Mount Sniktau and Cupid in Arapaho National Forest, CO

Hike Mount Sniktau and Cupid Arapaho National Forest, CO

Class 1 5.2 miles 2000 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Aug 10, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude
Directions
Route Map
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Loveland Pass was extra crowded on my visit due to traffic redirection from a closure on the Interstate, but I assume it's normally a very popular spot regardless. Mount Sniktau was my first goal, a heavily-eroded trail starting up from the pass. It's a very accessible 13er, so I put my headphones on and tried to get to the summit as quickly as I could. A trail leads the whole way, passing over a sub-peak along the way and over a couple of small sections of Class 2.

I continued from Mount Sniktau south along the ridgeline on a trail to Cupid, where the crowds thinned. The last bit to gain Cupid's summit is off-trail, but it's all tundra with some minor Class 2 at the summit. I dropped down from Cupid and left the ridgeline to follow another social trail that avoided re-ascending toward Mount Sniktau, intersecting with the approach trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
East Loveland Pass Peak
12915 ft
75 rise
2
Mount Sniktau-South Peak
13152 ft
112 rise
3
Mount Sniktau
13234 ft
520 rise
4
Cupid
13117 ft
361 rise

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Starting from Loveland Pass.
Starting from Loveland Pass.
Looking back toward Loveland Pass, omg cars.
Looking back toward Loveland Pass, omg cars.
Continuing up toward Mount Sniktau.
Continuing up toward Mount Sniktau.
Looking back toward Loveland Pass.
Looking back toward Loveland Pass.
South summit of Mount Sniktau ahead.
South summit of Mount Sniktau ahead.
Looking back, Cupid visible on the left.
Looking back, Cupid visible on the left.
Minor Class 2 along the ridge to the south summit of Mount Sniktau.
Minor Class 2 along the ridge to the south summit of Mount Sniktau.
View back along the Class 2 section.
View back along the Class 2 section.
Trail continues to the south summit of Mount Sniktau.
Trail continues to the south summit of Mount Sniktau.
Mount Sniktau - South Peak summit, view toward Mount Sniktau.
Mount Sniktau - South Peak summit, view toward Mount Sniktau.
A nice little ridge leading to the summit.
A nice little ridge leading to the summit.
A trail leads nicely through the talus, a view looking back toward Mount Sniktau's southern summit.
A trail leads nicely through the talus, a view looking back toward Mount Sniktau's southern summit.
Mount Sniktau, view west toward Grizzly (right) and Torreys (left).
Mount Sniktau, view west toward Grizzly (right) and Torreys (left).
Mount Sniktau, view toward I-70, and the 13ers Bard Peak and Mount Parnassus (top left).
Mount Sniktau, view toward I-70, and the 13ers Bard Peak and Mount Parnassus (top left).
On the way down from Mount Sniktau as I head for Cupid, seen ahead.
On the way down from Mount Sniktau as I head for Cupid, seen ahead.
Nice easy approach up to Cupid.
Nice easy approach up to Cupid.
Looking back as I ascend to Cupid, Mount Sniktau visible top right.
Looking back as I ascend to Cupid, Mount Sniktau visible top right.
Image 17 from gallery
Cupid summit, located just off the trail. This is a view west toward Grizzly Peak and Torreys Peak. Grays Peak is poking out behind Torreys.
Cupid summit, located just off the trail. This is a view west toward Grizzly Peak and Torreys Peak. Grays Peak is poking out behind Torreys.
Cupid summit, view toward Mount Sniktau.
Cupid summit, view toward Mount Sniktau.
On the way back on a side trail to regain the main Mount Sniktau Trail. The road to Loveland Pass is visible on the right.
On the way back on a side trail to regain the main Mount Sniktau Trail. The road to Loveland Pass is visible on the right.

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