Vermilion Peak

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/7/2025, By: jfm3
Info: I climbed Vermilion on July 5 via the Ice Lake Basin approach and southeast face/ridge. The trail is dry to Ice Lake. The trail to Fuller Lake is occasionally deep mud and crosses some running water. The southeast face/bowl below the Vermilion-Fuller saddle is still completely covered with snow. It is in good condition- solid enough for secure ice axe and crampon placement, but not so icy that only the points dig in. There is a slight cornice at the top of the face, and the very top of this cornice (about 3 feet) is vertical. I used 2 axes as anchors on top of the cornice and kicked a few steps up and over the edge, like a ladder. This worked for both the ascent and descent. The southeast ridge to the summit is dry. 

Route: n/a
Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: zootloopz
Info: Didn't climb but posting reference photos from V7. Still caked up in there above the lakes. 

Route: Vermillion Dollar Couloir
Posted On: 4/29/2025, By: bgbg001
Info: Skied Vermillion Dollar couloir on Sunday 4/27. CR7 is clear to the summer TH. Bathrooms are locked. The first 1.5 miles of the ice lakes trail is mostly dry with intermittent patches of snow. Mostly continuous snow/ice is present after starting the steep switchbacks through the forest into the lower basin where the Island lake trail splits. Gained the upper basin via a small chute that the summer trail follows. Vermillion's east face has continuous snow up until the main 100 ft summit block which all dry. The couloir had variable snow and never really thawed out but was manageable to make careful turns. Golden Horn and Fuller both looked reasonably filled in as well but unsure of the snow conditions for skiing. total stats from the summer TH were 9.5 miles and 4.5k vert. 

Route: Ice Lake Basin
Posted On: 10/13/2024, By: higgy
Info: Perfect trail conditions and perfect weather. One of the "friendliest" approaches of a 13er I've been on. 

Route: Lake Hope Trail
Posted On: 9/26/2024, By: PikaSteve
Info: Late summer conditions with fall colors. Recent snow completely melted on this south facing route. Followed Roachs Southwest Basin route, except bypassed Fuller summit with well defined, stable trail angling up from Fuller-Beattie saddle to Fuller-Vermilion saddle. Trail from Fuller-Vermilion saddle is easy to follow and stays Class 2 until final gully/rib ascent to summit block. 

Route: Ice Lakes Basin
Posted On: 9/21/2024, By: LetsGoMets
Info: Summited via Ice Lakes this morning. Easy to manage small snow spots gaining the saddle between Fuller and Vermilion. Blue bird with zero wind at 8am on the summit but weather sites are projecting 6 inches of snow this afternoon. Clouds and weather rolled in around 11, so all this likely changes. FWIW Id consider a few spots in the sand gulley to summit class 3. 

Route: From Ice Lakes TH
Posted On: 9/7/2024, By: kyrawhitworth
Info: Day tripped from Ice Lakes TH (from the switchback on the higher dirt road to be exact). Stats were 11.73miles, 3800ft including Fuller so just fine as a day hike. Early morning had some frost on the rocks making it slow going once on the rock above Fuller Lake until the switchbacks leading up to the saddle which were in the sun. If you find the pizza rocks, add more pepperoni! Fall is starting in the alpine! 

Route: NE Ridge/Ver Million Dollar Couloir
Posted On: 8/4/2024, By: backcountrybrodes
Info: Summer conditions - tagged Golden Horn and Vermilion via the ridge traverse and an attempt at Pilot Knob which was too much exposure for me being solo. 100s of people enjoying Ice Lake on a Saturday (I was one of them) and no bugs at all which was really nice. Superb weather window for these peaks! There are 3 or 4 parking spots a little up the Clear Lake Road at that trailhead if you want to cut off some vertical feet on the approach. i.e. get there early on a weekend and you can get a spot. I would rate the road 3/6 by the 14ers.com rating. 

Route: NE Ridge Direct from Golden Horn Saddle
Posted On: 7/27/2024, By: ericahlstedt
Info: Really fun scramble, too bad its so short. Id say mostly class 3 with an airy class 4 move. Get after it, way better option than dropping elevation and going up ans down the standard route. Following Roachs 13er guidebook made route finding a breeze. There is a short vertical stretch of snow at the top of the Vermilion Dollar couloir, which is easily bypassed staying on rock on the right side 

Route: Southeast Ridge via Ice Lake Basin
Posted On: 7/15/2024, By: Cereal
Info: Since the Roaches warn to bring an axe unless you know it is not needed, I will say, there is no need for an axe or traction. There is some snow still, but it is avoidable. I was surprised to find a great trail in place for this one! 

Route: From Fuller Peak - Ice Lakes Basin Approach
Posted On: 9/4/2023, By: sarahmariekirk
Info: Climbed Vermilion with Fuller from Fuller Lake; we backpacked into Ice Lakes Basin and camped for a few days, also climbing V2, V4, and US Grant; peak condition reports will be posted separately. Absolutely amazing views in every direction, definitely one of my most favorite places. Vermilion was relatively straightforward except for the extremely loose and sketchy gully that grants passage to the final summit scramble. This climb is rated as class 2 but this gully has deteriorated over the years and a fall here would likely be fatal. I feel that there was some class 3 climbing to avoid sliding down the gully. The rock here is also so loose and if you look at it, it moves. All in all, amazing climb and beautiful day. 

Route: Hope Lake - via Golden Horn
Posted On: 8/8/2023, By: bsiegs
Info: Started at Hope Lake TH and linked together Pilot Knob A, Golden Horn, Vermillion, Fuller, and Beattie yesterday. Only snow encountered was traversing from Golden Horn to Vermillion. Several snowfields remain, however, I was able to cross them all near their bases at a low angle and without traction. You can also probably avoid them all together but would require dropping quite a bit lower. I chose to gain the Vermilion ridge a bit early (before the saddle with Fuller) by finding a fun little class 4 line that went nicely. The approach up Pilot Knob from Hope Lake TH was the steepest+loosest terrain I can remember in a long time, but at least it was short and direct...thanks Tiff... :) 

Route: Southeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/29/2023, By: Jhorne6
Info: The snowfield used to gain the ridge is still in great shape. Great campsite in the lower ice lake basin. Ice Lakes Basin is beautiful madness. Passed over 150 people on the backpack out this morning. 

Route: Hope Lake
Posted On: 7/12/2023, By: vertical_volume
Info: Hope Lake to Vermillion is okay. I left the trail before it got to Hope Lake, had to cross some snow fields but nothing very steep. Soft enough to do without spikes. Rest of the Vermillion route is dry and good to go. The two standard routes to Golden Horn from V were both covered in snow, recommend crampons for either of them. The couloirs were corniced. I found an atypical spot to drop off that was half dry and doable with microspikes, south of the summit, that dropped onto the flat snowfield on the east side. 

Route: SE Ridge from Hope Lake
Posted On: 7/3/2023, By: _coloradical
Info: Linked up V9, V8, Beattie, Fuller, and Vermilion today from Hope Lake. Ridges are pretty dry with a handful of small snow fields that can be bypassed. Vermilion is in good shape, two snow fields to navigate before the final scramble (can be bypassed). I didnt realize how loose this entire linkup would be, but it went rather smoothly. Descended from the Fuller/Beattie saddle into the basin. Had a couple snowfields to navigate and getting through the cliff bands. Overall great day for it, no summit register up there but the views today were outstanding. Vermilion is close to summer conditions.