Wilson Peak via Rock of Ages Trail in Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Hike Wilson Peak via Rock of Ages Trail Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest, CO

Class 3 9.3 miles 3800 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Sep 18, 2021
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Wilson Peak is the smaller neighbor of Mount Wilson in the San Miguel Mountains. It's a Colorado 14er and despite how far it is from civilization, it's fairly popular. Many people choose to hike to the summit via the Navajo Lake Trail, but I did that much longer hike to reach Mount Wilson about a month ago and was more interested in approaching Wilson Peak via the shorter Rock of Ages Trail. Any car can make it to the trailhead, but the road is a bit rocky in parts.

I started along the old forest roads that have been converted to the now Rock of Ages Trail. The trail is well-marked with signage and it's a pretty chill grade for most of it. A bit of forest hiking led south to a talus field, but being an old road meant the talus is easy to walk across. The trail then switchbacked once and continued back north to wrap around a ridge. It descended slightly toward the base of Wilson Peak, and a bunch of old mining roads lead all over the place. It's not the prettiest nor most pristine of areas, but the hike is easy and straightforward and I made quick work getting to the steeper section ahead. The old road sort of peters away and an eroded trail continues south up the slopes. It's pretty steep, and there are multiple options for ascending. I chose the most dominant social trail system, which switchbacks a few times before traversing east to Rock of Ages Saddle.

Once at the saddle, I got a nice view of Mount Wilson and Gladstone Peak to the south, as well as down into Navajo Basin. The trail continued being obvious as it headed east and wrapped around the south side of a significant obstacle along the ridge crest. Class 2 brought me to the south side of the obstacle, and then the fun begins. Wilson Peak comes into view, but the route is a little convoluted. You can either drop a hundred feet to the east and reascend on loose talus, or traverse Class 3 solid rock heading directly north. The goal is to gain the ridgeline on Wilson Peak's southwest side. The Class 3 option is what I chose to take since it was more fun than scary, and it seemed a lot more straightforward. Once past this section, there were multiple social trails leading up to the ridge, some lower and others higher. The rock can be a bit loose, but didn't exceed Class 2. Once at the ridge, the trail sticks either to the crest or just to the right of it as it progresses to a minor false summit of Wilson Peak. Gaining this false summit is no big deal, but the crux of the route lies just ahead.

I looked at the surprisingly steep-looking crux, honestly not realizing the summit would incude some light sketchy stuff, not taking the time to research beforehand. Some slow-moving Class 2+/3 led down from the false summit into a notch before Class 3 brought me most of the way up a crack with ample solid holds to just below the summit of Wilson Peak. The final section to reach the summit requires a Class 3+ move on the left using very good holds and fun movement, or taking what seems to be the standard option (based on the amount of erosion) just to the right. This second option has more exposure and is loose, but likely only Class 2+/3. I opted for the former option, which led to easy Class 2 to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Wilson Peak
14017 ft
857 rise

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Starting along the Rock of Ages Trail.
Starting along the Rock of Ages Trail.
One of a few marked junctions. Keep along the Rock of Ages Trail.
One of a few marked junctions. Keep along the Rock of Ages Trail.
Image 2 from gallery
Emerging into a talus field. A couple of other 13ers are visible in the distance.
Emerging into a talus field. A couple of other 13ers are visible in the distance.
A switchback up the talus field.
A switchback up the talus field.
Looking back.
Looking back.
The trail wraps around a ridge and descends a tiny bit. Wilson Peak ahead.
The trail wraps around a ridge and descends a tiny bit. Wilson Peak ahead.
Entering a web of old mining roads, but it's clear enough where to go to stick to the Rock of Ages Trail.
Entering a web of old mining roads, but it's clear enough where to go to stick to the Rock of Ages Trail.
View back the way I came, from the trees on the side of the ridge on the left.
View back the way I came, from the trees on the side of the ridge on the left.
A switchback on the mining roads.
A switchback on the mining roads.
Rock of Ages Saddle visible center. The road peters away and becomes a trail.
Rock of Ages Saddle visible center. The road peters away and becomes a trail.
Passing some old ruins.
Passing some old ruins.
The road disappears and becomes this trail along the slope.
The road disappears and becomes this trail along the slope.
Looking back down into the basin. I came from the trees on the left in this photo.
Looking back down into the basin. I came from the trees on the left in this photo.
Higher up, view back down the steep slope.
Higher up, view back down the steep slope.
An easy section of traverse to get over to the Rock of Ages Trail.
An easy section of traverse to get over to the Rock of Ages Trail.
View back again at the route up the old mining roads and subsequent slope.
View back again at the route up the old mining roads and subsequent slope.
Last bit to Rock of Ages Saddle.
Last bit to Rock of Ages Saddle.
At the saddle, view toward the Wilson Peak ridge. The trail leads to the right around the significant obstacle in the center.
At the saddle, view toward the Wilson Peak ridge. The trail leads to the right around the significant obstacle in the center.
The trail wraps around the right side, Class 2.
The trail wraps around the right side, Class 2.
View back toward Rock of Ages Trail.
View back toward Rock of Ages Trail.
Class 3 traverse along the solid rock slope. You could drop down a hundred feet or so on the right.
Class 3 traverse along the solid rock slope. You could drop down a hundred feet or so on the right.
View back at some people on the Class 3 section. Gladstone and Wilson visible in the center.
View back at some people on the Class 3 section. Gladstone and Wilson visible in the center.
Finishing up the Class 3 section. Wilson Peak visible top right. The social trail leads to the ridge in the center.
Finishing up the Class 3 section. Wilson Peak visible top right. The social trail leads to the ridge in the center.
View back again after the Class 3 stuff.
View back again after the Class 3 stuff.
Class 2 to the ridgeline.
Class 2 to the ridgeline.
View back, Gladstone Peak and Mount Wilson in the distance.
View back, Gladstone Peak and Mount Wilson in the distance.
Class 2 to the ridge.
Class 2 to the ridge.
Along the ridgeline, leading to the false summit of Wilson Peak.
Along the ridgeline, leading to the false summit of Wilson Peak.
View back from the false summit. Rock of Ages Saddle visible center.
View back from the false summit. Rock of Ages Saddle visible center.
At the false summit, view toward the crux to Wilson Peak. The route heads down to the notch below, then up the crack system in the center of this photo.
At the false summit, view toward the crux to Wilson Peak. The route heads down to the notch below, then up the crack system in the center of this photo.
Vertical shot of the Class 3 route to the summit of Wilson Peak.
Vertical shot of the Class 3 route to the summit of Wilson Peak.
Close-up at the short descent to the notch from the false summit.
Close-up at the short descent to the notch from the false summit.
At the notch, view at the crux.
At the notch, view at the crux.
View back down at the crux from the top of it, looking down to the notch I came up from.
View back down at the crux from the top of it, looking down to the notch I came up from.
At the final section, just past the crux. You could head up the more indented section just right of center in this photo, or make some fun moves on more solid rock just left of center.
At the final section, just past the crux. You could head up the more indented section just right of center in this photo, or make some fun moves on more solid rock just left of center.
Close-up at the notch from just below the summit of Wilson Peak.
Close-up at the notch from just below the summit of Wilson Peak.
Just below the summit of Wilson Peak, view west.
Just below the summit of Wilson Peak, view west.
Wilson Peak, view toward the Rock of Ages Trail. It wrapped around the ridge right of center, headed through the talus field full of mining roads in the center, then traversed to the Rock of Ages Saddle on the far left.
Wilson Peak, view toward the Rock of Ages Trail. It wrapped around the ridge right of center, headed through the talus field full of mining roads in the center, then traversed to the Rock of Ages Saddle on the far left.
Wilson Peak, view toward the San Juans and Lizard Head.
Wilson Peak, view toward the San Juans and Lizard Head.

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