Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia Loop

San Isabel National Forest, CO Sawatch Range

Trip stats

Distance
15.9 mi
Net Gain
6,400 ft
Time
8-11 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 2
Route
Loop
Peaks
2

Ratings out of 10

Effort
9/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
8/10
Solitude
5.9/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Mount Harvard
    14,420′ elevation · 2,340′ prominence
  2. Mount Columbia
    14,073′ elevation · 873′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

38.870670, -106.265100

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

Jul 13, 2018 — Follow North Cottonwood Creek on an easy to follow trail to the summit of Mt. Harvard. Along the way, a spur trail shoots off to visit Bear Lake, if you’re so inclined. From Mt. Harvard’s summit (a Class 2+ move required to get up there), take in the views of Mt. Belford and Mt. Oxford to the north, and Mt. Columbia to the south. Then, head east along the obvious ridge, just south of the ridge itself, on a social trail. Eventually, you’ll get to a terrifying-looking sawtooth ridge that looks like Class 4 or 5 (maybe) if you decide to continue along. However, you can easily avoid the ridge by heading east and losing a few hundred feet of elevation just below the ridge. Try to keep as high above the boulder field as you can – no reason to lose extra elevation. I actually found cairns most of the way, but you don’t really need them. Just hug the ridgeline and continue to the summit of Mt. Columbia. From the summit, continue along the ridgeline for a bit until you locate the standard route up Mt. Columbia, which was just awful to go down. I believe they are working on creating a trail that will reduce the erosion, so keep that in mind if you’re doing this route in the future – my track down Mt. Columbia could be closed to make way for a true trail.

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Photos

64 photos

  1. Leaving the trailhead and entering the woods.
  2. The trail follows North Fork of Cottonwood Creek for a while. Nice morning water noises and whatnot.
  4. Some views of the surrounding mountains on occasion.
  7. Peek at Mt. Columbia! I did Mt. Columbia second and I'm glad I did.
  9. The forest finally opens into meadows at the base of Mt. Harvard. You can see Mt. Harvard on the right.
  10. Looking back toward Mt. Yale.
  11. Heading through the meadow. Mt. Harvard is in the center of this photo.
  12. Looking back again down the valley I came up.
  13. Mt. Harvard center. The route goes up the left side (southwest ridge) and the face visible here.
  14. Looking back down.
  15. Some dudes hanging out taking in the view.
  16. Trail starts to get more steep,
  17. Quick detour to see Bear Lake. The view of the lake is better as you ascend Mt. Harvard.
  18. Looking back.
  19. Starting up into the easy Class 2 boulder field, a trail leading nicely through it.
  20. Looking back, a baby lake on the left becoming visible.
  22. Bear Lake behind me (right).
  23. Boulders go away and a dirt trail appears, steeply climbing the face of Mt. Harvard.
  26. Mt. Columbia (center left).
  32. Bear Lake (right) and Mt. Columbia (center left).
  33. Mini Class 2 (+?) scramble to the summit.
  34. Mt. Harvard summit view. Bear Lake center, Mt. Columbia left.
  35. Mt. Harvard view looking toward Mt. Belford and Mt. Oxford to the north.
  36. Looking along the ridge to Mt. Columbia from Mt. Harvard's summit. You can see Mt. Columbia on the right, the end point.
  39. A use trail leads along the ridge.
  43. Although tempting, the ridge looks really scary. Maybe it goes? Probably not. When you get to this spot, where the land just sort of falls away, follow the ridge down (east) a few hundred feet.
  44. Looking back up the way I came, boulder-hopping.
  45. A notch leads down into the basin below the scary ridge (right). Stay as high on this boulder field as possible - no reason to lose unnecessary elevation.
  46. Along the boulder field, hugging the ridge. Mt. Columbia on the left.
  48. Looking back - scary ridge on the left, slope to come down on the right.
  49. Approaching the saddle with Mt. Columbia.
  50. Looking back.
  51. Just after reaching the saddle, looking back toward Mt. Harvard.
  52. Continuing up Mt. Columbia.
  55. Just below Mt. Columbia summit, looking back toward Mt. Harvard.
  56. Mt. Columbia summit.
  57. Mt. Columbia summit, looking south.
  58. Looking back toward Mt. Columbia summit.
  59. Starting down the standard route up Mt. Columbia. It's awful. Hopefully a new trail is constructed soon to reduce the crazy erosion on this ultra-annoying route up.
  62. Looking back up a particularly steep section on the way down Mt. Columbia.
  64. The trail leads back to the Horn Fork Basin to complete the loop.

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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!

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