Missouri Mountain, Iowa Peak, Emerald Peak in Pike and San Isabel National Forest, CO

Hike Missouri Mountain, Iowa Peak, Emerald Peak Pike and San Isabel National Forest, CO

Class 2 13.6 miles 6100 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Aug 14, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Missouri Mountain, Iowa Peak, Emerald Peak GPX Track

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The Missouri Gulch Trailhead is very popular, being the primay access point for Mount Belford/Oxford as well as MIssouri Mountain, this hike. The trailhead can be reached by any vehicle, though it might get a teeny bit bumpy for sedans. I've been holding off on Missouri Mountain because I wanted to group it with Emerald Peak, a 13er to its south. The 14er didn't ever feel all that appealing of a goal on its own, and I'm glad I added Iowa Peak and Emerald Peak on this hike since their inclusion improved this route significantly. The one thing to note is that to get back you need to ascend Elkhead Pass toward the end of the loop, a bit of a hit to the quads.

I started out heading south on the really easy to follow Missouri Gulch Trail. It's a bit steep at first, lots of switchbacks leading through the forest and up to treeline. After a bunch of miles I reached the junction where left leads up to Mount Belford and right continues on the Missouri Mountain Trail. Just past this junction I lost the trail briefly due to a recent mudslide. Until this gets fixed, I recommend just sticking to the west side of the creek, where it seems like a new social trail has formed. Shortly after losing the Missouri Mountain Trail it became obvious again as it ascended south out of the drainage. The trail led to another junction at the base of Missouri Mountain where about a million hikers were hanging out before starting the ascent to the peak. This junction is where I would later rejoin the Missouri Mountian Trail after descending from Elkhead Pass to complete the loop.

The trail led nicely up to the north ridge of Missouri Mountain, first leading through more tundra and then up a bunch of talus with some light Class 2. It's still an easy-to-follow trail, though. The ridgeline led south to Missouri Mountain, and aside from a couple of steep and loose sections (Class 2), it was just a trail.

I didn't linger on Missouri Mountain's summit, heading south on a well-traveled social trail from the 14er and over to Iowa Peak, an unranked 13er. There was some light Class 2 to gain Iowa Peak. The traverse from Iowa Peak to Emerald Peak was much of the same, tundra with some light Class 2. To reach Emerald Mountain, there are a few social trails leading through its Class 2 bouldery northern slope. I chose to ascend to the peak's northeast ridge and follow this to the summit rather than face the steeper options leading directly south to the summit. All Class 2 regardless.

I enjoyed the views west toward Huron Peak and west toward Mount Harvard before backtracking along the northeast ridge and continuing down the mostly tundra slope. Some light boulder-hopping brought me to a social trail along a humpy spur ridge, leading down to a beautiful and colorful tarn below. Tundra led to a larger tarn/lake just north, where I hung out for a bit because it's a particularly pretty area in the Sawatch Mountains. A bit more easy walking took me to the trail (marked on my map) that would lead up to Elkhead Pass. From Elkhead Pass I followed the nice trail back to the Missouri Peak Trail, completing the loop. I then continued back to my car the way I came.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Missouri Mountain
14067 ft
827 rise
2
Iowa Peak
13831 ft
271 rise
3
Emerald Peak
13904 ft
544 rise

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Starting along the Missouri Gulch Trail.
Starting along the Missouri Gulch Trail.
Image 1 from gallery
Switchbacks along the Missouri Gulch Trail.
Switchbacks along the Missouri Gulch Trail.
More switchbacks through the forest.
More switchbacks through the forest.
Mount Belford's north ridge comes into view.
Mount Belford's north ridge comes into view.
Image 5 from gallery
Emerging above treeline.
Emerging above treeline.
View back down Missouri Gulch.
View back down Missouri Gulch.
Mount Belford visible top left. Missouri Mountain top right somewhere.
Mount Belford visible top left. Missouri Mountain top right somewhere.
Junction, left leads to Belford/Oxford, right to Missouri.
Junction, left leads to Belford/Oxford, right to Missouri.
View back toward a mudslide that wrecked the trail. Just keep to the creek for a bit and you'll relocate the trail, assuming it's not fixed soon.
View back toward a mudslide that wrecked the trail. Just keep to the creek for a bit and you'll relocate the trail, assuming it's not fixed soon.
Ascending the Missouri Mountain Trail.
Ascending the Missouri Mountain Trail.
View back down Missouri Gulch.
View back down Missouri Gulch.
Missouri Mountain ahead.
Missouri Mountain ahead.
Still ascending through beautiful meadows.
Still ascending through beautiful meadows.
Close-up of the conga-line to the base of Missouri Mountain.
Close-up of the conga-line to the base of Missouri Mountain.
Junction. Right leads up to Missouri Mountain, left is where I'll be coming from later after descending from Elkhead Pass.
Junction. Right leads up to Missouri Mountain, left is where I'll be coming from later after descending from Elkhead Pass.
Another shot back as I near the base of Missouri Mountain.
Another shot back as I near the base of Missouri Mountain.
Ascending the Missouri Mountain Trail. The trail makes one big switchback, ultimately leading to the grassy section of the ridge in the center of this photo.
Ascending the Missouri Mountain Trail. The trail makes one big switchback, ultimately leading to the grassy section of the ridge in the center of this photo.
View toward Mount Belford (top left) and Elkhead Pass (right of center).
View toward Mount Belford (top left) and Elkhead Pass (right of center).
Missouri Mountain Trail ascends first through tundra, then gets rocky.
Missouri Mountain Trail ascends first through tundra, then gets rocky.
Light Class 2, still a trail.
Light Class 2, still a trail.
View back into Missouri Gulch. Mount Belford visible top center.
View back into Missouri Gulch. Mount Belford visible top center.
Almost at the ridge along the Missouri Mountain Trail. Once on the ridge, the trail heads left.
Almost at the ridge along the Missouri Mountain Trail. Once on the ridge, the trail heads left.
Along the ridge, continuing to Missouri Mountain.
Along the ridge, continuing to Missouri Mountain.
View back down the ridge.
View back down the ridge.
Mostly easy trail to the summit along the ridgeline.
Mostly easy trail to the summit along the ridgeline.
View back down the ridge. Missouri Gulch visible on the right, where I came up from.
View back down the ridge. Missouri Gulch visible on the right, where I came up from.
Class 2 steep and loose section along the trail, the crux of the Missouri Mountain hike.
Class 2 steep and loose section along the trail, the crux of the Missouri Mountain hike.
Missouri Mountain, view back along the ridgeline.
Missouri Mountain, view back along the ridgeline.
Missouri Mountain, view south toward Iowa Peak (right) and Emerald Peak (right of center). The route I'll be taking heads along the ridge to Emerald Peak, then drops down to the two little tarns on the left before ascending to Elkhead Pass (out of frame on the left).
Missouri Mountain, view south toward Iowa Peak (right) and Emerald Peak (right of center). The route I'll be taking heads along the ridge to Emerald Peak, then drops down to the two little tarns on the left before ascending to Elkhead Pass (out of frame on the left).
Close-up toward Iowa Peak (right) and Emerald Peak (left of center).
Close-up toward Iowa Peak (right) and Emerald Peak (left of center).
View back toward Missouri Mountain.
View back toward Missouri Mountain.
Iowa Peak ahead, light Class 2.
Iowa Peak ahead, light Class 2.
Iowa Peak, view back toward Missouri Mountain.
Iowa Peak, view back toward Missouri Mountain.
Iowa Peak, view toward Emerald Peak.
Iowa Peak, view toward Emerald Peak.
At the base of Emerald Peak. I decided to head to the ridge on the left rather than use one of a few social trail leading up its north face directly to the summit.
At the base of Emerald Peak. I decided to head to the ridge on the left rather than use one of a few social trail leading up its north face directly to the summit.
Class 2 to gain the rigde.
Class 2 to gain the rigde.
Emerald Peak, view north. Iowa and Missouri left, Belford right of center.
Emerald Peak, view north. Iowa and Missouri left, Belford right of center.
Emerald Peak view south.
Emerald Peak view south.
Emerald Peak view west toward Huron Peak.
Emerald Peak view west toward Huron Peak.
Emerald Peak view east toward Mount Harvard.
Emerald Peak view east toward Mount Harvard.
Close-up of the route to come. I descended to the grassy terrain in the center, located a social trail down the humpy terrain and continued to the tarn in the center of the photo. Past there I headed to Elkhead Pass, center. Mount Belford visible top center, Missouri Mountain far left.
Close-up of the route to come. I descended to the grassy terrain in the center, located a social trail down the humpy terrain and continued to the tarn in the center of the photo. Past there I headed to Elkhead Pass, center. Mount Belford visible top center, Missouri Mountain far left.
View back up toward Emerald Peak.
View back up toward Emerald Peak.
Along a social trail (that only lasted a short time) down to a small and colorful tarn (right). Tundra walking led to the larger tarn in the center. Elkhead Pass visible center above it.
Along a social trail (that only lasted a short time) down to a small and colorful tarn (right). Tundra walking led to the larger tarn in the center. Elkhead Pass visible center above it.
View back down the humpy spur ridge aided by a social trail. Emerald Peak visible top right.
View back down the humpy spur ridge aided by a social trail. Emerald Peak visible top right.
At the larger tarn, Elkhead Pass left of center.
At the larger tarn, Elkhead Pass left of center.
Gorgeous tarn, view back toward Emerald Peak.
Gorgeous tarn, view back toward Emerald Peak.
Another shot toward Emerald Peak before reaching the trail that would take me to Elkhead Pass.
Another shot toward Emerald Peak before reaching the trail that would take me to Elkhead Pass.
Along the trail leading to Elkhead Pass.
Along the trail leading to Elkhead Pass.
View back along the trail, Mount Harvard far left, Emerald Peak far right.
View back along the trail, Mount Harvard far left, Emerald Peak far right.
Ascending to Elkhead Pass.
Ascending to Elkhead Pass.
View back down the trail, Emerald and Iowa Peaks visible up top.
View back down the trail, Emerald and Iowa Peaks visible up top.
On the opposite side of Elkhead Pass, descending back into Missouri Gulch.
On the opposite side of Elkhead Pass, descending back into Missouri Gulch.
Close-up toward the Missouri Mountain Trail, which you can see winding up the center of this photo to the ridge above. I joined with the trail and headed back the way I came.
Close-up toward the Missouri Mountain Trail, which you can see winding up the center of this photo to the ridge above. I joined with the trail and headed back the way I came.

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