San Miguel Peak via Hope Lake in San Juan National Forest, CO

Hike San Miguel Peak via Hope Lake San Juan National Forest, CO

Class 2 8.2 miles 3600 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Aug 3, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

San Miguel Peak via Hope Lake GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Last August's injury prevented me from getting ample Colorado peaks in, so this year I was ready for three weeks of peakbagging catch-up, starting with San Miguel Peak. Initially, I wanted to hike San Miguel, drop back down to Hope Lake, and then complete the Vermilion Peak traverse, but weather prevented me from doing so and I had to come back for that lovely route a few days later. This did allow me to find an alternate descent route instead of the standard route to San Miguel Peak, shown as the southern orange line on my attached map. I don't know which of the two routes I liked more. The standard route had nice views and was straightforward, but the southern route skipped most of the loose crap on the standard route and also passed a couple of pretty unnamed lakes.

I left the Hope Lake Trailhead too late as usual, heading along the very popular trail up to Hope Lake. The lake was gorgeous. I wrapped around its northern perimeter over some Class 2 boulders and then across a small dam on its northern side. From here, I couldn't locate a social trail of any sort, but it was clear where to go. A grassy slope brought me above Hope Lake and continued on varying grass, scree, and Class 2 boulders to just below the summit of San Miguel Peak. Class 2+ boulders led up the northeastern slope, some parts very steep. I wonder if maybe sticking slightly more north would make this section easier, but I'm not sure. Either way, it's a somewhat fun section, if not a little steep and dangerous. This slope leads to a false summit. I followed the summit ridge toward the true summit, but was blocked by a rather treacherous notch. A social trail leads down the north side, and this part is not fun. It's short, but loose and dirty, and leads down to the notch. I continued on the left (south) side of the notch up more Class 2 to the summit.

From the summit of San Miguel Peak, I debated just heading back since clouds were forming, but thought maybe they'd dissipate and I could continue onward to Vermilion Peak. To save some time (really because I was feeling naughty and wanted to try a new route), I thought maybe I could get to the saddle between V 8 and V 9 to start the Vermilion traverse more efficiently. This would ultimately not be the case, but whatever. I dropped down off the summit, heading south. Happy to avoid the notch and excited to get down to some pretty little unnamed lakes below, I enjoyed some big granite boulders as obstacles on the descent. There were some cliffs that needed avoiding, and an occasional backtrack when particularly large boulders prevented easy downclimbing, but overall I thought it was a more pleasant route. The rocks faded away and I continued descending on a grassy slope to the lakes below. I passed between the two and began searching for a way around a rocky ridge on the opposite side of the lower of the two lakes that could potentially end my route-finding fun. Fortunately, with a small Class 2 climb, I made it to the grassy slopes on the other side of this rocky ridge and side-hilled on pleasant terrain with nice views down toward Hope Lake. I toyed with the ideal of descending down to Hope Lake, unsure if my plan would work, since the slope was narrowing and the cliffs becoming steeper. There very well may be a way down to Hope Lake before the spot labeled "Class 3 move" on my attached map, but I couldn't find one, or just didn't start looking early enough. I also removed my GPS route-finding jitter from my map becuase I romped around looking for a way down and made a lot of silliness with my track. My recommendation would just be to stick to the grassy slope until you no longer can. I encountered a Class 3 downclimb move, and then after this, I side-hilled along scree and grass until I stumbled on a social trail. This is the same trail that would lead to the saddle for ther Vermilion Peak traverse, but the clouds were saying no for me today, and I took the trail down to Hope Lake and returned to the trailhead via the (now early afternoon) very crowded trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
San Miguel Peak
13752 ft
1307 rise

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!

Starting up the Hope Lake Trail.
Starting up the Hope Lake Trail.
The trail crosses a creek and continues on the opposite side.
The trail crosses a creek and continues on the opposite side.
Gorgeous views along the Hope Lake Trail. San Miguel Peak is just right of center.
Gorgeous views along the Hope Lake Trail. San Miguel Peak is just right of center.
Close-up of the trail and San Miguel Peak on the right.
Close-up of the trail and San Miguel Peak on the right.
Entering the forest, some signs helping to prevent people from going off-trail.
Entering the forest, some signs helping to prevent people from going off-trail.
Vermilion Peak visible.
Vermilion Peak visible.
Approaching Hope Lake.
Approaching Hope Lake.
Looking back the way I came.
Looking back the way I came.
Hope Lake. I followed the social trail visible on the right.
Hope Lake. I followed the social trail visible on the right.
Continuing around the east side of Hope Lake.
Continuing around the east side of Hope Lake.
Hope Lake, San Miguel Peak visible center.
Hope Lake, San Miguel Peak visible center.
View back the way I came along some Class 2 talus as I continue to the north side of Hope Lake.
View back the way I came along some Class 2 talus as I continue to the north side of Hope Lake.
I crossed over the dam and started ascending the grassy slope. Vermilion Peak visible top right. The Hope Lake Trailhead is somewhere down bottom left within the trees.
I crossed over the dam and started ascending the grassy slope. Vermilion Peak visible top right. The Hope Lake Trailhead is somewhere down bottom left within the trees.
Ascending the grassy slopes.
Ascending the grassy slopes.
It's hard to tell what's going on in photos, but I recommend just continuing along the grassy slopes and Class 2 stuff.
It's hard to tell what's going on in photos, but I recommend just continuing along the grassy slopes and Class 2 stuff.
View down toward Hope Lake, V9 visible top right and Beattie Peak visible top left.
View down toward Hope Lake, V9 visible top right and Beattie Peak visible top left.
Wider shot of my progress. The route started at the top part of Hope Lake, traversed around its east side, then ascended the slopes on the left in this photo. Vermilion Peak and Beattie Peak visible top.
Wider shot of my progress. The route started at the top part of Hope Lake, traversed around its east side, then ascended the slopes on the left in this photo. Vermilion Peak and Beattie Peak visible top.
Continuing up the slopes.
Continuing up the slopes.
Another shot back to show progress.
Another shot back to show progress.
Class 2.
Class 2.
San Miguel Peak comes into view.
San Miguel Peak comes into view.
Class 2, steep and not fun.
Class 2, steep and not fun.
View back the way I came, Hope Lake visible on the right.
View back the way I came, Hope Lake visible on the right.
At the top of the Class 2 at a false summit of San Miguel Peak. You can see Hope Lake in the center, and the two unnamed lakes on the right that I will descend to later.
At the top of the Class 2 at a false summit of San Miguel Peak. You can see Hope Lake in the center, and the two unnamed lakes on the right that I will descend to later.
Continuing along the Class 2 ridge.
Continuing along the Class 2 ridge.
At an impassable notch blocking me from the true summit. A route continues just on the right. It's steep and loose.
At an impassable notch blocking me from the true summit. A route continues just on the right. It's steep and loose.
Looking down at the Class 2+  descent into the notch (notch visible on the left).
Looking down at the Class 2+ descent into the notch (notch visible on the left).
Continuing from the notch on Class 2 to the summit of San Miguel Peak.
Continuing from the notch on Class 2 to the summit of San Miguel Peak.
San Miguel Peak, view east. Hope Lake visible center. My chosen descent route leads down to the snowy stuff on the right before continuing to the two unnamed lakes visible to the right of Hope Lake.
San Miguel Peak, view east. Hope Lake visible center. My chosen descent route leads down to the snowy stuff on the right before continuing to the two unnamed lakes visible to the right of Hope Lake.
Close-up toward Lake Point Peak, an unranked minor summit.
Close-up toward Lake Point Peak, an unranked minor summit.
San Miguel Peak, view south the very remote V10 (left) and a possibly taller and more scary summit of San Miguel Peak (right). Further research said it's not taller, fortunately.
San Miguel Peak, view south the very remote V10 (left) and a possibly taller and more scary summit of San Miguel Peak (right). Further research said it's not taller, fortunately.
Descending from San Miguel Peak toward the lakes. Class 2/3 scrambling on much better quality rock than the ascent.
Descending from San Miguel Peak toward the lakes. Class 2/3 scrambling on much better quality rock than the ascent.
Approaching the first of the two unnamed lakes. I started getting a little concerned about my route because of the cliffs in the center of this photo, but it ended up only requiring some Class 2.
Approaching the first of the two unnamed lakes. I started getting a little concerned about my route because of the cliffs in the center of this photo, but it ended up only requiring some Class 2.
Pretty lake. Vermilion Peak poking out in the center.
Pretty lake. Vermilion Peak poking out in the center.
Hope Lake visible below as I leave the basin where the two unnamed lakes live and side-hilled on the grassy slopes. There might be an easier way down from here to get down to Hope Lake, but I was still hoping the weather would clear and I could continue to Vermilion Peak, so I hugged the slopes instead of attempting a route down early.
Hope Lake visible below as I leave the basin where the two unnamed lakes live and side-hilled on the grassy slopes. There might be an easier way down from here to get down to Hope Lake, but I was still hoping the weather would clear and I could continue to Vermilion Peak, so I hugged the slopes instead of attempting a route down early.
Looking back toward San Miguel Peak as I continue along the slope.
Looking back toward San Miguel Peak as I continue along the slope.
Looking back along the slopes, Hope Lake visible on the right. You might be surprised to hear that finding a route down to the lake wasn't as easy as expected. It's steep and cliffy.
Looking back along the slopes, Hope Lake visible on the right. You might be surprised to hear that finding a route down to the lake wasn't as easy as expected. It's steep and cliffy.
I was hoping to traverse to the pass visible in the center here in order to go up to Beattie Peak (left) and Vermilion Peak (out of frame, far left), but weather didn't allow it. Instead, I continued along the slope until I could find a good way down.
I was hoping to traverse to the pass visible in the center here in order to go up to Beattie Peak (left) and Vermilion Peak (out of frame, far left), but weather didn't allow it. Instead, I continued along the slope until I could find a good way down.
Class 3 move to get off the slope.
Class 3 move to get off the slope.
Continuing down to Hope Lake.
Continuing down to Hope Lake.
View back toward the slope I descended down, the Class 3 move visible in the sunny section left of center. Overall, my descent was lengthier and probably not all that much better than the standard route, but it did serve as a nice alternative route from just going back the same way.
View back toward the slope I descended down, the Class 3 move visible in the sunny section left of center. Overall, my descent was lengthier and probably not all that much better than the standard route, but it did serve as a nice alternative route from just going back the same way.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!