Buffalo Peaks Loop in Pike National Forest, CO

Hike Buffalo Peaks Loop Pike National Forest, CO

Class 2 11.1 miles 3300 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Aug 1, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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West Buffalo Peak and East Buffalo Peak are a 13er duo located within the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area, separated from the other major peaks in the Mosquito Range. The peaks can be approached from a few directions, but the route described here seems to be the most standard, likely because it forms a loop without having to reascend the other peak to return, while also keeping bushwhacking to a minimum. I met up with Rebecca and her pup Tefen at the trailhead, accessible by any vehicle, for our now-annual summer hike. We started out along a gated old switchbacking mining road, the start of the hike to the Buffalo Peaks. A trail bisects the road switchbacks earlier on, but sticking to the road is fine and a nice gradual ascent to start the day.

We began to get views toward the Buffalo Peaks, but the hike for the first couple of miles was mostly forested and not particularly interesting. A cairn marked a spot to leave the main mining road and head left along a social trail through the forest at roughly the same spot we'd be returning later to complete the loop. We emerged into open tundra and made an ascending traverse on the northern slope of East Buffalo Peak, which started off with some light brush to dodge, followed by a spattering of talus as we neared the top of the slope. We had started early to avoid predicted storms later in the day, but the only rain we encountered happened at this point, so the encroaching  brush along the slope drenched us. Honestly, why do we even check the weather? Tundra led to the base of East Buffalo Peak, where the peak's east ridge became covered in talus. We avoided an initial outcropping by keeping left, then continued directly on the crest using Class 2 talus. The terrain became tundra again toward the summit.

A social trail led west down from East Buffalo Peak on more Class 2 talus to the saddle with its higher neighbor, West Buffalo Peak. There were some cool slabby rock formations at the top of the cliffs at the saddle. Eventually the talus subsided and gave way to tundra with just some embedded rocks. We kept just left of the crest in order to stick to the grassier slope until the summit. Although the Buffalo Peaks' summits are both wide and therefore block the view somewhat, their isolation meant we could still see the valleys and rolling terrain forever in all directions.

To return to the trailhead, we needed to wrap around the north side of the Buffalo Peaks. Continuing west from West Buffalo Peak, a social trail was etched into the talus slope again and led us most of the way down to the tundra below. From here we contoured for a bit beneath West Buffalo Peak before the terrain became much more steep and it made more sense to descend more directly into the forest below. Once below tree line, we crossed a creek and bushwhacked for only a few hundred feet until we located an animal trail that led us pretty seamlessly through the forest without obstacles. After hiking through the forest for some time, we emerged on an old road covered in grass, taking it into a wide meadow. The Buffalo Peaks behind us were gorgeous from this angle. Now heading north through this meadow we ascended a small slope to regain the road we hiked in on.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
East Buffalo Peak
13303 ft
480 rise
2
West Buffalo Peak
13330 ft
1996 rise

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From the trailhead, we started along this old dirt road.
From the trailhead, we started along this old dirt road.
A trail cuts the road, and you can take either.
A trail cuts the road, and you can take either.
Ascending the road for a couple of miles.
Ascending the road for a couple of miles.
View back as we make progress to the base of the Buffalo Peaks.
View back as we make progress to the base of the Buffalo Peaks.
Buffalo Peaks coming into view ahead.
Buffalo Peaks coming into view ahead.
The road walk is mostly forested, though.
The road walk is mostly forested, though.
A junction with a cairn marking the correct way.
A junction with a cairn marking the correct way.
After leaving the road, we navigated the sometimes brushy slope, only annoying because everything was wet.
After leaving the road, we navigated the sometimes brushy slope, only annoying because everything was wet.
View back toward the road as we continue ascending the slope on Class 2 talus.
View back toward the road as we continue ascending the slope on Class 2 talus.
East Buffalo Peak (center) and West Buffalo Peak (right). We ascended to the left in this photo.
East Buffalo Peak (center) and West Buffalo Peak (right). We ascended to the left in this photo.
Another shot back as we reach the top of the slope.
Another shot back as we reach the top of the slope.
Continuing along the wide ridge to the base of East Buffalo Peak (left).
Continuing along the wide ridge to the base of East Buffalo Peak (left).
Ascending East Buffalo Peak.
Ascending East Buffalo Peak.
View back at the wide ridge.
View back at the wide ridge.
An outcropping that can be worked around at Class 2.
An outcropping that can be worked around at Class 2.
More progress up East Buffalo Peak.
More progress up East Buffalo Peak.
Sticking directly to the crest results in some more Class 2 up the steep talus.
Sticking directly to the crest results in some more Class 2 up the steep talus.
View back at our progress.
View back at our progress.
Nearing the summit of East Buffalo Peak.
Nearing the summit of East Buffalo Peak.
East Buffalo Peak summit.
East Buffalo Peak summit.
Onward toward West Buffalo Peak.
Onward toward West Buffalo Peak.
Descending Class 2 from East Buffalo.
Descending Class 2 from East Buffalo.
Some rockier sections along the crest, still Class 2.
Some rockier sections along the crest, still Class 2.
Cool rock formations as we ascend to West Buffalo Peak.
Cool rock formations as we ascend to West Buffalo Peak.
View back toward East Buffalo Peak along the ridge.
View back toward East Buffalo Peak along the ridge.
West Buffalo Peak ahead.
West Buffalo Peak ahead.
The sun came out as we ascended the tundra and embedded-rock slope.
The sun came out as we ascended the tundra and embedded-rock slope.
Almost at West Buffalo Peak, view back toward East Buffalo Peak.
Almost at West Buffalo Peak, view back toward East Buffalo Peak.
Just below West Buffalo Peak, a view west.
Just below West Buffalo Peak, a view west.
Descending West Buffalo Peak on its northwest side. There's a social trail some of the way down the talus.
Descending West Buffalo Peak on its northwest side. There's a social trail some of the way down the talus.
After getting past the talus, we curved to the right and wrapped beneath the peaks.
After getting past the talus, we curved to the right and wrapped beneath the peaks.
Traversing the mostly tundra slope beneath West Buffalo Peak.
Traversing the mostly tundra slope beneath West Buffalo Peak.
Descending toward the forest below.
Descending toward the forest below.
View back up at the slope descent from West Buffalo Peak.
View back up at the slope descent from West Buffalo Peak.
Descending below treeline.
Descending below treeline.
A cute stream that we crossed over before navigating through the forest.
A cute stream that we crossed over before navigating through the forest.
View back toward the peaks as we head through the forest.
View back toward the peaks as we head through the forest.
Once we located this animal trail it was easy hiking, but we did have to bushwhack a little.
Once we located this animal trail it was easy hiking, but we did have to bushwhack a little.
After hiking through the forest, we emerged on an old road covered in grass, taking it a short time.
After hiking through the forest, we emerged on an old road covered in grass, taking it a short time.
We then headed through this open meadow and curved to the right to regain the approach road we hiked in on, located above on the right.
We then headed through this open meadow and curved to the right to regain the approach road we hiked in on, located above on the right.
View back toward the Buffalo Peaks as we hike through the pretty meadow.
View back toward the Buffalo Peaks as we hike through the pretty meadow.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!