Summit Peak, The Unicorn, Montezuma Peak Loop in Rio Grande National Forest, CO

Hike Summit Peak, The Unicorn, Montezuma Peak Loop Rio Grande National Forest, CO

Class 2 8.9 miles 3400 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Jun 11, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Summit Peak, The Unicorn, Montezuma Peak Loop GPX Track

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Summit Peak is the high point of the Southern San Juan Mountains, located deep enough to deter many visitors, despite its immense beauty. After the long drive on an overall good dirt road (sedans likely have to go slow for the last few miles, and shouldn't be out this far without good tires), Yossi and I set out from the trailhead. Our loop would take us along the Treasure Creek Trail first.

Starting high up meant we would be above treeline pretty quickly. After a nice stroll through some trees and tundra on the good trail, we made one big switchback and headed back into the forest briefly. Here the trail was a bit more difficult to follow (around 11400'), both because the trail seems to have eroded away to some extent and because of a bunch of downed trees. We emerged above treeline again and realized the trail was no longer a helpful tool in navigating since the tundra was wide open, but after a few hundred feet we did find it again and continued along the trail as it wrapped around a slope and Summit Peak came into view.

A bit of pleasant ascending got us to the junction with the Continental Divide Trail, which we'd be returning to after getting to Summit Peak. It looked like getting to the summit from the north side of the peak would mean horrible and potentially dangerous scree, so we followed the CDT south for a short time and when the southeastern slope of Summit Peak was clearly a tundra slope rather than scree, we left the trail to get to the base of the steep slope. Fortunately the footing was good or the steepness would have been brutal. A few hundred quad-killing feet got us to the eastern ridgeline of Summit Peak, where the views were excellent and the summit came into view.

After reaching Summit Peak's summit and backtracking to the CDT, we followed the trail as it headed generally north below the northern face of Summit Peak, an impressive and convoluted mess of rock. The CDT had some excellent views of Summit Peak the farther away it took us. We passed a small unnamed lake and soon were at the base of our next 13er, The Unicorn. It made the most sense to leave the trail and just head north along the ridgeline to get to the summit, Class 2. Rather than backtrack, Yossi and I decided we might as well just follow the ridgeline to get the lower sibling bump (um, why was the excellent name "The Unicorn" wasted on a two-bump summit?). Alternatively, you could drop back to the CDT and skip the extra bump, whose north ridge had a Class 2+ move to get down.

Now at the base of Montezuma Peak, our final 13er for the loop, we observed the scree-looking ascent. It was much less bad than it appeared, never exceeding Class 2 and with overall good footing. Toward the top the grade steepened, but it still wasn't anything to complain about. After taking in the views from Montezuma Peak (especially if you go slightly north of the summit), we dropped off the peak's Class 2 east ridge, crossed over the CDT, and descended a steep grassy slope to the south to just above treeline. Rather than go down all the way initially, we stayed just above the treeline and traversed east, our goal to have minimal bushwhacking. Plus the views were still excellent. Once we decided to drop down, the slope was open enough to be pleasant and at around 11400' we reached Treasure Creek. Here a social trail had been formed from likely both animals and humans alike, the gorgeous cascading creek introducing waterfalls and lovely nature sounds. I'm not sure how far up the social trail leads, but once we stumbled onto it on the creek's rim, we had no problems following it all the way back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Summit Peak
13304 ft
2740 rise
2
The Unicorn
13030 ft
426 rise
3
Montezuma Peak
13150 ft
690 rise

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Starting along the Treasure Creek Trail.
Starting along the Treasure Creek Trail.
Passing by a pretty waterfall.
Passing by a pretty waterfall.
Great scenery after emerging from the forest into the tundra.
Great scenery after emerging from the forest into the tundra.
View back.
View back.
A big switchback took us back into the forest. We came from the meadow on the right.
A big switchback took us back into the forest. We came from the meadow on the right.
View back as we ascend along the Treasure Creek Trail.
View back as we ascend along the Treasure Creek Trail.
The trail got a bit convoluted here, but we kept finding hints of it as it led through the forest.
The trail got a bit convoluted here, but we kept finding hints of it as it led through the forest.
And then we were above treeline. The Unicorn seen center.
And then we were above treeline. The Unicorn seen center.
View back toward the section where the trail was hard to find, but we were able to get back onto it.
View back toward the section where the trail was hard to find, but we were able to get back onto it.
Summit Peak comes into view.
Summit Peak comes into view.
View back, The Unicorn and Montezuma Peak seen in the distance.
View back, The Unicorn and Montezuma Peak seen in the distance.
Along the CDT, wrapping around the east side of Summit Peak.
Along the CDT, wrapping around the east side of Summit Peak.
We chose to ascend Summit Peak around here, after passing by the talus/scree.
We chose to ascend Summit Peak around here, after passing by the talus/scree.
View back down at the steep grassy slope.
View back down at the steep grassy slope.
Summit ridge to Summit Peak.
Summit ridge to Summit Peak.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Summit Peak, view north toward The Unicorn and Montezuma Peak.
Summit Peak, view north toward The Unicorn and Montezuma Peak.
Summit Peak, view south.
Summit Peak, view south.
Back on the CDT, we continued generally north. The Unicorn (center) was next.
Back on the CDT, we continued generally north. The Unicorn (center) was next.
Gorgeous view back toward Summit Peak and an unnamed lake.
Gorgeous view back toward Summit Peak and an unnamed lake.
At the base of The Unicorn. We just headed up the ridge.
At the base of The Unicorn. We just headed up the ridge.
View back toward Summit Peak.
View back toward Summit Peak.
The Unicorn's two summits.
The Unicorn's two summits.
Class 2 up to The Unicorn.
Class 2 up to The Unicorn.
View toward Summit Peak from The Unicorn.
View toward Summit Peak from The Unicorn.
The Unicorn summit, view toward its northern lump and Montezuma Peak. You could just drop down back to the CDT, but we stuck to the ridge crest.
The Unicorn summit, view toward its northern lump and Montezuma Peak. You could just drop down back to the CDT, but we stuck to the ridge crest.
Class 2+ coming down from the northern hump of The Unicorn.
Class 2+ coming down from the northern hump of The Unicorn.
Montezuma Peak ahead.
Montezuma Peak ahead.
At the base of Montezuma Peak. We kept just left of the steepest stuff seen ahead.
At the base of Montezuma Peak. We kept just left of the steepest stuff seen ahead.
View back as we startup Montezuma Peak.
View back as we startup Montezuma Peak.
Class 2, and not particularly loose.
Class 2, and not particularly loose.
Just below the summit of Montezuma Peak, view back toward The Unicorn (right) and Summit Peak (left).
Just below the summit of Montezuma Peak, view back toward The Unicorn (right) and Summit Peak (left).
Montezuma Peak summit, view north.
Montezuma Peak summit, view north.
We dropped off the east ridge of Montezuma Peak and then headed to the grassy drop-off seen on the right.
We dropped off the east ridge of Montezuma Peak and then headed to the grassy drop-off seen on the right.
Steep grassy slope.
Steep grassy slope.
Rather than drop down below treeline, we traversed for a bit.
Rather than drop down below treeline, we traversed for a bit.
And then eventually we descended through the trees, light bushwhacking.
And then eventually we descended through the trees, light bushwhacking.
We stumbled on a social trail along Treasure Creek, where there were a few beautiful waterfalls.
We stumbled on a social trail along Treasure Creek, where there were a few beautiful waterfalls.
The social trail led us back to the trailhead, paralleling Treasure Creek.
The social trail led us back to the trailhead, paralleling Treasure Creek.

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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!