Looking at Copper Lake/Triangle Pass/Conundrum Hot Springs

[davebks]

anyone done this out and back?
from crested butte->copper lake-> triangle pass->conundrum hot springs, then back.
would be a 2-3 night backpack last weekend in September for fall colors, if the weather is right of course.

thoughts?


http://www.protrails.com/trail/817/aspe ... -lake-loop

[Chicago Transplant]

Bring sandals! There are no bridges over the crossings of Copper Creek. It crosses 3 times if I remember right, the lowest one being the deepest, the next two being very close to each other. Even the time I did it in the fall we couldn't find sufficient rocks/logs at the lower crossing. I was just up there a couple of weeks ago to climb White BM and White Rock from that trail, farthest I got up trail was just below the second creek but the trail was in great shape. The creek was just about knee deep at the first crossing (and cold at 6am!).

I have only done the trail to hike peaks, so never made it all the way to the hot springs. We did go up over peaks off the ridge from Triangle Pass and reclimbed part of it on the Conundrum side. The trail quality is good and the elevation gain is at a mellow pace, especially until after the last creek. It steepens a little bit to Copper Lake and Triangle Pass. Let me know if you are planning on heading up any of the peaks and I can add some pointers.

The road to the upper parking lot is rough, but no issues in my Outback. There is a bunch of parking at the Gothic Road (and a restroom) and most people were parking down there, but then again most people only hiked to Judd Falls. You can save a mile or so RT and 200' of elevation to park at the upper TH, and it keeps your car off the main drag if your worried about lookie loos.

As a side note we went up the spur to Copper Pass, but the Maroon Creek side didn't have much trail from there.

[jladderud]

Bring sandals! There are no bridges over the crossings of Copper Creek. It crosses 3 times if I remember right, the lowest one being the deepest, the next two being very close to each other. Even the time I did it in the fall we couldn't find sufficient rocks/logs at the lower crossing. I was just up there a couple of weeks ago to climb White BM and White Rock from that trail, farthest I got up trail was just below the second creek but the trail was in great shape. The creek was just about knee deep at the first crossing (and cold at 6am!).

I have only done the trail to hike peaks, so never made it all the way to the hot springs. We did go up over peaks off the ridge from Triangle Pass and reclimbed part of it on the Conundrum side. The trail quality is good and the elevation gain is at a mellow pace, especially until after the last creek. It steepens a little bit to Copper Lake and Triangle Pass. Let me know if you are planning on heading up any of the peaks and I can add some pointers.

The road to the upper parking lot is rough, but no issues in my Outback. There is a bunch of parking at the Gothic Road (and a restroom) and most people were parking down there, but then again most people only hiked to Judd Falls. You can save a mile or so RT and 200' of elevation to park at the upper TH, and it keeps your car off the main drag if your worried about lookie loos.

As a side note we went up the spur to Copper Pass, but the Maroon Creek side didn't have much trail from there.

So much helpful info here! I have a work stint in Crested Butte for a week in September and another in October and have been eyeing this area. Any pointers for White BM and White Rock? Any other 12ers/13ers I should have my eye on--especially ones with 2WD rental sedan TH access. I was hoping to do Treasury; but I'm not seeing a way to get anywhere close to the Yule Pass TH without a high-clearance vehicle. I'm also looking at (or have done) Owen, Emmons, Whetstone, Crested Butte, Gothic, Axtell, and maybe West Elk.

[thebeave7]

I've done that route from the Aspen side (Maroon Lake TH), it's a long haul up East Maroon Creek, but mostly good trail. It does disappear for a bit in the tundra up high and I had trouble finding that route (just before Copper Pass) in the dark. Route from Copper Pass to Triangle is decent but steep trail. Same goes for the descent down to Conundrum Hot Springs, good trail. I wouldn't recommend climbing Conundrum from that side, it's pretty miserable.

Eric

[Chicago Transplant]

My route on the Whites was to leave the trail at the Queen Basin creek exit, bushwhack through the horrible deadfall then stay high right above the willows until those were cleared in nice grass slopes. Up the south ridge of White BM (fun easy scrambling) then back down a NW facing scree/talus gully and contouring across Queen Basin at like 12,400 or so and up a steep but short slope to the shoulder below White Rock's west ridge. Up that ridge (moderately stable talus, some scrambling closer to the ridge crest) and then back down to the same shoulder. For the descent, I kept going down the north side of the shoulder, down an avy path/creek all the way to the Copper Lake trail just below the second creek crossing. You could ascend this way and avoid the Queen Basin deadfall, but its a lot of talus. Better with snow, I wanted to ski them in the spring but had broken my thumb before I got to them and did them dry instead.


I think West Elk TH was accessible via 2WD (Mill Creek TH) and the valley you start out in has amazing rock features above the trail. Definitely do that one. Gothic TH is definitely 2WD, its just past the Gothic CG a little farther up the road from Copper. PT 13216 from Triangle Pass was fun, but PT 13537 was not (got cliffed out on the ridge and had to do a sketchy downclimb). Triangle Pass Peak is miserable scree but class 2. Teocalli is a great peak, but long with 2WD. You should be able to drive a 2WD sedan to the Pearl Pass/West Brush split. Crested Butte is 2WD access, just climb up service roads from the base village then there is a trail to the top from the top of Silver Queen.

Kebler Pass road is all 2WD accessible, the Beckwiths in fall look great with all the aspens below, but I have not climbed them yet.

[davebks]

Thanks, good info. I might have more specifics as we get closer but this is helpful!

[jladderud]

I wouldn't recommend climbing Conundrum from that side, it's pretty miserable.

Descending from Conundrum to Conundrum Hot Springs is also miserable

[gb]

A lot of people from Crested Butte prefer the coffeepot pass route to get to Conundrum from Twin Lakes if you have 4wd (easy). Might be worth considering over Triangle. As for Whiterock, definitely take the upstream drainage from Queen basin, not Queen basin, as Chicago mentioned.