Mount Ouray and Chipeta Mountain in San Isabel National Forest, CO

Hike Mount Ouray and Chipeta Mountain San Isabel National Forest, CO

Class 2 12.3 miles 5100 gain 6-8 hrs Out + Back Aug 20, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
Download GPX

Mount Ouray and Chipeta Mountain GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Add to Cart
View Cart

Mount Ouray is a big mountain far from pretty much all the other peaks I want to do in Colorado, but I was looking forward to checking out a new area, so I took the long drive on the good dirt road (2WD fine) to Marshall Pass. The standard route seems to be to bushwhack up the southwestern spur of Mount Ouray to access its west ridge, but I was happy to learn from a topo map that I could avoid the bushwhack and instead take the Colorado Trail for much of the approach. So, I followed The Colorado Trail north along an old dirt road until it ended and turned into a nice trail. Shortly after, the trees disappeared and I headed right up a steep, grassy slope, directly up to the minor bump at the end of Mount Ouray's west ridge. The standard route would have gotten me here, but I was able to avoid the bushwhack. I don't know if my route was necessarily better, but I was thrilled to not have to navigate deadfall, etc. Once on the west ridge, I headed east to Mount Ouray, taking the Class 2 talus-filled route up the whole way. The only minor obstacle was shortly after starting up the ridge was a rock outcropping, where I kept left to avoid it. The summit views were lovely, but mostly because of the wide sweeping views facilitated by the prominence of Mount Ouray. All the other peaks of interest were too far away to really see clearly.

Back at the minor bump at the end of Ouray's west ridge, I descended north on Class 2 along the ridge, the first few hundred feet being talus. The ridge was pleasant after that, turning into a nice tundra stroll to just below my next objective, Chipeta Mountain. Just before the 13er is a smaller peak, a mere 12er. I would need to pass over on the way to the Chipeta Mountain, and then back over it on the way back. The ridge was light Class 2, and the views were basically the same as they were on Mount Ouray. There seems to be some debate about the naming of Chipeta Mountain. The NFS topo map labels them as the 13er being unnamed and the 12er as Chipeta Mountain, but other sources have the 12er labeled Chipeta Mountain South, and the 13er being Chipeta Mountain. I've labeled my route as if Chipeta Mountain is the 13er, because it felt more fitting.

For my return, I headed back along the ridge to its low point and followed a nice trail that led me to west, back to the Colorado Trail. I followed it back to Marshall Pass.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Ouray
13971 ft
2659 rise
2
Chipeta Mountain South
12850 ft
170 rise
3
Chipeta Mountain
13472 ft
1152 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

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!

At Marshall Pass, about to start along the Colorado Trail (left). Mount Ouray is visible above. The standard route continues along the road for a bit before another road leads to a bushwhack. I skipped the bushwhack by taking the Colorado Trail.
At Marshall Pass, about to start along the Colorado Trail (left). Mount Ouray is visible above. The standard route continues along the road for a bit before another road leads to a bushwhack. I skipped the bushwhack by taking the Colorado Trail.
Along the Colorado Trail, which is just a road at first. Antora Peak visible to the south.
Along the Colorado Trail, which is just a road at first. Antora Peak visible to the south.
The Colorado Trail's initial dirt road turns into a trail.
The Colorado Trail's initial dirt road turns into a trail.
Along the Colorado Trail, which leads through the forest.
Along the Colorado Trail, which leads through the forest.
The Colorado Trail emerges from the trees. I turned right here and headed up the grassy/talus slope.
The Colorado Trail emerges from the trees. I turned right here and headed up the grassy/talus slope.
Views as I ascend the slope. The ridge I'll be on is visible top right.
Views as I ascend the slope. The ridge I'll be on is visible top right.
Looking back at the ascent slope I took. The trees the Colorado Trail emerged from are visible on the left.
Looking back at the ascent slope I took. The trees the Colorado Trail emerged from are visible on the left.
I made it to the ridge - this is a view toward the standard route. You can see the trees leading to the ridge that would have made the route a bit bushwhacky. My route was a little longer, but avoided all deadfall-hopping.
I made it to the ridge - this is a view toward the standard route. You can see the trees leading to the ridge that would have made the route a bit bushwhacky. My route was a little longer, but avoided all deadfall-hopping.
Mount Ouray ahead.
Mount Ouray ahead.
Class 2 ridge.
Class 2 ridge.
Looking back as I start ascending Mount Ouray.
Looking back as I start ascending Mount Ouray.
Image 11 from gallery
Minor obstacle, avoidable on the left using a Class 2 social trail.
Minor obstacle, avoidable on the left using a Class 2 social trail.
Avoiding the only obstacle.
Avoiding the only obstacle.
Looking back along the right, Antora Peak visible on the left.
Looking back along the right, Antora Peak visible on the left.
Push to the summit of Mount Ouray.
Push to the summit of Mount Ouray.
Looking back at the ridge I came up. The standard route is visible on the left. My route came up the bump at the end of the ridge.
Looking back at the ridge I came up. The standard route is visible on the left. My route came up the bump at the end of the ridge.
Mount Ouray summit, view toward Chipeta Mountain.
Mount Ouray summit, view toward Chipeta Mountain.
Wide shot from Mount Ouray at the ridgeline to come, ending with Chipeta Mountain.
Wide shot from Mount Ouray at the ridgeline to come, ending with Chipeta Mountain.
After coming down from Mount Ouray, headed north along the ridge toward Chipeta Mountain South (the bump in front of Chipeta Mountain).
After coming down from Mount Ouray, headed north along the ridge toward Chipeta Mountain South (the bump in front of Chipeta Mountain).
About halfway along the ridge, a view toward the basin separating Mount Ouray (right) and Chipeta Mountain (left).
About halfway along the ridge, a view toward the basin separating Mount Ouray (right) and Chipeta Mountain (left).
Continuing along the ridge.
Continuing along the ridge.
At a low point on the ridge, where I will be returning later to descend back to the Colorado Trail (left, out of frame).
At a low point on the ridge, where I will be returning later to descend back to the Colorado Trail (left, out of frame).
Looking back toward Mount Ouray.
Looking back toward Mount Ouray.
Heading up to Chipeta Mountain, only minor Class 2.
Heading up to Chipeta Mountain, only minor Class 2.
Another shot back toward Mount Ouray.
Another shot back toward Mount Ouray.
Heading down Chipeta Mountain South's inconvenient summit, onward to Chipeta proper.
Heading down Chipeta Mountain South's inconvenient summit, onward to Chipeta proper.
Chipeta Mountain.
Chipeta Mountain.
Class 2.
Class 2.
Looking back toward Chipeta Mountain South (right) and Mount Ouray (left).
Looking back toward Chipeta Mountain South (right) and Mount Ouray (left).
Approaching Chipeta Mountain's summit.
Approaching Chipeta Mountain's summit.
Summit view, looking north toward the Collegiate Peaks.
Summit view, looking north toward the Collegiate Peaks.
Back at the low point on the ridge I mentioned earlier, dropping down to the Colorado Trail.
Back at the low point on the ridge I mentioned earlier, dropping down to the Colorado Trail.
Looking back up toward the ridge.
Looking back up toward the ridge.
Nice views as I approach the Colorado Trail from this spur trail from the ridge.
Nice views as I approach the Colorado Trail from this spur trail from the ridge.
Along the Colorado Trail, which I took back to Marshall Pass.
Along the Colorado Trail, which I took back to Marshall Pass.

Hire me or show me some love!

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!

Hire me!
PayPal
Venmo
Cash App