Hike La Junta Peak, Wasatch Peak, San Joaquin Ridge via Bear Creek Uncompahgre National Forest, CO

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La Junta Peak, Wasatch Peak, San Joaquin Ridge via Bear Creek GPX Track

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My second big loop outside of Telluride, this incredibly scenic route hits a bunch of 13ers and visits some of the best scenery I've experienced in Colorado. Telluride's Bear Creek Trail is excrutiatingly popular, most visitors using it to head up to see Bear Creek Falls. I started early enough in the day that there were only a few trail runners because, you know, Colorado. I need to note that the Bear Creek Falls Trailhead is not a parking lot. In fact, there are "no parking" signs all over, and even if you wanted to pay for street parking, you can't because the maximum parking time is 3 hours in the city. After learning all of this the day before in preparation for this route, I knew to park at an all-day free summer parking lot and walk along the Telluride River Walk to access the Bear Creek Trailhead, hence the reason my map has me starting at the west side of Telluride.

Once on the Bear Creek Trail (a very wide road converted to trail), I followed this until a narrower trail diverted to the left. This trail would lead me along the Ballard Mountian Trail, which crosses over Bear Creek and right past a locally known water-carved grotto for years. It's considered a "secret", but I beg to differ. Even at 8am, there were people there. So I took a few shots and continued on. It's pretty, but a little underwhelming. I'll note that the Public Information Officer from Telluride reached out asking for me to remove the name of this spot because they are working to restore the area, so please do not post the name if you know it, and also respect the area.

From the pretty water-carved grotto, I continued along the Ballard Mountian Trail, which is a little difficult to keep track of before reaching the start of the many switchbacks due to more social trails than I expected to find. Hopefully in the coming months/years this trail will be more obvious, as it seems the town of Telluride is trying to restore the landscape and remove the many social trails. For now, my recommendation is to ensure you're always ascending and heading south. The trail will become clear once the switchbacks start, and will continue to be easy to follow until Ballard Mountain's summit. Along the way, it's fun to look down toward Telluride far below, and the many basins surrounding the peak are stunning. The last few hundred feet to the summit require some light Class 2 up an eroded gully. From Ballard Mountain, I continued south along the ridge toward Jackass Point, where the trail now basically disappeared. Though, a light social trail helps in guiding around some cliffs along Jackass Point's northern ridge, instead wrapping briefly to the right (west) and then reascending to the ridge and then the summit. The social trail continued lightly from Jackass Point and over to La Junta Peak, avoiding the ridge about haflway up to avoid some more cliffs.

The views from La Junta Peak were absolutely beautiful, a more notable feature being a small lake near the saddle of La Junta Peak and Wasatch Peak. Across the basin to the east, I could see the peaks from my day before, including Three Needles and Bridal Peak, as well as trace my route with my finger, which was fun. The steep southern ridge leading to this saddle was mostly fine, but included one section of particularly steep scree. Once at the saddle, I entertained the idea of heading straight up Wasatch Mountain's scree-infested northern ridge, instead deciding to wrap to its east side past the pretty little lake and ascend using a mostly grassy slope instead. More amazing views up here, this time toward the bright orange colors of the peaks to come along my traverse. Initially, I thought I'd descend from Wasatch Mountain northern ridge, but the day was looking stormless and I was feeling very good, so I continued along the pleasant Class 2 ridge all the way to Oscar's Peak at the far southern end. The scrambling was minimal – mostly just slabs of talus that was relatively easy to walk on.

From Oscar's Peak, I debated heading back down its northern ridge to intersect the Wasatch Trail. This trail would lead me back along Bear Creek, making a very nice loop. However, I was feeling ambitious and continued west along the ridge to San Joaquin Ridge, another 13er. This traverse was yet another gorgeous stroll, where I only encountered a few Class 2 sections: one before the false summit of San Juaquin Ridge, a second just after it on steep, loose scree, and a third on the way up to the true summit. From the San Joaquin Ridge summit, I debated continuing along what research told me was a Class 2+ traverse over to Silver Mountain, but incoming clouds wouldn't permit it. Additionally, I likely would have been tempted to continue along the ridge and just take the free gondola down from Gold Ridge back to Telluride, but more research also enlightened me to the fact that that ridge is Class 5 and I would have made this lovely day into a sh*tshow.

That all being said, my plan would instead be to head down to the Wasatch Trail from San Joaquin Ridge and enjoy a pleasant hike back along a trail. From the summit, I scoped a minor cliff band below that required some foresight to avoid getting cliffed out before dropping down to the San Joaqin Ridge and its false summit's saddle. I then headed north on Class 2 terrain, trying to follow my scoped route. While there is likely more than one way down from the saddle, I stuck with what I remembered to play it safe. My route wanders a bit because I wanted to check out a small tarn along the way. I continued down a grassy gully which brought me on an animal trail down to the Wasatch Trail.

After a short time hiknig through grassy and wilflower-filled tundra, dying of excitement at the beauty despite the drizzle, I met up with a junction where the Wasatch Trail splits into two forks: main and east. I took the Wasatch Trail East Fork for no particular reason. Both would reunite in a mile or so down below. The trail continued to be gorgeous as it followed the East Fork of Bear Creek and then stayed high as the landscape fell away. A bunch of switchbacks led down into the main Bear Creek drainage and I continued along the Wasatch Trail until it met up with the Bear Creek Trail, where everyone in Telluride was hiking to Bear Creek Falls. I skipped the falls to avoid the crowds, but I'm sure it's pretty. Absolutely wonderful loop.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Ballard Mountain

12804 ft

84 rise

Jackass Point

13145 ft

305 rise

La Junta Peak

13472 ft

592 rise

Wasatch Mountain

13555 ft

475 rise

Oscar's Peak

13432 ft

272 rise

San Joaquin Ridge

13446 ft

326 rise

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After leaving the free parking lot, I headed along the Telluride River Walk.

Bear Creek Trailhead.

After some walking on the popular and wide Bear Creek Trail, I took a left at this junction to follow the Ballard Mountain Trail.

Crossing Bear Creek.

A quick excursion to a pretty water-carved grotto (name removed for restoration purposes).

Water-carved grotto.

Just past the water-carved grotto, the Ballard Mountain Trail begins to ascend. There are a bunch of social trails to make this a somewhat confusing trail to follow, but you should be okay as long as you're heading south and ascending.

Starting along the relentless Ballard Mountain switchbacks.

View down toward Telluride as I gain lots of elevation gain.

Almost above treeline along the Ballard Mountain Trail.

View south - the Bear Creek Trail goes up the valley in the center of this photo. I'll be returning from that way later to complete the loop.

Above treeline now, ascending to Ballard Mountain.

Looking back as I continue up Ballard Mountain, Telluride visible below.

Ballard Mountain ahead.

Looking back along the ridge.

The trail wraps around the right side of Ballard Mountain.

And ascends a Class 2 gully to reach the summit.

Ballard Mountain summit, view toward Jackass Point ahead.

Looking back toward Ballard Mountain as I head up to Jackass Point, Silver Lake Basin visible top right.

Wrapping around the right side of Jackass Point.

Looking back toward Ballard Mountain, Bear Creek far below on the left.

Class 2 to the summit of Jackass Point.

Jackass Point, view toward Ballard Mountain.

Silver Lake below. In the center of the photo, you can see the road switchbacks leading to Bridal Veil Falls.

Continuing to La Junta Peak.

Looking back toward Jackass Point.

Final push to La Junta Peak.

La Junta Peak, view back toward Jackass Point.

La Junta Peak, view toward Wasatch Peak. The lake below is adorable, though unnamed.

Close-up at the social trail descent from La Junta to the La Junta/Wasatch saddle.

Wasatch Peak ahead. My route would head to the left of the unnamed lake and then continue up the grassy slope. The scree looked too annoying on the right.

At the unnamed lake, looking up at Wasatch Peak (top right). I headed up the grassy slope.

Looking back toward La Junta Peak as I ascend the grassy slope.

Wasatch Peak ahead on the right.

Wasatch Peak, view back toward La Junta Peak.

Continuing from Wasatch Peak along the ridgeline. Oscars Peak is visible just right of center, my next objective.

A shot slightly to the left of the previous photo toward Lewis Lake and Lookout Peak.

View back toward Wasatch Peak.

Along the Class 2 ridgeline to Oscars Peak, visible center. At the saddle coming up, the Wasatch Trail can be picked up if you don't intend to continue along the ridgeline.

Looking back again toward Wasatch as I ascend Oscars Peak. The Wasatch Trail leads to the left, and I'll be joining it later once I get down from the ridge.

View toward the Vermilion group from Oscars Peak.

Continuing toward San Joaquin Ridge from Oscars Peak.

Looking back toward Oscars Peak, Lookout Peak on the right.

Continuing along the ridge, Wilsons group visible distant left.

Class 2 along the ridge.

Looking back again. Wasatch Peak visible on the far left.

Continuing along the ridge on Class 2. Just in front of me is the first high point of San Joaquin Ridge. The true high point is visible center. Some loose Class 2 brought me to the saddle of the two. It was not a fun section.

San Joaquin Ridge summit ahead.

Summit view toward Silver Peak center (not today, sadly), and the Wilsons on the left.

Looking back at my ridge traverse, Wasatch Peak visible far left.

I dropped to the saddle of the two San Joaquin Ridge peaks and headed down this steep Class 2. I don't know what the best way down would be, but I definitely recommend scoping it out from the summit. There are lots of cliffs to avoid.

Approaching a pretty little tarn I thought would be worth a minor detour. Wasatch Peak visible center.

At the small tarn, view back toward San Joaquin Ridge, the saddle of the two peaks I dropped down from visible center.

At the pretty tarn.

Grassy stroll down to join the Wasatch Trail.

Along the Wasatch Trail.

View back toward the peaks, San Joaquin peeking out center.

Junction where the Main/East Wasatch Trail splits. They rejoin later, so I took the eastern fork.

Very pretty descent on a wildflower-filled trail.

The trail hugged the steep slopes for a while, staying high before descending to Bear Creek below.

Looking back as I descend.

Within the Bear Creek valley.

Looking back.

Following the trail until it joined up with the main Bear Creek Trail. Telluride is in the center out of frame.

Bear Creek Falls on the right out of frame. I didn't go see it since the trail was incredibly crowded.

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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!