Huron Peak Loop in San Isabel National Forest, CO

Hike Huron Peak Loop San Isabel National Forest, CO

Class 2 10.7 miles 4200 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Sep 30, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Huron Peak was never a high-priority Colorado 14er for me, but after a little digging I found there was a nice way to turn the out-and-back peak into a loop to add a little ridgeline fun. Additionally, since my car likely couldn't make it to the true Huron Peak Trailhead, this loop would make the extra road walking seem worth it since I'd be completing the loop where I parked. My car could only make it to a small clearing where other cars had stopped, just past Lulu Gulch. I followed the 4WD dirt road on foot to the official Huron Peak Trailhead through some gorgeous meadows with nice fall colors, and ascended the many small switchbacks up the west slope of Huron Peak. The trail was well-defined and easy to follow. There was a bit of a reprieve from the uphill about halfway up as the trail led through a pretty basin, passing a single cute little tarn. The trail continued steeply up the northwest slope of Huron Peak leading to its northern saddle. From here, I continued south along the ridgeline and reached the summit with some Class 2 scrambling along the way.

From the summit, I dropped back to the saddle and left the official trail, heading north along the ridge. The route difficulty never exceeded Class 2. Along the way, I summitted Browns Peak, Peak 13462, and Midddle Mountain before taking the remains of an old mining road down a bunch of switchbacks and through the forest for a long time back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Huron Peak
14003 ft
1403 rise
2
Browns Peak
13523 ft
163 rise
3
Peak 13462
13462 ft
302 rise
4
Middle Mountain
13060 ft
100 rise

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I started hiking along the bad dirt road, heading to the official Huron Peak Trailhead.
I started hiking along the bad dirt road, heading to the official Huron Peak Trailhead.
Along the dirt road on my way.
Along the dirt road on my way.
Huron Peak Trailhead.
Huron Peak Trailhead.
Heading up the trail.
Heading up the trail.
Switchbacks up the west slope of Huron Peak.
Switchbacks up the west slope of Huron Peak.
Image 5 from gallery
Image 6 from gallery
Progress up the Huron Peak Trail, leaving timberline.
Progress up the Huron Peak Trail, leaving timberline.
View back along the Huron Peak Trail as the trail begins to mellow out about halfway up for a short time.
View back along the Huron Peak Trail as the trail begins to mellow out about halfway up for a short time.
Huron Peak ahead on the right. The trail leads up to the saddle in the center before ascending the ridge to the summit.
Huron Peak ahead on the right. The trail leads up to the saddle in the center before ascending the ridge to the summit.
Image 10 from gallery
View back toward a pretty little tarn as I start ascending the second half to the summit.
View back toward a pretty little tarn as I start ascending the second half to the summit.
Pleasant trail to the saddle on Huron Peak's north side.
Pleasant trail to the saddle on Huron Peak's north side.
View back at the reprieve along the trail, plus the cute little tarn.
View back at the reprieve along the trail, plus the cute little tarn.
Ascending to the saddle.
Ascending to the saddle.
Image 15 from gallery
Northern saddle, view toward the ridgeline leading to Huron Peak.
Northern saddle, view toward the ridgeline leading to Huron Peak.
View back along Huron Peak's south slope, view toward the traverse to come. The official trail came up on the left in this photo.
View back along Huron Peak's south slope, view toward the traverse to come. The official trail came up on the left in this photo.
Some Class 2 to Huron Peak's summit.
Some Class 2 to Huron Peak's summit.
Huron Peak, view south.
Huron Peak, view south.
Huron Peak, view east.
Huron Peak, view east.
Huron Peak, view north. I headed more or less along the crest visible right of center. Browns Peak visible center.
Huron Peak, view north. I headed more or less along the crest visible right of center. Browns Peak visible center.
Back at the saddle on Huron Peak's north side, I continued off the trail and along the ridge.
Back at the saddle on Huron Peak's north side, I continued off the trail and along the ridge.
View back along the crest toward Huron Peak. You can see the trail on the right in this photo.
View back along the crest toward Huron Peak. You can see the trail on the right in this photo.
Along the Class 2 ridge crest. Browns Peak visible left, Peak 13462 on the right.
Along the Class 2 ridge crest. Browns Peak visible left, Peak 13462 on the right.
View back again along the crest toward Huron Peak.
View back again along the crest toward Huron Peak.
Browns Peak, view toward Peak 13462. You can also see the old mining road I'll be using to descend later on the far left.
Browns Peak, view toward Peak 13462. You can also see the old mining road I'll be using to descend later on the far left.
Ascending Peak 13462, view back toward Browns Peak (right) and Huron Peak (left of center).
Ascending Peak 13462, view back toward Browns Peak (right) and Huron Peak (left of center).
Peak 13462, view toward Middle Mountain.
Peak 13462, view toward Middle Mountain.
Approaching Middle Mountain.
Approaching Middle Mountain.
Middle Mountain summit, view back along the crest. Huron Peak is poking put right of center. I started descending Middle Mountain's northwest ridge and located an old mining road I'd use to descend from the ridgeline.
Middle Mountain summit, view back along the crest. Huron Peak is poking put right of center. I started descending Middle Mountain's northwest ridge and located an old mining road I'd use to descend from the ridgeline.
Along the old mining road that switchbacks into the basin below. Visible top center is Browns Peak.
Along the old mining road that switchbacks into the basin below. Visible top center is Browns Peak.
Descending the old mining road.
Descending the old mining road.
View back up the mining road toward the ridge I traversed above.
View back up the mining road toward the ridge I traversed above.
I descended the mining road back to my car.
I descended the mining road back to my car.

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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!