T8 and Hayden Mountain South via Richmond Pass Trail in Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Hike T8 and Hayden Mountain South via Richmond Pass Trail Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Class 2 8.7 miles 4400 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Aug 11, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

T8 and Hayden Mountain South via Richmond Pass Trail 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.

T8 and Hayden Mountain South are two Colorado 13ers outside of Ouray that are easily overlooked despite their gorgeous views and easy trail access. The Richmond Trailhead is accessed just off the Million Dollar Highway on a very short dirt spur road. The trail begins as an old dirt road, crosses under some telephone poles, and then becomes a true trail. The Richmond Trail switchbacks steeply up the forested slope. I was surprised at how quickly the views became nice, the peaks to the south becoming visible after only a few hundred vertical gain. After a while the forest emerged into meadows along the slopes and a couple of signs help to point in the right direction, the first objective being Richmond Pass. After the switchbacks ended I ascended a final steep section to a nice viewpoint of V8 and Hayden Mountain South. The trail continued on a grassy slope that leads in almost a stright line to Richmond Pass, but the trail disappeared temporarily along the tundra, replace by ample cairns. I soon reached Richmond Pass.

I could see there was a trail leading up to Hayden Mountain South, so I'd save that easier peak for later. I kind of had no idea what to do for T8, so I started up along the ridge. This turned out to be a mistake, and I mention it only because it's really tempting to take the ridge. There was a scary and crumbly section (Class 4) that I marked on my map, but I removed my route getting there because I certainly don't recommend it. Instead, from Richmond Pass, drop northwest along a social trail with cairns. There are at least two possible pre-cairned routes leading more or less along the same route I took. I only had to drop down about 200 feet from Richmond Pass, and the going was straightforward. There was some minor rock-hopping, but mostly just tundra walking as I wrapped around on the north side of the ridgeline. A mining road came into view and sure enough the social trail took me right to it. I followed this mining road to the base of T8, but the road curved away so I instead continued south onto a steep and grassy slope. The slope turned into Class 2 talus and I headed straight up toward a rock outcrop. I kept left around the outcrop and ended up on the ridgeline. It was easy walking with one short Class 2 section to the summit of T8.

Back at Richmond Pass, I started north to Hayden Mountain South. The trail was really well-defined and I had little concern about the difficulty of the hike from here. This trail avoided the many cute rock hoodoos that were perched along the ridge crest, staying left for the most part and just below the true crest. I should also note that there were at least two steep sections and, while not necessary exposed, the slope on the left is quite steep. I made my way off the ridge and to the final ascent of Hayden Mountain South. This involved some typical steep talus walking on a social trail (barely Class 2). The views were less nice because the peak's summit area was wide enough to block the views, but it was a nice hike. I returned the way I came. I also passed a super sweet couple in their late 70s doing the same peaks I was, so that was a nice slap of inspiration and motivation. Also on the way down to Ouray a rock fell off a the cliffs and hit my car, just one of those things you never think would happen to you!

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
T8
13315 ft
475 rise
2
Hayden Mountain South
13206 ft
549 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 Richmond Trail.
Starting up the Richmond Trail.
The trail is really well-maintained and quite steep.
The trail is really well-maintained and quite steep.
View back shortly after starting, already I had some nice views.
View back shortly after starting, already I had some nice views.
Another shot back as I gain significant elevation.
Another shot back as I gain significant elevation.
The Richmond Trail leaves the trees and enters pretty meadows along the slopes.
The Richmond Trail leaves the trees and enters pretty meadows along the slopes.
Continuing up the slopes.
Continuing up the slopes.
One of a few signs pointing the way.
One of a few signs pointing the way.
More switchbacks up the beautiful grassy slope.
More switchbacks up the beautiful grassy slope.
Image 8 from gallery
A trail junction. Left leads up to Richmond Pass.
A trail junction. Left leads up to Richmond Pass.
View back to the trail junction. You can see the sign on the bottom right.
View back to the trail junction. You can see the sign on the bottom right.
Just past the trail junction, a short and steep section leads to the grassy tundra on the right. T8 is visible top left. Richmond Pass top right.
Just past the trail junction, a short and steep section leads to the grassy tundra on the right. T8 is visible top left. Richmond Pass top right.
Last view back before the lovely views down toward the Million Dollar Highway fade away.
Last view back before the lovely views down toward the Million Dollar Highway fade away.
Close-up toward Hayden Mountain South.
Close-up toward Hayden Mountain South.
The Richmond Trail becomes a bit grassy and is easy to follow mostly due to ample cairns.
The Richmond Trail becomes a bit grassy and is easy to follow mostly due to ample cairns.
View back along the tundra slope just before reaching Richmond Pass.
View back along the tundra slope just before reaching Richmond Pass.
Richmond Pass, view northeast. T8 is first on my list. It will be tempting to ascend the slope on the left, but that will ultimately lead to some scary ridge scrambling to reach T8. Instead follow the much more obvious trail ahead that will soon be guided by cairns.
Richmond Pass, view northeast. T8 is first on my list. It will be tempting to ascend the slope on the left, but that will ultimately lead to some scary ridge scrambling to reach T8. Instead follow the much more obvious trail ahead that will soon be guided by cairns.
Continuing along a cairned route, and T8 comes into view (top center). The route is mostly grassy with some light talus-hopping. I'm headed for the old mining road in the center of this photo.
Continuing along a cairned route, and T8 comes into view (top center). The route is mostly grassy with some light talus-hopping. I'm headed for the old mining road in the center of this photo.
View back toward Richmond Pass (far right). Hayden Mountain South visible top left.
View back toward Richmond Pass (far right). Hayden Mountain South visible top left.
The social trail leads to an old mining road, visible on the left.
The social trail leads to an old mining road, visible on the left.
On the old mining road, view toward Hayden Mountain South (top left). Richmond Pass is on the right obscured by a ridge. I came to this road via the lighter-colored terrain on the right in this photo.
On the old mining road, view toward Hayden Mountain South (top left). Richmond Pass is on the right obscured by a ridge. I came to this road via the lighter-colored terrain on the right in this photo.
The road curved away, so I started up this grassy slope toward the rock outcrop ahead.
The road curved away, so I started up this grassy slope toward the rock outcrop ahead.
View back as I ascend. Richmond Pass right of center.
View back as I ascend. Richmond Pass right of center.
Approaching the rock outcrop. Class 2 talus. Keep left of the outcrop and wrap around it on Class 2.
Approaching the rock outcrop. Class 2 talus. Keep left of the outcrop and wrap around it on Class 2.
View back down the talus toward the road I came up from. You can see Teakettle Mountain in the distance in the Sneffels peak group.
View back down the talus toward the road I came up from. You can see Teakettle Mountain in the distance in the Sneffels peak group.
Just past the rock outcrop, mostly tundra walking leads to T8. I took the slope on the left, then wandered along the ridge to the high point, which is on the top right.
Just past the rock outcrop, mostly tundra walking leads to T8. I took the slope on the left, then wandered along the ridge to the high point, which is on the top right.
Approaching some minor Class 2.
Approaching some minor Class 2.
Close-up back at the route. The rock outcrop I avoided is left of center. The scary ridgeline that I first attempted and don't recommend is on the far right. Richmond Pass is visible center. Hayden Mountain South top left.
Close-up back at the route. The rock outcrop I avoided is left of center. The scary ridgeline that I first attempted and don't recommend is on the far right. Richmond Pass is visible center. Hayden Mountain South top left.
Wide shot looking back as I ascend to T8.
Wide shot looking back as I ascend to T8.
Easy hiking to T8 once past the short Class 2 section.
Easy hiking to T8 once past the short Class 2 section.
T8 summit, view southwest along the ridge.
T8 summit, view southwest along the ridge.
T8 summit view north.
T8 summit view north.
Back at Richmond Pass, now heading north to Hayden Mountain South.
Back at Richmond Pass, now heading north to Hayden Mountain South.
View back toward Richmond Pass (left) and T8 (top right). You can trace the entire route I took to T8 from here, including the little itty rock outcrop visible just left of the peak.
View back toward Richmond Pass (left) and T8 (top right). You can trace the entire route I took to T8 from here, including the little itty rock outcrop visible just left of the peak.
Social trail up to Hayden Mountain South.
Social trail up to Hayden Mountain South.
The trail is mostly on the left side of the ridge crest.
The trail is mostly on the left side of the ridge crest.
Hayden Mountain South ahead, lots of hoodoos avoided by following the trail, which keeps left for the most part.
Hayden Mountain South ahead, lots of hoodoos avoided by following the trail, which keeps left for the most part.
Avoiding hoodoos. There are a couple of steep sections along the trail that might require a deep breath.
Avoiding hoodoos. There are a couple of steep sections along the trail that might require a deep breath.
View back from amongst the hoodoos.
View back from amongst the hoodoos.
Last bit along the grassy ridgeline before reaching the scree.
Last bit along the grassy ridgeline before reaching the scree.
View back, T8 top right.
View back, T8 top right.
The trail continues through the scree.
The trail continues through the scree.
View back as I ascend the steep scree trail.
View back as I ascend the steep scree trail.
It's a straightforward hike to the summit from here.
It's a straightforward hike to the summit from here.
Another shot back just below the summit.
Another shot back just below the summit.
Hayden Mountain South summit, view northwest toward the Sneffels group.
Hayden Mountain South summit, view northwest toward the Sneffels group.
Hayden Mountain South summit, view northeast toward Hayden Mountain North. I contemplated heading to that peak, but realized the ridge looked pretty intense and decided to call it a day.
Hayden Mountain South summit, view northeast toward Hayden Mountain North. I contemplated heading to that peak, but realized the ridge looked pretty intense and decided to call it a day.
On the way back, I got a shot of T8 (far top left) and Hayden Mountain South (top right). Richmond Pass center.
On the way back, I got a shot of T8 (far top left) and Hayden Mountain South (top right). Richmond Pass center.

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!