this sequence. From the summit of Organ, drop back down to the Organ/Amherst saddle. From there head south into the upper bowl of Sheep Draw and cross a minor, SE running ridge as you continue to contour south at about the 12,400 foot level. This is prime elk habitat. Utilize their paths to assist in this contour. Most of the terrain is tundra with occasional patches of rubble and some rock outcrops to work through or around. The hiking goes quickly. Stay above a rock bluff just before coming to a couloir that leads up to a saddle between UN13,107 and Emerson Mountain. Head up the couloir to the saddle. Elk paths will bring you to this point. From there, walk SE up the NW ridge of UN13,107. The easiest path is to stay off the ridge crest until near the summit area. Then you can cross more onto the summit ridge and work across boulders and large, broken blocks for the finish. Depending on route taken, you may find some brief Class 3 scrambling, but we managed to keep it below that level.

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    Peak Icon Route Map Photos

    Route Info Sheep Mtn. D North Ridge

    Route Description

    Year Climbed: 2006

    Sheep Mtn. D is sequenced with Amherst Mtn., Organ and UN13,105 with Sheep being the last leg of the day, though this route could be easily reversed. Mileage and elevation gain are measured from the summit of UN13,105. From that summit, unless you want some rock scrambling opportunity by descending directly down the south ridge of UN13,105, retreat back along the NW ridge until you can drop west and down to more even terrain. A bench formation leads over to the UN13,105-Sheep saddle. Hike south across tundra toward Sheep Mtn. Avoid a couple of rock towers by staying well below the ridge line on the west and delaying the beginning of your ascent of Sheep until past the towers. As you begin to ascend Sheep, continue to stay on the west side of the ridge to avoid problems as the slope steepens. Ledges will enable you to gain elevation and avoid minor cliffs, and a gully will help you attain the large, flat summit area. "Furthermore" on LoJ reports a couloir on the east side of the ridge that has some 3rd class spots in it.

    From this final summit (unless you want to bag a few 12ers), looking south you see a huge tundra plateau that stretches all the way to Sheridan Mtn. to the south. That tundra plateau is also covered with flat, granite outcrops and slabs with numerous small streams and beautiful flowering spots interspersed among the slabs. The summit of Sheep Mtn. offers an impressive and expansive view in all directions as well as a great place to linger and soak in some sun. From here, it will be an additional two miles to return to the base camp at Durango Reservoir #1. Drop west from the summit on a mostly tundra-covered slope and begin a descent into the myriad of low rock outcrops, ledges and slabs as you weave your way down to the unnamed drainage that drops directly west to the reservoir and the suggested base camp. You'll find yourself in another prime elk habitat area. We saw a large herd of more than 70 here. A small pond that shows on the USGS map at 11,860 ft. was also surrounded by a large, flat, lush grassy area that elk would love. There are also some nice photo opportunities with wildflowers and small waterfalls as a backdrop.

    As the basin begins to lose elevation more steeply, the elk trails will dwindle, so just stay on the north side of the creek and work your way down through the forest back to the base camp area by the reservoir. The entire loop of Amherst, Organ, UN13,105 and Sheep took us about 9 hours. We lost more than a half hour waiting out a couple of rain showers.


    Additional BETA

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