Gilpin Peak via Blue Lakes in Uncompahgre National Forest, CO

Hike Gilpin Peak via Blue Lakes Uncompahgre National Forest, CO

Class 2 13.6 miles 5000 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Oct 1, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Gilpin Peak via Blue Lakes GPX Track

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Gilpin Peak is much more conveniently accessed from Yankee Boy Basin, but I had never been along the Blue Lakes Trail, so I decided to take the longer approach to explore a new area. Ultimately, I was happy to to do so, though my deeply-planted peakbagging anxieties got the better of me when I realized I’d racked up a lot of elevation gain that I could have used to summit more peaks. Regardless, it was a lovely hike, and I was able to enjoy some fall foliage below that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Some people choose to take this route as an alternative approach for Mount Sneffels, a longer and more scenic outing than just getting to the summit via mostly old mining roads within Yankee Boy Basin.

The last mile of the road leading to the trailhead is a bit rocky, but passable for most cars. The Blue Lakes Trail is pretty crowded for having a trailhead this far from civilization, though most people turn around at Lower Blue Lake. The hike begins on an old gated road and quickly transitions to singletrack at a junction, ascending along a slope with views of the jagged, loose summits above. While it was undoubtedly beautiful, I found the trail's popularity disproportionate by San Juan standards. It often makes me wonder why certain trails gain so much attention while others, arguably more stunning, remain overlooked.

I reached Lower Blue Lake, a bright body of water nestled below Dallas Peak's sheer face. A few hundred feet before the lake, there is a signed turnoff for the Blue Lakes Pass Trail. This trail is less traveled and noticeably steeper. There are a few social trails that were a bit confusing, but I think most of them eventually lead to the official trail. It ascends past Middle and Upper Blue Lakes, both more green than blue if you ask me, through sweeping tundra and up numerous switchbacks to the pass above. The terrain became more loose, and some of the switchbacks before reaching the pass were a little eroded.

At Blue Lakes Pass, I could see Mount Sneffels towering above to the north and the busy Yankee Boy Basin below. I turned south toward the ridgeline leading to Gilpin Peak, and I considered taking the ridge directly but decided against it as it looked a bit tedious. Instead, I stayed on the trail, losing more elevation than I would have if I’d remained on the ridgeline. When the slope angle became reasonable I started south off-trail and crossed rocky tundra, then ascended a steep, grassy incline toward the saddle on Gilpin Peak’s north ridge. Maybe the ridgeline would have been more efficient?

Once at the saddle, I followed the crest briefly, then picked up a social trail through the scree beneath the ridge, bypassing many jagged obstacles along the crest. I regained the ridge by climbing a very steep and loose Class 2+ slope above the obstacles, which certainly ended up being the crux and was not very enjoyable. The social trail continued, and there was only a small amount of scrambling past here, none of which was particularly notable. I passed to the left of a large gendarme that leaned precariously, giving the impression it might topple at any moment due to how loose everything was.

Before the summit, there is a minor false summit that can be bypassed by wrapping around on the right using a social trail rather than climbing up and over. The summit of Gilpin Peak offered incredible views of the surrounding Colorado Centennials, as well as down toward Telluride and the Wilson group.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Gilpin Peak
13698 ft
721 rise

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A short road walk leads to this official trail sign, keep right.
A short road walk leads to this official trail sign, keep right.
Along the Blue Lakes Trail.
Along the Blue Lakes Trail.
Small meadow along the way.
Small meadow along the way.
Mostly a forested walk with some views toward the surrounding peaks.
Mostly a forested walk with some views toward the surrounding peaks.
A switchback along the Blue Lakes Trail.
A switchback along the Blue Lakes Trail.
Above the aspens and into higher elevation.
Above the aspens and into higher elevation.
A bit more than halfway up the Blue Lakes Trail.
A bit more than halfway up the Blue Lakes Trail.
View back, the trailhead far below in the center somewhee.
View back, the trailhead far below in the center somewhee.
A large meadow before reaching Lower Blue Lake.
A large meadow before reaching Lower Blue Lake.
Junction, straight leads to Lower Blue Lake, left up to Blue Lakes Pass.
Junction, straight leads to Lower Blue Lake, left up to Blue Lakes Pass.
Lower Blue Lake.
Lower Blue Lake.
Above Lower Blue Lake.
Above Lower Blue Lake.
View back along the Blue Lakes Pass Trail.
View back along the Blue Lakes Pass Trail.
Middle Blue Lake.
Middle Blue Lake.
View back as I pass by Middle Blue Lake.
View back as I pass by Middle Blue Lake.
Approaching Upper Blue Lake. Blue Lakes Pass seen top left.
Approaching Upper Blue Lake. Blue Lakes Pass seen top left.
Upper Blue Lake. The trail switchbacks to the top left.
Upper Blue Lake. The trail switchbacks to the top left.
View back toward Upper Blue Lake.
View back toward Upper Blue Lake.
Switchbacks up to Blue Lakes Pass.
Switchbacks up to Blue Lakes Pass.
Upper and Middle Blue Lakes seen from the switchbacks.
Upper and Middle Blue Lakes seen from the switchbacks.
Gilpin Peak seen left.
Gilpin Peak seen left.
Blue Lakes Pass, view back.
Blue Lakes Pass, view back.
View east into Yankee Boy Basin. Gilpin Peak top right. I dropped down on the trail rather than stick to the ridge.
View east into Yankee Boy Basin. Gilpin Peak top right. I dropped down on the trail rather than stick to the ridge.
Image 23 from gallery
Talus scrambling, then a steep grassy slope to gain the north ridge, seen top right.
Talus scrambling, then a steep grassy slope to gain the north ridge, seen top right.
Along a social trail.
Along a social trail.
Avoiding obstacles along the crest.
Avoiding obstacles along the crest.
A steep, loose, Class 2+ section to regain the crest after the ridgeline obstacles.
A steep, loose, Class 2+ section to regain the crest after the ridgeline obstacles.
View down at the Class 2+.
View down at the Class 2+.
Continuing along the crest, a huge gendarme seen above. The trail passes left of it.
Continuing along the crest, a huge gendarme seen above. The trail passes left of it.
View back toward Blue Lakes Pass. Mount Sneffels seen top right.
View back toward Blue Lakes Pass. Mount Sneffels seen top right.
False summit ahead.
False summit ahead.
Gilpin Peak ahead.
Gilpin Peak ahead.
View down toward Telluride.
View down toward Telluride.
Close-up toward the Wilson group.
Close-up toward the Wilson group.
View west toward Dallas Peak.
View west toward Dallas Peak.
View down into Yankee Boy Basin.
View down into Yankee Boy Basin.

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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!