Engelmann Peak, Bard Peak, Mount Parnassus Loop in Arapaho National Forest, CO

Hike Engelmann Peak, Bard Peak, Mount Parnassus Loop Arapaho National Forest, CO

Class 2 9.4 miles 5400 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Aug 17, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Engelmann Peak, Bard Peak, Mount Parnassus Loop GPX Track

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Located just north of Interstate 70, this loop hits a few Colorado 13ers and ended up being quite a nice, mostly straightforward route. I parked at a turn off with an information sign related to the reclamation of the area's nature and walked to a massive "Danger" sign at a locked gate. This is what I believe is the Ruby Gulch Trailhead. I started along this old road for a half mile or so until the forest became less dense and I got some views of Ruby Gulch and the peaks surrounding it. I left the road and bushwhacked up a ravine, my goal to end up on a forested ridge to the left. My first goal was Englemann Peak, and the ridge seemed to be the best ascent option. I left the ravine when the trees on the ridge seemed to become less thick and before the ravine became too overgrown, gaining the forested ridge and ascending. The ridge/slope was steep, but nothing unpleasant. Soon the trees gave way to open tundra, and I continued up toward Engelmann Peak. A few hundred feet before the summit, some minor Class 2 talus broke up the easy tundra, but to my surprise, there was a social trail leading through the talus.

I continued to Robeson Peak from Engelmann, a really nice tundra stroll down the slopes. Unfortunately, the forest fire smoke gave me hazy views, but it was still quite pleasant. Robeson Peak was really just a ridgeline bump before the steep ascent up to Bard Peak. This portion included a steep grassy slope, followed by some minor Class 2 rocky terrain as I neared the summit. The traverse from Bard Peak and Mount Parnassus was more of the same, lots of grassy strolling on relatively steep slopes, mixed in with some minor Class 2. The descent from Mount Parnassus to its saddle with Woods Mountain was even more of the same, as was the ascent up to Woods Mountain. It was a good time of listening to music and tundra walking.

From Woods Mountain, I could see my intended descent route ahead. I stuck to the ridge crest, preferring to ascend some extra minor bumps and navigate some easy Class 2 rather than keeping right and side-hilling on talus. The ridge descent was steep and grassy. The views were surprisingly neat, despite the mining operation below. I just felt like I was on top of the world, likely due to the steep grade and panoramic views of the valley below. There were a couple of extremely steep spots on the grassy slopes that are avoidable using animal trails and keeping just right of the ridge crest. Eventually, the slope led into the forest and I descended more steep slopes, this time using trees to aid in not slipping onto my butt. I stumbled upon an abandoned makeshift cabin, likely illegally placed, a few hundred feet from the forest road below (Woods Creek Road). Once on the road, I followed it back to my car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Engelmann Peak
13362 ft
522 rise
2
Robeson Peak
13140 ft
180 rise
3
Bard Peak
13641 ft
1681 rise
4
Mount Parnassus
13574 ft
537 rise
5
Woods Mountain
12940 ft
420 rise

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Ruby Gulch Trailhead begins at the big sign in the center. That road is the start of the trail. Visible ahead is Woods Mountain, the last peak of this route that I will be descending from later.
Ruby Gulch Trailhead begins at the big sign in the center. That road is the start of the trail. Visible ahead is Woods Mountain, the last peak of this route that I will be descending from later.
The old road/trail led through the forest for a bit, emerging into this more open section. That's Mount Parnassus on the right. I left the road at this point and headed left in an attempt to get up Englemann Peak using the least resistance possible.
The old road/trail led through the forest for a bit, emerging into this more open section. That's Mount Parnassus on the right. I left the road at this point and headed left in an attempt to get up Englemann Peak using the least resistance possible.
Looking back as I ascend a ravine. There was only a couple hundred feet of bushwhacking, but I soon headed to a forested ridge to get out of the ravine. That's Woods Mountain in this photo.
Looking back as I ascend a ravine. There was only a couple hundred feet of bushwhacking, but I soon headed to a forested ridge to get out of the ravine. That's Woods Mountain in this photo.
Along the forested ridge, heading up toward Englemann Peak.
Along the forested ridge, heading up toward Englemann Peak.
Looking back at my ascend ridge/slope once I left the forest. Mount Parnassus visible left, Woods Mountain on the right.
Looking back at my ascend ridge/slope once I left the forest. Mount Parnassus visible left, Woods Mountain on the right.
Continuing up the grassy slope, Engelmann Peak up there somewhere.
Continuing up the grassy slope, Engelmann Peak up there somewhere.
Looking back again.
Looking back again.
Engelmann Peak top left somewhere. You can see some talus coming up toward the top.
Engelmann Peak top left somewhere. You can see some talus coming up toward the top.
Within the talus, I located a social trail that would continue toward the summit more easily. Woods Mountain visible on the left, the basically completely destroyed due to mining Red Mountain on the right.
Within the talus, I located a social trail that would continue toward the summit more easily. Woods Mountain visible on the left, the basically completely destroyed due to mining Red Mountain on the right.
Continuing on the social trail up to Engelmann Peak.
Continuing on the social trail up to Engelmann Peak.
From the summit of Engelmann Peak, continuing south. Robeson Peak is the small hump in the center, Bard Peak top left, Mount Parnassus top right.
From the summit of Engelmann Peak, continuing south. Robeson Peak is the small hump in the center, Bard Peak top left, Mount Parnassus top right.
Continuing along the ridge.
Continuing along the ridge.
Looking back toward Engelmann Peak.
Looking back toward Engelmann Peak.
Coming down from Robeson Peak, headed up toward Bard Peak.
Coming down from Robeson Peak, headed up toward Bard Peak.
Steep slope up Bard Peak.
Steep slope up Bard Peak.
Bard Peak ahead on the left, Mount Parnassus on the right.
Bard Peak ahead on the left, Mount Parnassus on the right.
Looking back toward Robeson and Engelmann as I near the summit of Bard Peak.
Looking back toward Robeson and Engelmann as I near the summit of Bard Peak.
Heading down from Bard Peak, continuing toward Mount Parnassus.
Heading down from Bard Peak, continuing toward Mount Parnassus.
Looking back up toward Bard Peak's west ridge.
Looking back up toward Bard Peak's west ridge.
Some Class 2 on the way to Mount Parnassus.
Some Class 2 on the way to Mount Parnassus.
Looking back toward Bard again from within the Class 2 section between Bard and Parnassus.
Looking back toward Bard again from within the Class 2 section between Bard and Parnassus.
Mount Parnassus ahead.
Mount Parnassus ahead.
Near the summit of Mount Parnassus, view back toward Bard (right) and Engelmann (left).
Near the summit of Mount Parnassus, view back toward Bard (right) and Engelmann (left).
Woods Mountain ahead (left), and the descent ridge I'd be taking continuing to the right from the peak.
Woods Mountain ahead (left), and the descent ridge I'd be taking continuing to the right from the peak.
Looking back toward Parnassus as I make my way up to Woods.
Looking back toward Parnassus as I make my way up to Woods.
Coming down from Woods Mountain, I chose to stay on the ridge crest rather than the more tempting grassy slopes on the right. It would ultimately have required annoying talus side-hilling.
Coming down from Woods Mountain, I chose to stay on the ridge crest rather than the more tempting grassy slopes on the right. It would ultimately have required annoying talus side-hilling.
Looking back up toward Woods (right) and Parnassus (left).
Looking back up toward Woods (right) and Parnassus (left).
Heading down the lovely, steep grassy slope. Red Mountain (the one previously mentioned that's been ravaged by mining) visible on the left, my car is somewhere down in the center of this photo.
Heading down the lovely, steep grassy slope. Red Mountain (the one previously mentioned that's been ravaged by mining) visible on the left, my car is somewhere down in the center of this photo.
View of the traverse I just did (Robeson, Bard, Parnassus visible) and the steepness of the descent slope.
View of the traverse I just did (Robeson, Bard, Parnassus visible) and the steepness of the descent slope.
Close-up toward Engelmann (left) and Robeson (right). The route I took to gain Engelmann follows the ridge on the far left. Pictured in the foreground is the steepest section of grassy slope, just right of the ridge crest, required to avoid some cliffs.
Close-up toward Engelmann (left) and Robeson (right). The route I took to gain Engelmann follows the ridge on the far left. Pictured in the foreground is the steepest section of grassy slope, just right of the ridge crest, required to avoid some cliffs.
Continuing down steep grassy slopes before entering the forest.
Continuing down steep grassy slopes before entering the forest.
Looking back up at the steep forest descent from Woods Mountain.
Looking back up at the steep forest descent from Woods Mountain.
Red Mountain visible up top as I descend from Woods and the forest fire smoke sets in pretty intensely.
Red Mountain visible up top as I descend from Woods and the forest fire smoke sets in pretty intensely.
A random abandoned cabin hidden behind a rock outcropping.
A random abandoned cabin hidden behind a rock outcropping.
Exiting the forest to get down to Woods Mountain Road. My car is on the right somewhere.
Exiting the forest to get down to Woods Mountain Road. My car is on the right somewhere.

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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!