LoJ: #610 (Pre-LiDAR #612) / 13,043' "V 7" Previously UN 13042

This account revised July 2025. This is still a usable route/approach for V 7 and the Twin Sisters. The route describes uses a section of the Silverton, Hard Rock 100 course. We call this Option #1. Drive SW, up along the 4WD rated road SW of the South Mineral CG and trailhead parking for Ice Lake Basin. The first mile is passable for passenger cars carefully driven. After that, the road goes into a section of steeper climbing and becomes very rocky and slow. While clearance is not so much an issue, the ruggedness of the road is. Most any stock 4WD should have no problem. Higher clearance 2WD may be able to handle if driven slowly & carefully. The Hard Rock 100 course trail intersects the road here: N 37° 47' 20.30" W 107° 47' 49.62". There is a one-vehicle parking pullout just north and a blocked, old road just south where another vehicle or two may park. The trail (not very visible from the road) heads down to the creek from this location losing about 100 feet, and then climbs up on the other side. Creek crossing coordinates are: N 37° 47' 15.50" W 107° 47' 47.49". Once across the creek, the trail follows a wet, muddy streambed uphill, passing through willows and then entering forest above. Coordinates for where it enters the forest are: N 37° 47' 11.05" W 107° 47' 46.09".

Another start possibility would be farther SW up the road at the point where it splits to drop down into the meadow and crosses South Mineral Ck. A trail shows on Google Earth that drops down to the main creek, crosses it, climbs back up through willows, then joins another trail, fully on the east side of the main creek and heads back to the NE. This access should get you to the trail shown on the "MapBuilder Hybrid." This is the only map option that actually shows this trail. We'll call this option #2. At either creek crossing you may have to take off boots and wade across before getting underway.

Where the Hard Rock trail actually crosses, (Option 1) in 2025, we found a log jam about 100 yards downstream that we crossed on dryshod. We think the first option is best because it keeps you on the Hard Rock trail, which stays clearly visible the entire route.

Once across South Mineral Creek, the trail enters the forest and begins climbing steeply along the north edge of a steep, shallow gully with either some or no water depending on the season. During the month of July each year, the trail will likely be marked with reflective red tags periodically indicating this as a Hard Rock 100 route. The steepest hiking of this trip is in this section where you will gain nearly 600 feet on a series of semi-switchbacks. Around 11,200 ft., the trail moderates some, crossing a flower-filled, short open area and begins to contour uphill more to the east winding through the forest, crossing a minor ridge and then bringing you out into a clearing at the foot of a great, rock glacier. Continue following the trail down some 100 feet in elevation to the ESE, crossing a flower filled basin with some water in a small stream and then contouring through more forest to a crossing of Porcupine Creek. Before this crossing, we passed through an interesting area of great boulders, covered in moss and other plants, that had fallen from cliffs far above, many ages ago. In July, we actually found two forks of Porcupine Creek and for a while, the trail heads gently uphill between those two forks before dropping down even more to cross the main drainage. That stream crossing is at: N 37° 47' 03.92" W 107° 46' 29.59".

On the other side of Porcupine Creek, the trail climbs east, then south through a field of gorgeous flowers, mostly blue columbine, paintbrush and assorted yellow, daisy-like blooms. The trail climbs up one switchback into a small, level area, ascends another rock band and emerges at yet another large, level meadow. From here, head for the pass at 12,200 ft. on the eastern flank of Twin Sister East if doing the Twin Sisters. If climbing V 7, continue on the HR trail to the saddle between UN 12,584 and UN 12,609. The entire area becomes laced with elk trails, but on our hike we did not actually see any here. At the pass, pick up a well-used trail (by elk mostly) that rounds a ridge and grants access into the upper reaches of Cataract Creek. This trail is not the Colorado Trail which is a short distance to the south and downhill. You can see the two trails on the MapBuilder Hybrid. This drainage is an interesting place. The lower portion of the basin is entirely rimmed by a cliff that forms a narrow valley, filled with lush grass. There were elk grazing down in there. At the head of this valley, is a mile wide basin of gentle slopes and tundra. Flowers abound.

Walk east across the upper basin, rapidly heading for your destination of V 7, which you can now clearly see. On the other side of the basin head, begin hiking up the steeper slopes of V.7, walking almost exclusively on forgiving tundra and clumps of grass. After about 600 feet, gain the south ridge of the peak, turn north and follow the ridge to the small, grassy summit. Best features of this hike are: wildlife viewing and abundant flowers in mid-July. Return as you came or if you have time, include the Twin Sisters.

Note: V 7 can also be easily climbed from Little Molas Lake to the east. Use the trailhead parking lot with vault toilets for the segment of the Colorado Trail heading west. Follow that trail for just over 5 miles. Turn NW up a flower-filled basin with a fainter trail that heads up to a saddle between V 7 and UN 12,609. From the saddle, Continue north up the south ridge of V 7 to the summit. Round trip mileage this way is about 13 miles.