Mount Sherman, Mount Sheridan, Horseshoe Mountain Loop in Pike National Forest, CO

Hike Mount Sherman, Mount Sheridan, Horseshoe Mountain Loop Pike National Forest, CO

Class 2 10.9 miles 4100 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Oct 1, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Sherman, Mount Sheridan, Horseshoe Mountain Loop GPX Track

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This route traverses from Mount Sherman to Mount Sheridan, over Peerless Mountain, and then up to Horseshoe Mountain. I parked at the junction of two forest roads, where I intended my loop to end, rather than driving up the somewhat rocky road to the true trailhead. I don't know if where I parked was legal, but I didn't get in trouble and there were no signs. I started up the road, passing the true Mount Sherman Trailhead, and continued onto the trail, which is pretty easy to follow despite old mining roads creating a tiny bit of confusion. I didn't think Mount Sherman itself was a particularly pretty or fun hike, since a mining road took me basically to the peak's southwestern saddle, and then a very light Class 2 steep slope leads along its ridge to the summit.

From Mount Sherman, I headed back to its southwestern saddle and followed a social trail up the steep slope to Mount Sheridan. The views were getting more interesting, and the traverse was adding some fun to the day. I continued along the ridge to Peerless Mountain, nothing exceeding light Class 2, and then up to Horseshoe Mountain's rounded summit. I was feeling the altitude today for some reason and hung out longer than normal to enjoy the views. I dropped back to Horseshoe Mountain's saddle with Peerless Mountain and from here, followed a dirt road down past a couple of pretty lakes and back to my car. I passed a moose and it started walking toward me – no idea what that's about. I wasn't… amoosed.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Sherman
14036 ft
850 rise
2
Mount Sheridan
13748 ft
588 rise
3
Peerless Mountain
13348 ft
148 rise
4
Horseshoe Mountain
13898 ft
738 rise

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I parked well before the true trailhead and hiked up the dirt road to the official Mount Sherman Trailhead.
I parked well before the true trailhead and hiked up the dirt road to the official Mount Sherman Trailhead.
Along the Mount Sherman Trail, passing an old mine.
Along the Mount Sherman Trail, passing an old mine.
View back.
View back.
Mount Sherman ahead.
Mount Sherman ahead.
Heading up to Mount Sherman's southwest ridge.
Heading up to Mount Sherman's southwest ridge.
At the saddle separating Mount Sherman from Mount Sheridan, view toward Sheridan (top right).
At the saddle separating Mount Sherman from Mount Sheridan, view toward Sheridan (top right).
Heading up to Mount Sherman.
Heading up to Mount Sherman.
View back. I came up from the left.
View back. I came up from the left.
Ascending Mount Sherman.
Ascending Mount Sherman.
View back along Mount Sherman's southwest ridge. Sheridan and Horseshoe visible along the ridgeline in the center.
View back along Mount Sherman's southwest ridge. Sheridan and Horseshoe visible along the ridgeline in the center.
Mount Sherman ahead.
Mount Sherman ahead.
Some light Class 2 along the ridgeline.
Some light Class 2 along the ridgeline.
View back down amongst the Class 2.
View back down amongst the Class 2.
Mount Sherman summit, view north.
Mount Sherman summit, view north.
Mount Sherman summit, view west.
Mount Sherman summit, view west.
Back at the saddle of Sherman and Sheridan, continuing to Sheridan on the right side of the ridge crest, where there was a social trail.
Back at the saddle of Sherman and Sheridan, continuing to Sheridan on the right side of the ridge crest, where there was a social trail.
Minor Class 2 up to Mount Sheridan.
Minor Class 2 up to Mount Sheridan.
View back down on my way up Sheridan, Sherman visible right of center.
View back down on my way up Sheridan, Sherman visible right of center.
Mount Sheridan, view toward Peerless Mountain (center) and Horseshoe Mountain (top right).
Mount Sheridan, view toward Peerless Mountain (center) and Horseshoe Mountain (top right).
On my way to Peerless.
On my way to Peerless.
Peerless Mountain, view back toward Sheridan (left) and Sherman (right of center).
Peerless Mountain, view back toward Sheridan (left) and Sherman (right of center).
Onward to Horseshoe Mountain.
Onward to Horseshoe Mountain.
View back on my way up Horseshoe.
View back on my way up Horseshoe.
Another shot back, farther up Horseshoe Mountain.
Another shot back, farther up Horseshoe Mountain.
The trail is easy to follow up Horseshoe Mountain.
The trail is easy to follow up Horseshoe Mountain.
Horseshoe Mountain summit.
Horseshoe Mountain summit.
Horseshoe Mountain summit, view east. My car is down there in the center somewhere.
Horseshoe Mountain summit, view east. My car is down there in the center somewhere.
Horseshoe Mountain summit, view west.
Horseshoe Mountain summit, view west.
I headed back to the saddle north of Horseshoe Mountain separating it from Peerless Mountain and took a mining road down.
I headed back to the saddle north of Horseshoe Mountain separating it from Peerless Mountain and took a mining road down.
At the base of Horseshoe Mountain's east side at some pretty lakes.
At the base of Horseshoe Mountain's east side at some pretty lakes.
Continuing along the mining road.
Continuing along the mining road.
View back toward Horseshoe Mountain.
View back toward Horseshoe Mountain.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Back at my parking spot, view toward Mount Sheridan (far left) and Mount Sherman (right of center).
Back at my parking spot, view toward Mount Sheridan (far left) and Mount Sherman (right of center).

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