North Fork Lake Creek 13ers (Peak 13291, Peak 13220) in White River National Forest, CO

Hike North Fork Lake Creek 13ers (Peak 13291, Peak 13220) White River National Forest, CO

Class 3 10.7 miles 3500 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Aug 3, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

North Fork Lake Creek 13ers (Peak 13291, Peak 13220) GPX Track

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This pair of 13ers are located east of Independence Pass, and seemed to be best accessed via the North Fork Lake Creek Trail. These summits, Peak 13291 (formerly Peak 13300B) and Peak 13220 (formerly Peak 13202) have nice views, a few fun scrambling moves, and a great trail approach. I started up the North Fork Lake Creek Trail and soon entered the Mount Massive Wilderness. The trail gets some traffic because it ultimately leads to an unnamed lake at the base of Deer Mountain, so I decided to make my way there as well before starting the peaks, forming what seemed like a natural lollipop loop. Gaining elevation slowly, it was a really pleasant morning walk through the forest and then through the meadows that followed. Although the trail was in overall excellent shape, it gets a little confusing at around 11,550' when it crosses the creek. The more obvious trail parallels the creek's left side and eventually peters out, but the official trail crosses it and continues north on the opposite side as it heads up toward the unnamed lake.

The North Fork Lake Creek Trail bends east and ascends below the ridge I'd be traversing between the two 13ers later on, fading briefly as it heads through a short section of spongy meadow. The views back toward Twining Peak and fellow 13ers above the valley were really lovely during this portion of the hike. I could see the pass ahead that housed the unnamed lake and a short set of switchbacks brought me up to it. Once at the lake, I needed to gain the ridge to the west in order to attain my peaks, so I started up the initially grassy slope, which steepened and became rockier. I started to ascend diagonally to avoid excessive rock-hopping and gained the crest. Starting north toward Peak 13291 on easy terrain, I noted Deer Mountain and Peak 13736 behind me, two peaks along a big traverse I did years ago that brought back fond memories.

The ridge dipped down to the base of a significant rock outcropping, which looked far more scary from here than it ended up being. Keeping left of the outcropping, I traversed below it using a social trail riddled with big boulders until Class 2 gully became apparent on the right. Ascending around 100 feet on this steep and and dirty gully led me back to the crest. I continued north along the ridge, usually keeping just to the right on Class 2/3 since the crest proper ventured into Class 4 territory. I ended up taking a different route up than down along this ridge, both options fun and not exceeding Class 3. I stayed as high as I could and the rock was overall very solid and the scrambling enjoyable. An initial bout of this fun led to a minor false summit with a view of Peak 13291's summit just ahead. More Class 2/3 continued from here, ending with a Class 3 chimney to top out.

I backtracked and continued along the crest from Peak 13291, now heading to Peak 13220. The ridgeline was mostly straightforward Class 2, with one steep descent on loose talus (likely avoidable by wrapping around to the left) and subsequent re-ascent on a lightly-colored loose Class 2 slope. Past these obstacles I continued on tundra with some embedded talus, and as I neared the base of my next peak I kept just left of the crest to avoid excessive rock-hopping. I stumbled on a social trail just below Peak 13220, noting that it dropped south off the ridge and I decided that would work well as a way down off the ridge later.

Peak 13220 seems to be more often approached via its west ridge, but I thought I'd attempt it from this direction rather than wrapping all the way around its southern slope. It turned out to be a pretty fun undertaking, not exceeding Class 3. Starting up from the base of Peak 13220, I kept just left of the crest's bouldery mess. Some convoluted Class 2 around little outcroppings weren't enough to dissuade me from staying high. There was a minor gully eroded from a small notch that I entered and exited, finding the solid rock more palatable than ascending via the dirt. Class 2/2+ continued out of the gully, picking my way up on the most fun and least exposed options. The summit came into view ahead, a nicely-capped block that seemed like it might be tricky to overcome from this direction. After avoiding some more Class 2 cliffies, I ascended a steep grassy slope and reached the base of a neat ledge that seemed to wrap around the steep summit block fortuitously. I pulled a Class 3+ move to gain this wide ledge, taking it around to a Class 2 slope and ultimately the summit.

After backtracking from Peak 13220, I descended from the ridge on the social trail that I had noted earlier. However, it ended shortly after and I was left to fend for myself as I made my way down the grassy slope. After a few hundred feet of descent I was stopped by a 20-foot cliff band that I managed to work around farther east, a nice slope bringing me past it and back onto easier ground. I passed the remains of an old mine, but otherwise I was just enjoying the glorious green in all directions, complete with little wildflowers. The ground got a bit boggy at certain points, but I could avoid most of it as well as any annoying brush in my way. I located a small creek that helped guide me down through the brush unencumbered. Eventually I made it back to the North Fork Lake Creek Trail and used it to return to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 13291
13291 ft
585 rise
2
Peak 13220
13220 ft
440 rise

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Starting up the North Fork Lake Creek Trail.
Starting up the North Fork Lake Creek Trail.
View back a bit after leaving the trailhead.
View back a bit after leaving the trailhead.
Entering Mount Massive Wilderness.
Entering Mount Massive Wilderness.
Another shot back, Lackawanna Peak seen top left.
Another shot back, Lackawanna Peak seen top left.
A really pleasant hike along the North Fork Lake Creek Trail.
A really pleasant hike along the North Fork Lake Creek Trail.
Peak 13291 seen right (my first peak), Peak 13220 left (my second).
Peak 13291 seen right (my first peak), Peak 13220 left (my second).
The trail gets a little confusing here. The more obvious trail keeps left of the creek, but the trail crosses it and continues north on the opposite side.
The trail gets a little confusing here. The more obvious trail keeps left of the creek, but the trail crosses it and continues north on the opposite side.
A shot back along the North Fork Lake Creek Trail.
A shot back along the North Fork Lake Creek Trail.
Ascending toward the unnamed lake.
Ascending toward the unnamed lake.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
The North Fork Lake Creek Trail leads to the saddle seen center.
The North Fork Lake Creek Trail leads to the saddle seen center.
View back as I ascend through a wetter section of meadow. The trail fades briefly, but continues shortly after.
View back as I ascend through a wetter section of meadow. The trail fades briefly, but continues shortly after.
Close-up west.
Close-up west.
Approaching the switchbacks up to the pass above.
Approaching the switchbacks up to the pass above.
Switchbacks up to the unnamed lake.
Switchbacks up to the unnamed lake.
View back down, Peak 13736 seen top left.
View back down, Peak 13736 seen top left.
When I reached the unnamed lake (behind me), I headed left and made a Class 2 ascending traverse up this slope to the ridge above.
When I reached the unnamed lake (behind me), I headed left and made a Class 2 ascending traverse up this slope to the ridge above.
View back toward the unnamed lake as I ascend the slope. Deer Mountain seen top.
View back toward the unnamed lake as I ascend the slope. Deer Mountain seen top.
Approaching the ridgeline.
Approaching the ridgeline.
Shot back, unnamed lake and Deer Mountain left, Peak 13736 seen right.
Shot back, unnamed lake and Deer Mountain left, Peak 13736 seen right.
Easy hiking along the ridge, initially.
Easy hiking along the ridge, initially.
A drop in the ridge on the way to Peak 13291, seen ahead. Keep left of the outcropped ahead.
A drop in the ridge on the way to Peak 13291, seen ahead. Keep left of the outcropped ahead.
Keeping left of the outcropping.
Keeping left of the outcropping.
Class 2 steep slope to regain the crest.
Class 2 steep slope to regain the crest.
On the crest, some Class 2/3 scrambling to reach the summit. I kept just right of the crest much of the time.
On the crest, some Class 2/3 scrambling to reach the summit. I kept just right of the crest much of the time.
One of the fun Class 3 sections before the false summit of Peak 13291.
One of the fun Class 3 sections before the false summit of Peak 13291.
Nearing the Peak 13291 summit, view back. Deer Mountain seen top left.
Nearing the Peak 13291 summit, view back. Deer Mountain seen top left.
A bit more fun scrambling to the true summit,
A bit more fun scrambling to the true summit,
Class 3 to the true summit.
Class 3 to the true summit.
Peak 13291 summit, view north.
Peak 13291 summit, view north.
I backtracked and continued along the crest from Peak 13291, now heading to Peak 13220.
I backtracked and continued along the crest from Peak 13291, now heading to Peak 13220.
Steep Class 2 descent along the ridge.
Steep Class 2 descent along the ridge.
View back, the steep Class 2 I just descended seen top right.
View back, the steep Class 2 I just descended seen top right.
Onward to Peak 13220.
Onward to Peak 13220.
Peak 13220 ahead. There was a brief portion of social trail that I returned to later to descend from the ridge.
Peak 13220 ahead. There was a brief portion of social trail that I returned to later to descend from the ridge.
Starting up from the base of Peak 13220, keeping left of the crest.
Starting up from the base of Peak 13220, keeping left of the crest.
Convoluted Class 2/2+.
Convoluted Class 2/2+.
View back at my progress so far.
View back at my progress so far.
More scrambling on somewhat loose rock along the crest.
More scrambling on somewhat loose rock along the crest.
A Class 2+ gully. I recommend traversing left after the gully.
A Class 2+ gully. I recommend traversing left after the gully.
Peak 13220 seen ahead.
Peak 13220 seen ahead.
View back along the crest as I wrap around a variety of large boulders and generally keeping just left (south) of the crest.
View back along the crest as I wrap around a variety of large boulders and generally keeping just left (south) of the crest.
A steep section of grassy slope to regain the ridge after avoiding a particularly wide outcropping.
A steep section of grassy slope to regain the ridge after avoiding a particularly wide outcropping.
Summit block seen ahead. A ledge wraps left around it.
Summit block seen ahead. A ledge wraps left around it.
Class 3 to gain the ledge.
Class 3 to gain the ledge.
View back on the ledge.
View back on the ledge.
Class 2 to the summit.
Class 2 to the summit.
Peak 13220 summit, view back along the crest. Peak 13291 seen far left.
Peak 13220 summit, view back along the crest. Peak 13291 seen far left.
After backtracking, I descended from the ridge on a social trail. It ended shortly after, so I just headed down the slope.
After backtracking, I descended from the ridge on a social trail. It ended shortly after, so I just headed down the slope.
View back up at the ridge where I descended from.
View back up at the ridge where I descended from.
Some little cliffies I had to avoid (right).
Some little cliffies I had to avoid (right).
Continuing my descent cross-country back to the North Fork Lake Creek Trail. It was pretty easy to avoid brushier sections.
Continuing my descent cross-country back to the North Fork Lake Creek Trail. It was pretty easy to avoid brushier sections.
Following a creek made it a little easier to avoid extra brush.
Following a creek made it a little easier to avoid extra brush.

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