Vasquez Peak and Stanley Mountain Loop in Roosevelt National Forest, CO

Hike Vasquez Peak and Stanley Mountain Loop Roosevelt National Forest, CO

Class 2 10.1 miles 4100 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Oct 3, 2019
Effort
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Solitude
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This little loop traverses two Colorado 12ers, Vasquez Peak and Stanley Mountain, as well as a couple of unranked bumps. A sign at the Henderson Mine keeps National Forest traffic to the right and parallels the entrance of the mine private property until reaching the Jones Pass Trailhead. Any car can make it to the trailhead.

I started up the Continental Divide Trail and followed it to a junction. I decided to head to Vaquez Peak first, so I took the left fork. I'd be returning from the right later to complete the loop. A really pretty trail wraps around South Vasquez Peak and wanders north for a while. I left the trail to ascend Vasquez Peak's west slope, which was mostly just a grassy incline with some light Class 2 terrain and got to its rocky summit. From here, the traverse followed a grassy ridgeline over South Vasquez and up to an unnamed point before dropping down to a Vasquez Pass, the saddle just west of Stanley Mountain. I continued up Stanley Mountain's steep grassy west slope and got to the summit (light Class 2). Just below the summit I picked up the Continental Divide Trail again and followed it to complete the loop.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Vasquez Peak
12947 ft
987 rise
2
South Vazquez Peak
12900 ft
220 rise
3
Peak 12707
12707 ft
257 rise
4
Stanley Mountain
12521 ft
801 rise

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Hiking along the Continental Divide Trail.
Hiking along the Continental Divide Trail.
Making progress up the Continental Divide Trail.
Making progress up the Continental Divide Trail.
View east toward the mine below.
View east toward the mine below.
After keeping left at a junction along the Continental Divide Trail, I continued along the trail as it wrapped around toward the west side of Vasquez Peak.
After keeping left at a junction along the Continental Divide Trail, I continued along the trail as it wrapped around toward the west side of Vasquez Peak.
View back.
View back.
Very pretty views to the north along the Continental Divide Trail.
Very pretty views to the north along the Continental Divide Trail.
View back as I continue along the Continental Divide Trail.
View back as I continue along the Continental Divide Trail.
Image 7 from gallery
Image 8 from gallery
Heading north as I wrap around to the west side of Vasquez Peak.
Heading north as I wrap around to the west side of Vasquez Peak.
View back before I left the Continental Divide Trail and started up toward Vasquez Peak.
View back before I left the Continental Divide Trail and started up toward Vasquez Peak.
Heading up the steep slope to Vasquez Peak.
Heading up the steep slope to Vasquez Peak.
Sporadic light Class 2 on the way up to Vasquez Peak. You can see the Continental Divide Trail below on the left.
Sporadic light Class 2 on the way up to Vasquez Peak. You can see the Continental Divide Trail below on the left.
Almost to the summit of Vasquez Peak.
Almost to the summit of Vasquez Peak.
Vasquez Peak summit, view northwest.
Vasquez Peak summit, view northwest.
Vasquez Peak summit, view southeast toward Vasquez Peak South (right) and Stanley Mountain, an unnamed bump (far left), and Stanley Mountain (very far left)
Vasquez Peak summit, view southeast toward Vasquez Peak South (right) and Stanley Mountain, an unnamed bump (far left), and Stanley Mountain (very far left)
Vasquez Peak South ahead.
Vasquez Peak South ahead.
Vasquez Peak South summit, view south.
Vasquez Peak South summit, view south.
Continuing east from Vasquez Peak South, headed to the unnamed bump along the way.
Continuing east from Vasquez Peak South, headed to the unnamed bump along the way.
View toward Stanley Mountain from the unnamed bump. Vasquez Pass visible below in the center. The slope was fairly steep.
View toward Stanley Mountain from the unnamed bump. Vasquez Pass visible below in the center. The slope was fairly steep.
Almost at Vasquez Pass, Stanley Mountain ahead.
Almost at Vasquez Pass, Stanley Mountain ahead.
Heading up Stanley Mountain, view back toward the descent, Vasquez Pass on the right.
Heading up Stanley Mountain, view back toward the descent, Vasquez Pass on the right.
Heading up to Stanley Mountin.
Heading up to Stanley Mountin.
Stanley Mountain, view south. I picked up the Continental Divide Trail just below the summit.
Stanley Mountain, view south. I picked up the Continental Divide Trail just below the summit.
Along the Continental Divide Trail, heading down Stanley Mountain's south ridge. View toward the unnamed bump I passed over on the way down to Vasquez Pass (top right).
Along the Continental Divide Trail, heading down Stanley Mountain's south ridge. View toward the unnamed bump I passed over on the way down to Vasquez Pass (top right).
A close-up back toward Vasquez Pass.
A close-up back toward Vasquez Pass.
Heading down the Continental Divide Trail.
Heading down the Continental Divide Trail.
Image 27 from gallery
View back toward Stanley Mountain (top right).
View back toward Stanley Mountain (top right).

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