Hike West Elk Peak Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

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West Elk Peak is a prominent 13er separated from all of its 13er friends, positioned atop the West Elk Mountains. The summit is reached either via the Mill Castle Trail coming in from the east, or more commonly via this route from the south. I chose this route because it spends more time along the ridgeline rather than in a canyon, maximizing views and adding on a few little peaks to the day. I parked at the Rainbow Lake Trailhead, situated a half mile or so north of the actual lake. Any car can make it to the trailhead.

I started along the Rainbow Lake Trail, which led through the forest before emerging into a meadow and reaching a junction with the Beaver Creek Trail. I took a right onto this trail and ascended to the south ridge of South Baldy Mountain. I located a decent social trail which brought me along the meadowy ridge with some very minor brush around the halfway point and made it to the summit of South Baldy Mountain. I headed along its tundra-filled northeast slope and met back up with the Beaver Creek Trail, though only for a split second. Instead of taking the Beaver Creek Trail I ascended the south side of Middle Baldy in order to reach the ridgeline I'd be following for the duration of the hike. The base of this peak is unpleasant due to some bushwhacking and then Class 2 small talus, but afterward the route became nice tundra. A false summit a half mile or so before Middle Baldy tricked me into thinking I made it, but the short section of ridge from this false summit to Middle Baldy might be my favorite part of the ridgeline. A social trail led along a narrow section of tundra-filled trail lined with cool hoodoo formations, and the views in all directions were really stunning.

The tundra slope from Middle Baldy all the way to North Baldy Mountain and then down the north side of North Baldy was gorgeous and easy tundra strolling, though otherwise unremarkable. Once at the northern saddle of North Baldy Mountain, the character of the hike would change for a short time. A social trail led past a bunch of cool rock hoodoos on the side of the ridge, then kept to the left of a couple of pesky rock outcroppings situated along the ridge crest. Soon I made it to the base of an intimidating-looking buttress that protected Nutter Butter Peak, the next peak along the ridgeline. Rather than attempt this insane cliff directly, head to the left around it, keeping to the base of the rotting cliff. The route becomes Class 2 at this point due to the steep and somewhat loose side-hilling. Keep an eye out for a gully on the right. It should be visible shortly after starting around the cliff base, and will be the only viable-looking option to get to higher ground. This gully went at low Class 3, the only remotely technical section on the entire hike. The move consisted of a couple of quick ledges followed by a short Class 2+ rocky gully leading to the ridgeline above.

Now on Nutter Butter Peak's summit, I took in the unobstructed view of The Castles, a totally out-of-place and striking feature of eroded pinnacles to the north. I then scoped the route to West Elk Peak, nothing more than another pleasant tundra stroll. I dropped the few hundred vertical feet from Nutter Butter Peak and asccended to West Elk Peak.

I feel the need to warn you that there seems to be a pretty extensive trail system on some maps on the east side of the ridgeline I took, and you might be tempted to use it rather than just go back along the ridge. However, the trail system is basically nonexistent and it's definitely most efficient to just backtrack. Instead head back along the ridge and take the Beaver Creek Trail, which wraps around South Baldy Mountain's east side rather than require you to re-ascend that peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

South Baldy Mountain

12360 ft

483 rise

Middle Baldy

12709 ft

189 rise

North Baldy Mountain

12850 ft

130 rise

Nutter Butter Peak

12968 ft

248 rise

West Elk Peak

13035 ft

3075 rise

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Starting along the Rainbow Lake Trail.

Forested Rainbow Lake Trail.

The Rainbow Lake Trail emerges into a meadow and reaches a junction with the Beaver Creek Trail, just ahead. Take a right.

Along the Beaver Creek Trail. South Baldy Mountain is peeking up on the left. A social trail on the left right around here leads to the sumit.

Along the social trail leading to South Baldy Mountain, visible ahead.

View back through a short section of bushwhacking.

View back again on my way up South Baldy Mountain. I came from the forested ridge on the left.

Close-up back along the ridge.

South Baldy Mountain, view northeast. I headed down the slope on the right in order to reach the saddle below. Middle Baldy visible center.

Nearing the saddle with Middle Baldy. You can see a trail marker on the right center, the Beaver Creek Trail junction.

After some light bushwhacking, I encountered some Class 2 talus-hopping on the way up Middle Baldy.

View back down Middle Baldy toward South Baldy. The Beaver Creek Trail wraps around the left side of South Baldy Mountain, out of frame on the left.

Ascending to the false summit of Middle Baldy.

View back toward South Baldy.

False summit of Middle Baldy, view toward Middle Baldy (center) and North Baldy (right).

Narrow section of pretty ridgeline along the way to Middle Baldy.

View back toward the false summit, cool hoodoos along the way. South Baldy also visible center.

View back toward the false summit as I make my way to Middle Baldy.

Middle Baldy summit, West Elk Peak center.

Onward to North Baldy Mountain.

View back toward Middle Baldy.

Ascending to North Baldy Mountain.

View back toward the ridge so far.

Nutter Butter Peak center, seen from North Baldy Mountain. West Elk Peak also visible on the far left.

Close-up along the ridge toward Nutter Butter Peak and it's scary-looking cliff. Left of center in this photo is a rock outcrop that is avoidable on its left.

View back toward North Baldy Mountain, cool rock formations along the way.

A rock outcrop along the ridge. Keep left around it.

View back just below the base of Nutter Butter Peak's scary south face.

Nutter Butter Peak's scary-looking south face. Keep left in the shadows.

Class 2 along the base of the cliffs. The gully to get up is only 100 feet or so away.

View back along the cliff base.

Class 3 gully, center.

Class 3 couple of moves.

Class 2+ up a short rocky gully, just past the Class 3.

Above the crux (right), view back along the ridgeline. North Baldy Mountain visible left.

Nutter Butter Peak summit. West Elk Peak visible left, The Castles right.

Close-up of The Castles from Nutter Butter Peak.

On my way up to West Elk Peak, view back toward Nutter Butter Peak.

Last push to West Elk Peak.

At the saddle, view back toward Nutter Butter Peak.

West Elk Peak summit, view back along the entire ridgeline. South Baldy Mountain on the right.

West Elk Peak summit, view west toward a cool cirque.

West Elk Peak view north-ish.

West Elk Peak, view east toward The Castles.

After backtracking along the ridge and getting down to the southern base of Middle Baldy, I picked up the Beaver Creek Trail. This is a shot north toward Middle Baldy.

Along the Beaver Creek Trail, which I took back to the Rainbow Lake Trail and then to the trailhead.

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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!