Tower Mountain and East Storm in San Juan National Forest, CO

Hike Tower Mountain and East Storm San Juan National Forest, CO

Class 3 5.6 miles 2900 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Aug 15, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Tower Mountain and East Storm 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.

Tower Mountain is a prominent 13er that overlooks the surrounding San Juans from a colorful tundra-swept perch. Topo maps seem to think there's a trail called the South Fork Trail that approaches from the east, but I saw no indication of its existence while looking at a satellite map. My chosen route begins from within Velocity Basin at the western end of the ambiguous South Fork Trail, though there was no sign declaring the trail name as such, just one reading "foot traffic only". After a few days of struggling to wake up and hike without the use of ample drugs, coughing through a fitful night's sleep forced me to admit I was sick and needed to go easier on the last few days of my Colorado trip. I refused to not get at least a couple more 13ers though, so this shorter approach from Velocity Basin was welcomed. Tower Mountain is often approached via the Boulder Gulch Trail from the south, a much longer hike starting from Silverton CO. Coming from this direction would have meant a well-defined trail the entire way to the summit and after seeing the gulch from above, I vowed to repeat Tower Mountain someday by using that trail.

Storm Mountain and East Storm are a pair of rugged summits that loom over the small blue lake within Velocity Basin. The ridge connecting them is unlikely below Class 5, so a traverse to Storm Mountain wasn't on my radar for today. There's a massive gash separating the two, so a peakbagger looking to reach both would have to take a pretty extended detour to wrap down and around one and reascend the other. I decided to tack East Storm onto my hike since it was pretty accessible from Tower Mountain, but decided to save Storm Mountain for another day. If you're looking to reach all three 13ers in one outing, I recommend using the Boulder Gulch Trail rather than this approach from Velocity Basin so you can form a partial loop, the only annoyance being the drop avoiding the ridge between the Storms.

Any car can make it to about here (37.88912, -107.64861), and passenger car drivers with some confidence can make it all the way to the trailhead. After checking out the unnamed lake within Velocity Basin, I started along the South Fork Trail, which switchbacked lovingly up the tundra slope for a time before continuing north on flatter ground. Looking to the right toward the north ridge of Tower Mountain far above, I tried to determine the best spot to leave the nice South Fork Trail, and after checking out a satellite map it seemed to peter out in a few hundred feet anyway. I decided to head through the tundra to the east, where a faint animal trail led me along the edge of a large and recent-looking landslide before becoming what felt like a full-on official trail as it ascended to a small spur ridge/slope. Once on this spur, I continued east on steep tundra using hints of a trail, then follows it on an ascending traverse up to the ridge above.

Now on the north ridge of Tower Mountain, the trail was very defined and continued with some tiny undulations and lightly rocky portions before reaching a junction with the Boulder Gulch Trail. From here I could see the jagged-looking East Storm to the southwest, but I was enjoying the walk and decided to head to Tower Mountain first. There was a well-defined use trail the rest of the way up, including when the route led through a couple of rocky patches. The views were absolutely amazing, and although Silverton was nearly directly below me it was blocked from view by unranked Macomber Peak.

I backtracked to the junction, now heading over to East Storm. I stuck to the tundra-covered crest, easily avoiding a few obstacles along the way and going up and over a few small lumps. I was surprised that the existence of a social trail was sporadic at best. The sheer drop to my right into Velocity Basin was dizzying. I reached a minor outcrop that I felt was best overcome by sticking to the crest, Class 2+/3. This could likely be avoided by staying low on loose terrain if you prefer. Past this obstacle I came upon a prominent pinnacle, and a more clear social trail wrapped me around it safely, dumping me at the base of East Storm.

The ascent to East Storm was borderline Class 3 due to extreme steepness on an exposed, grassy slope. At first the tundra wasn't too bad, but this quickly changed. Below was a steep decline followed by a small cliff. I felt my concentration kick in and I subconsciously started using my hands to grasp onto tufts of tundra. On my attached map, you'll notice a small loop near the peak's summit. My ascent was the eastern porion, which climbs up Class 2/3, progressively transforming from tundra to talus/scree. This route was more scary, but it led me up to the ridgeline and off the tundra more quickly, where a short Class 2/3 traverse along the ridge took me to the summit from there. The second option requires more traversing along the steepening tundra slope, then ascends almost directly to the summit using a loose bout of dirt, avoiding the additional dangers that come with true scrambling. Either way, I was annoyed at how tense I was both on the ascent and descent. Fortunately, the rain was holding or this would have been a slippery and distressing endeavor.

I'm calling the route to East Storm Class 3 because of the very bad conseqences if you were to slip, though the scrambling itself can be kept Class 2. It was a little strange to include East Storm after such an overall pleasant trail to Tower Mountain, but with very little elevation gain required to tack it on, the additional 13er felt worth it. Reaching the peak might be more pleasant by taking its southern ridge, but I haven't gone that way and can't vouch for it.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Tower Mountain
13545 ft
1622 rise
2
East Storm
13313 ft
422 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!

The lake within Velocity Basin.
The lake within Velocity Basin.
Starting up the South Fork Trail. I'm heading to the ridge seen center by using the tundra spur/slope seen left.
Starting up the South Fork Trail. I'm heading to the ridge seen center by using the tundra spur/slope seen left.
A switchback along the South Fork Trail.
A switchback along the South Fork Trail.
View back down into Velocity Basin.
View back down into Velocity Basin.
The trail is flat for a short time.
The trail is flat for a short time.
View back, East Storm and Storm Mountain looming above Velocity Basin.
View back, East Storm and Storm Mountain looming above Velocity Basin.
Although the South Fork Trail continues for a bit, I left it and headed toward the tundra spur seen ahead. You can sort of see a defined animal trail on the right.
Although the South Fork Trail continues for a bit, I left it and headed toward the tundra spur seen ahead. You can sort of see a defined animal trail on the right.
After following the animal trail, looking back down once I reached the spur/slope.
After following the animal trail, looking back down once I reached the spur/slope.
View back down after ascending the steep tundra on a faint social trail.
View back down after ascending the steep tundra on a faint social trail.
Ascending traverse to gain the north ridge of Tower Mountain.
Ascending traverse to gain the north ridge of Tower Mountain.
At the ridge, view back down into Velocity Basin.
At the ridge, view back down into Velocity Basin.
Along the ridge, heading to Tower Mountain.
Along the ridge, heading to Tower Mountain.
View back down along the ridge.
View back down along the ridge.
A well-defined trail to the summit. Tower Mountain seen center. There are a couple of small lumps to go up and over, but nothing significant.
A well-defined trail to the summit. Tower Mountain seen center. There are a couple of small lumps to go up and over, but nothing significant.
Approaching the junction with the Boulder Gulch Trail, a view toward East Storm and Velocity Basin. I'll be taking the ridge in the center later to reach East Storm.
Approaching the junction with the Boulder Gulch Trail, a view toward East Storm and Velocity Basin. I'll be taking the ridge in the center later to reach East Storm.
Tower Mountain seen left (tundra poking out). Its false summit is just left of it.
Tower Mountain seen left (tundra poking out). Its false summit is just left of it.
Junction with the Boulder Gulch Trail. Vestal Peak seen in the distance.
Junction with the Boulder Gulch Trail. Vestal Peak seen in the distance.
Along the ridge to Tower Mountain.
Along the ridge to Tower Mountain.
Some rocky sections, but there's a trail through them.
Some rocky sections, but there's a trail through them.
A view back along the ridgeline.
A view back along the ridgeline.
Another spurt of rocky, Tower Mountain now in view ahead.
Another spurt of rocky, Tower Mountain now in view ahead.
Just below the summit of Toer Mountain, view back.
Just below the summit of Toer Mountain, view back.
Tower Mountain, view east.
Tower Mountain, view east.
Tower Mountain, view southeast, Hematite Lake seen far left.
Tower Mountain, view southeast, Hematite Lake seen far left.
Close-up toward Hematite Lake and the road leading to Highland Mary Lakes.
Close-up toward Hematite Lake and the road leading to Highland Mary Lakes.
Tower Mountain, view west. East Storm seen right.
Tower Mountain, view west. East Storm seen right.
Onward to East Storm, seen ahead.
Onward to East Storm, seen ahead.
The ridge begins mostly tundra.
The ridge begins mostly tundra.
Close-up toward East Storm, a prominent pinnacle seen center.
Close-up toward East Storm, a prominent pinnacle seen center.
Some cool rock features.
Some cool rock features.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Optional Class 2/3 along the crest (left), leading to the base of the pinnacle (seen top right).
Optional Class 2/3 along the crest (left), leading to the base of the pinnacle (seen top right).
Wrapping around the pinnacle.
Wrapping around the pinnacle.
Ascending very steep tundra.
Ascending very steep tundra.
View back, Tower Mountain seen right and the pinnacle left.
View back, Tower Mountain seen right and the pinnacle left.
My ascent route used terrain like this, Class 2/3.
My ascent route used terrain like this, Class 2/3.
Along the Class 2/3 ridgeline to gain the summit.
Along the Class 2/3 ridgeline to gain the summit.
East Storm summit, view toward Storm Mountain.
East Storm summit, view toward Storm Mountain.
My descent used this dirty slope, then traversed along tundra. Both options were fine, this one less dangerous.
My descent used this dirty slope, then traversed along tundra. Both options were fine, this one less dangerous.
A view down toward Velocity Basin.
A view down toward Velocity Basin.

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!