Quail Mountain and Mount Hope via Sheep Gulch in Pike National Forest, CO

Hike Quail Mountain and Mount Hope via Sheep Gulch Pike National Forest, CO

Class 2 8.4 miles 5100 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Aug 2, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Quail Mountain and Mount Hope via Sheep Gulch GPX Track

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Quail Mountain and Mount Hope are a pair of 13ers most efficiently accessed from Hope Pass, which is accessed via the Colorado Trail. Though-hikers on the CDT also seem to enjoy taking a detour to Hope Pass since the views are so nice. I chose to start my hike from the south using the Sheep Gulch Trailhead. Starting tame, the trail led through the forest and past a junction that leads to the ghost town of Winfield. Continuing north from this junction, the trail steepenes, switchbacking occasionally up Sheep Gulch. Behind me I could see Huron Peak, and as I gained elevation, more of the Collegiate Peaks 14ers poked out on the horizon. The trail was in great condition and I quickly reached tree line, leaving the lovely forested setting behind. The Colorado Trail then began to switchback widely through talus fields and tundra as it made its way up to Hope Pass, the views becoming even more amazing.

From Hope Pass, I decided to first hike east to Quail Mountain. Later from Mount Hope I noted a social trail that makes one giant switchback on the southern slope of Quail Mountain, but I didn't know about it at the time and instead hiked directly up its west ridge. There was a social trail here too, but it was definitely pretty steep. Never exceeding Class 2, I hiked up to the top of the slope to a false summit and into the morning sunlight. Quail Mountain was about a quarter mile away, a simple tundra walk with some light talus spattered in. An old cabin rested on the summit, an idyllic foreground for the colossal Collegiate Peaks in the distance.

I backtracked to Hope Pass and started up Mount Hope. There's a faint social trail at first, but it soon gets difficult to stay on it as the terrain becomes more covered in talus. I recommend keeping just left of the crest initially to avoid the jagged and loose rock, though this doesn't seem to exceed Class 3/4 if you want to add a tiny bit more spice to the ascent. Keeping left, Class 2 talus led me around the initial outcroppings and then back to the crest. I managed to hike on snippets of social trail, really only visible when the rockiness faded into spurts of tundra. Much of the ascent was straightforward, but there are social/animal trails that may trick you into staying significantly below the crest. I recommend trying to stick to the crest as often as possible since those many social trails ultimately require you to ascend the slope anyway.

The last few hundred feet to the top of Mount Hope's east ridge became steeper and more rocky. At one point a more significant headwall veered me to the left to overcome it more safely. The ascent here creeps into Class 2+ territory due to loose rock and steeper scrambling, but I never really had to pull any climbing moves. More than one social trail has eroded the slope to the point that I was hiking on dirt beneath the talus, an inevitable result of many people hiking on a loose mountain without an official trail. A final Class 2+ move led to the top of the rocky ridge and onto tundra. The open terrain led me the remaining short hike to the summit of Mount Hope. Mount Hope is just under 14,000 feet, so it gets a lot less attention than its slightly taller neighbors. The views are spectacular since it's a front-row seat toward the Collegiate Peaks to the south, as well as toward Twin Lakes and Mount Elbert to the north.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Quail Mountain
13465 ft
935 rise
2
Mount Hope
13939 ft
885 rise

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Starting from the Sheep Gulch Trailhead, taking the Colorado Trail.
Starting from the Sheep Gulch Trailhead, taking the Colorado Trail.
Junction, continue straight toward Hope Pass.
Junction, continue straight toward Hope Pass.
View back as I ascend Sheep Gulch along the Colorado Trail. Huron Peak seen right, Missouri Mountain poking out on the left.
View back as I ascend Sheep Gulch along the Colorado Trail. Huron Peak seen right, Missouri Mountain poking out on the left.
The trail is in great condition and switchbacks fairly steeply.
The trail is in great condition and switchbacks fairly steeply.
The Colorado Trail passes through a small talus field as the slope begins opening above tree line.
The Colorado Trail passes through a small talus field as the slope begins opening above tree line.
View back down Sheep Gulch.
View back down Sheep Gulch.
Hope Pass somewhere center, ahead.
Hope Pass somewhere center, ahead.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Final set of switchbacks to Hope Pass.
Final set of switchbacks to Hope Pass.
Hope Pass, view back down Sheep Gulch. Missouri Mountain, Mount Belford, and Mount Oxford seen left.
Hope Pass, view back down Sheep Gulch. Missouri Mountain, Mount Belford, and Mount Oxford seen left.
View north from Hope Pass.
View north from Hope Pass.
I headed up Quail Mountain first, seen ahead.
I headed up Quail Mountain first, seen ahead.
The slope was steep, and although there was a hint of a social trail switchbacking up the slope, I decided to just head directly up the ridge. There were social trail hints here, too.
The slope was steep, and although there was a hint of a social trail switchbacking up the slope, I decided to just head directly up the ridge. There were social trail hints here, too.
View back toward Hope Pass, Mount Hope seen top.
View back toward Hope Pass, Mount Hope seen top.
I reached the top of the slope, then continued on pleasant tundra toward Quail Mountain.
I reached the top of the slope, then continued on pleasant tundra toward Quail Mountain.
Some talus-hopping along the way, but it was short-lived.
Some talus-hopping along the way, but it was short-lived.
Quail Mountain summit, view toward an old cabin and the Collegiate Peaks in the distance.
Quail Mountain summit, view toward an old cabin and the Collegiate Peaks in the distance.
Quail Mountain summit, view toward Oxford, Belford, Missouri, Huron 14ers.
Quail Mountain summit, view toward Oxford, Belford, Missouri, Huron 14ers.
After bactracking to Hope Pass, I started up Mount Hope. This is a shot looking back toward Quail Mountain after starting up.
After bactracking to Hope Pass, I started up Mount Hope. This is a shot looking back toward Quail Mountain after starting up.
Class 2 along the crest. I kept just left of the crest at times to avoid excessive rockiness.
Class 2 along the crest. I kept just left of the crest at times to avoid excessive rockiness.
More progress along the ridge crest to Mount Hope.
More progress along the ridge crest to Mount Hope.
View back, Quail Mountain left and Sheep Gulch right.
View back, Quail Mountain left and Sheep Gulch right.
Along the ridge up to Mount Hope.
Along the ridge up to Mount Hope.
Class 2 talus along the crest.
Class 2 talus along the crest.
Looking back at my progress up Mount Hope.
Looking back at my progress up Mount Hope.
I avoided a steeper face (seen right) by wrapping left around it.
I avoided a steeper face (seen right) by wrapping left around it.
View back down the Class 2 steeper stuff.
View back down the Class 2 steeper stuff.
Final bit to the top of the rocky slope/ridge.
Final bit to the top of the rocky slope/ridge.
Class 2+ move to gain false summit.
Class 2+ move to gain false summit.
Above the false summit, a nice tundra walk to the summit of Mount Hope.
Above the false summit, a nice tundra walk to the summit of Mount Hope.
Mount Hope summit, view west.
Mount Hope summit, view west.
Mount Hope summit, view north. Mount Elbert seen left.
Mount Hope summit, view north. Mount Elbert seen left.
Mount Hope summit, view south.
Mount Hope summit, view south.

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