Mount Audubon

Roosevelt National Forest, CO Front Range

Trip stats

Distance
7.9 mi
Net Gain
2,800 ft
Time
4-6 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 2
Route
Out/Back
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
3.8/10
Personality
4/10
Beauty
6/10
Solitude
1.9/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Mount Audubon
    13,223′ elevation · 823′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

40.083642, -105.581153

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Aug 24, 2018 — The Brainard Lake Trailhead is very popular, and for good reason. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is a gorgeous area and its proximity to Denver means the crowds congregate here. The trail leading to Mount Audubon is overall well-graded and well-traveled, and its swichbacks mean the grade is kept really moderate. The trail becomes rocky and the last few hundred feet get a lot more steep and introduce some light Class 2. This pretty Colorado 13er's summit has views toward the other peaks in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Longs Peak in the distance.

I originally intended to do a traverse of Mount Audubon to Pawnee Peak, but the wind was so incredibly overwhelming that I could barely stand up on Mt. Audubon's summit, let alone a Class 3 ridgeline, so I returned a few weeks later for that route.

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Photos

24 photos

  1. Starting at the Mitchell Lake Trailhead.
  5. After hiking up a few of switchbacks through the woods, you emerge above the trees and get really nice views of the Indian Peaks to the south.
  8. The trail passes out of the treeline.
  10. Junction with the Audubon Trail.
  11. Looking back down the Audubon Trail.
  12. Mt. Audubon appears!
  16. It's a pretty moderate grade the whole way up.
  18. Almost at a saddle where you can overlook toward Longs Peak.
  19. Looking north toward Longs Peak before the Class 2 stuff to the summit.
  20. Some Class 2 to the Mt. Audubon summit.
  21. Almost at Mt. Audubon's summit, looking back toward Longs Peak (back left).
  22. Mt. Audubon summit!
  23. Paiute Peak (right), Mt. Toll (middle). I'll be back for this traverse, asap.
  24. Looking back toward Longs Peak (center), Coney Lake below.

Photo 1 of 1

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App