Uncompahgre Peak Summit Hike Out and Back

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This must be one of the most aesthetic 14ers. Located on the north end of the San Juan range, with a remote trailhead and a relatively short out and back day hike. Navigation is fairly simple, and the hike is not at all technical until the last few hundred feet.

The marmots like to chew on anything that has even a little bit of salty human sweat on it. If you leave your trekking poles, backpack, or any gear on the side of the trail for any period of time, you may return to some destroyed or mangled gear.

Uncompahgre Peak is a favorite for trail runners stopping through Lake City. With a fairly flat, long, and scenic approach, this mountain offers excellent trails before a grueling couple miles up switchbacks to its summit. Due to its length and elevation change, even the fastest runners should expect at least 4 hrs round trip, with about 1.5-2 of them on this trail.

Uncompahgre Peak Trail #239 begins at the Nellie Creek Trailhead at the end of Nellie Creek Road, FSR #877 and ends at Uncompahgre Peak within the Uncompahgre Wilderness where Wilderness Regulations apply. The trail travels through high elevation alpine tundra and offers spectacular views of the peaks over 13,000 feet. After entering the trees, the trail follows Nellie Creek and quickly reaches tree line where Uncompahgre Peak comes into view to the west.

At 0.9 miles it reaches the junction with the Big Blue Creek Trail #232 and starts to climb steadily to the west. Approximately one mile past the Big Blue Creek Trail junction, the trail heads south toward the south ridge of Uncompahgre Peak.

From here it's only about a mile to the summit (but also around 1,500 ft gain). Run up a steep dirt trail, following some switchbacks. These will stay just left of the mesa-like formation of Uncompahgre's summit. Pass through a steep, rocky portion before gaining the south ridge at 13,800 ft.

From here, the trail disappears behind the ridge, hugging Uncompahgre's west side. Come to about 200 ft of class 2+ rock, the crux of the run. After making it through this loose, steep section, come to a flat area just below the summit. There may be multiple trail segments here, but they all lead to the same place. Pick a path, angle up toward the right past the final 100 ft of gain, and reach the top. Uncompahgre has a unique, flat summit, similar to but even larger than Longs Peak's football-field-like table top.

From here, you may head back to Matterhorn Creek or, if time permits, head back to the junction to run Wetterhorn Peak (it is recommended this double be done with Wetterhorn first - it's closer to the trailhead, so you're more likely to summit at least one peak should bad weather hit).

This is truly one of the most scenic 14ers in Colorado. The pika and marmots seem to agree, as they are inquisitive enough to wander right up to even large groups of runners. The valleys here are full of wildflowers while mountain goats and bighorn sheep seem to stay away for the most part.