Maroon Peak

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 7/13/2025, By: Outbounder
Info: Ascent: Mostly summer conditions as others have mentioned. There are two snow patches on "the suck" section you can skirt. The climb up south is straightforward. The traverse: For context, I rock climb (though not exceptionally well) and am finished with the 14ers. I found this a lot less exposed, the rock more stable, and the route finding less ambiguous than people describe. I stuck to the ridge at all times possible (rather than skirting ledges like some people seem to do). The rock seemed highly stable here and the exposure didn't seem bad. Each of the down climb sections are pretty solid (test your holds by pushing anyways) and stair-steppy. I was most concerned about these sections, but found them easy, even while facing out (not properly downclimbing). There are many cairns on the route, perhaps too many as it presents multiple routes, though it seems all are viable. The first two spires are highly protected with stable rock. I would personally consider them class 4. Take your time if you're nervous; there are great hand holds and foot holds. Spire three is the only section I'd consider low class 5. I climbed this without a rope, but roped in my partners (there's a rappel station at the top, I used a 30 foot handline) and belayed them as they climbed. Consider doing the same if people in your group are nervous! The hardest part for me on the entire route was the little leap of faith, which I very awkwardly and gracelessly downclimbed rather than jump. The remainder of the route is simple and straightforward. Descent: As mentioned in North's updates, there is a patch of snow/ice at the base of the chimney which I couldn't lunge over (I'm 5'6"). 

Route: South Ridge Couloir + Bells Traverse (S-N)
Posted On: 7/13/2025, By: WillRobnett
Info: Climbed the left couloir from the snowfield below Maroon Peak's South Ridge and found it mostly intact as seen from Maroon Lake. Can filter water at the 13k cliff just right of the couloir. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/13/2025, By: JeffWilli
Info: Trail is in summer conditions, in general the trail is established and able to be followed. Some sections requires a bit of careful naviagtion to pay attention to. There are cairns and the 14ers directions help. Overall no major issues. The last portion before the summit seemed where the trail kind of became less defined. The hike down the scree hill was annoying, it doesnt seem like much maintainance is done on the hillside. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/10/2025, By: jroussos2
Info: Left Crater Lake campground at 4am to attempt summit today,weather permitting. Started to ascend towards ridgeline at 10,800 feet and ran into mountain lion 15 yards away blocking switchbacks. Backed away and waited 45 minutes to try to ascend again and it was still there. Not sure if it has food cached there 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/9/2025, By: 5meodimte
Info: As previously posted. Complete summer conditions. 8hrs TH to TH. The small pile of ice/snow at the bottom of the chimney descending N. Maroon impacts nothing. Witnessed a SAR operation extracting a dude off the last 200 feet of the South Maroon route. 

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 7/8/2025, By: gsh935
Info: Full summer conditions. Traverse is dry. Any snow on either peak is avoidable. Go get it. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/30/2025, By: 5ClimbingCooneys
Info: South Maroon is good to go in summer conditions. There was one skinny snow field to cross on the way up the 2,800' slog up, but it was short—maybe a dozen steps—and can be bypassed if you're willing to drop about 30' below. There's another large snowfield covering the trail about ½ way up that section, but it's bypassable with a little scrambling. Snow was not an issue on the upper route once we reached the ridge. In my opinion, the descent down the 2,800' slog is the most dangerous aspect of this climb. The upper route on the ridge, until you reach the final climb to the summit, is generally well-cairned and well-worn. We found it relatively easy to follow. The relentless pounding your legs take trying to keep from slipping while descending the impossibly steep, loose, gravely, terrain on the 2,800' descent is far more likely to cause injury (though probably less likely to cause severe injury) than the upper portion of the peak. If an initiative to rebuild this section of the trail is ever successful, I will gladly volunteer my shovel! 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 6/30/2025, By: Ellwood
Info: Bell cord couloir -> Bells Traverse. The couloir was spicyyyy. Definitely has consolidated recently and made for a white knuckle 6 hour climb. Four serious crevasses have formed and made for some tricky crossings, doubt there is a clear line up the couloir after this weekend. Traverse is all clear! 

Route: Bells Traverse
Posted On: 6/29/2025, By: WillRobnett
Info: Bell Cord still intact passing by it on the Traverse. Snowfield under lower cliffs is the only thing really melted out. Can filter water up to about 12k on Maroon Peak std route. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 7/2/2025, By: Hiker_Nick
Info: Completely clear along the south ridge route with no snow fields or other obstacles. We came over maroon pass and cut into the south route. The trail was well marked until we started getting close to the ridge and then we had to refer to the pictures in the app and a garmin but still stuggled to stay on the route. There are cairens but can be hard to see on the way up. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/27/2025, By: notidealbutfine
Info: Almost full summer conditions. Two snowfields to cross on the east slope to the base of the climb. Spikes were good to have. On the south ridge itself, snow was mostly nonproblematic up until the robot rock. From there until the summit, we had to get a little creative to avoid traversing ledges that had snow and ice, but were generally able to find a good route and kept it class 3. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/25/2025, By: dakotasmama
Info: Trail from parking lot to Crater Lake was pristine, if you have reservations at one of the 11 campsites bear in mind that it is 1.5 miles to campsites 1&2 - the rest of the sites are very spread out all the way around the lake and tucked at least 0.1 miles back up in the trees, so by the time you get to 10&11 it is easily 2 miles from the parking lot, if not more. The elevation gain on the east slopes was a miserable slog, one large snowfield that was mostly firm on both ascent and descent. Minimal snow once you pass the notch and rock outcropping, you definitely have to take your time with route finding but there were also LOTS of cairns for reference which was awesome. The rock wasn’t as chossy/unstable as I had hyped it up in my head, mostly small/crumbly rocks on top of larger stable ones - BUT I was also moving very slowly and double-checking all of my hand and footholds. The view on the summit was just incredible, if it weren’t for the east slopes it would easily be my favorite 14’er. I started from campsite 9 at 6am, summited at 11:40am and got back to camp at 4pm. 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 6/30/2025, By: Jonathan Deffenbaugh
Info: Full send on the Bells Traverse! Definitely open for business! Started from Maroon Peak after climbing the Bell Chord. Snow was completely avoidable on the traverse. Probably the most solid climbing I've ever experienced climbing in the Elks. Tower 1 was probably the favorite given the number of route options to choose from. Tower 2 was fun, solid climbing, pretty overhyped as the route crux, only one way getting up there and it was rock solid! Tower 3 was probably the crux for me, ended up taking Option 1 going up the dihedral, however the climb above it was probably the toughest mentally, given it was a tight squeeze for me and my backpack. Finished climbing the ridge direct up to North Maroon's summit rather than veering off to the left and finishing on the NW ridge. 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 6/30/2025, By: Jonathan Deffenbaugh
Info: Perfect kick stepping conditions from 12,000'-13,800'. From below, started climbing around 10,300', climbed right of the garbage chute through a smaller waterfall section, snow was avoidable. Some runnel climbing in the mid-section, avoided the bergshrund section(s) easily. Equipment included ice axe, crampons, and helmet. From the top of the couloir proceeded on Class 3-4 ledges to the summit, didn't need crampons at that point. 

Route: Bell Cord Couloir
Posted On: 6/15/2025, By: WillRobnett
Info: Kicking steps! Bell Cord consolidated well over the last few weeks and wet slides weren't a concern yesterday. There's a few places to filter water at the initial cliffs and a few places to watch out for crevasse-like breakthroughs in semi-glacier separations. High up at the narrows we found excellent conditions, a dream-like deep runnel and almost vertical narrow halfpipe.