6/19/2025 Route: San Isabel Creek Posted On: 6/21/2025, By: Mtnman200 Info: Full summer conditions; remaining snow can be avoided. |
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6/11/2025 Route: North Crestone Creek TH Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: rachel Info: The multiple creek crossings are running high on the North Fork of the Crestone trail. Pyramid Mountain was nearly snow-free/ avoidable. No mosquitoes (yet). I camped at North Crestone Campground- very nice. |
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6/16/2023 Route: Southeast Basin Posted On: 6/16/2023, By: tjf242424 Info: Similar conditions as reported previously by HikerGuy, but the snow in the lower gully is going fast. Theres still a good snow bridge over the creek. Stay in the gully initially, but then break left onto open avy swept slopes until its possible to cross back over to the right. The rest is straightforward except one steep bit to the left of a small waterfall (look for a game trail). In general, there seems to be less thrashing than previous trip reports. A lot of avy activity this past winter seems to have taken out some of the willows and aspens down low. |
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5/28/2023 Route: Southeast Basin via North Fork Crestone Creek Posted On: 5/28/2023, By: HikerGuy Info: Trail runner approved, left all other gear in car. You have to cross the North Fork of Crestone Creek four times. The first crossing is immediately before turning off the North Crestone Trail onto the North Fork Trail, good logs here and high enough not to be icy in morning. The logs at the second crossing were submerged with the high runoff, but I was able to drag and drop a good size log across the existing logs creating a dry crossing. The third crossing required shoes off...brrrr. And the fourth crossing is covered by a very large snow slide and this where you cross and head up the southeast basin. I was not anticipating a snow climb, the large amount of snow from the slide provides a good path for about 1000 feet. Upper basin is dry. Fantastic views from the summit. Approximately 10 miles, 4,500 feet and 6.5 hours. |
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10/22/2022 Route: San Isabel Creek Posted On: 10/22/2022, By: IHikeLikeAGirl Info: Rocks and logs for the 12 creek crossings were icy in the morning, but (with some creative thinking) we made it across with dry feet. Note, some of the logs move, a lot. Other than that, dry conditions on the route, but windy as.... Looks like several inches of snow is forecast for tonight and Sunday. |
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11/13/2021 Route: Southeast Basin via North Fork Crestone Creek Posted On: 11/13/2021, By: supranihilest Info: The trail from North Crestone Trailhead is in great shape. There's a couple of short icy spots but nothing major. All creek crossings have adequate logs or rocks. Once below the southeast basin (the big one just south of the southeast ridge) the route is obvious. Bushwhack across the creek and up the drainage avoiding the cliff bands. When the route opened climber's right to the ridge I went that way but continuing up the center is easier. On the ridge I encountered some Class 3 to 4 scrambling on solid rock, with only one uncomfortable move transitioning from vertical rock to dirt/grass via a mantle. Most of the scrambling could be bypassed if desired. All snow can be avoided until the very end on the short summit ridge at which point it's inconsequential. I descended via Class 2 grungy slopes by contouring under the summit cliffs instead of taking the ridge back. This was entirely non-technical but steep and loose. Great route with great views! |
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7/14/2021 Route: San Isabel creek Posted On: 7/14/2021, By: SnowAlien Info: Very beautiful trail, some of the most scenic with wildflowers in full bloom. Creek crossings are rowdy, but doable for tall people or in sandals. I think we counted something like 10 to 12 crossings up to the upper basin. We climbed 13,054 via its NE ridge from San Isabel lake, good scrambling to be had, placed a new register on the summit. Mosquitos are pretty bad, especially below treeline. |
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7/29/2019 Route: N Fk Crestone Creek/East Ridge Posted On: 7/29/2019, By: TravelingMatt Info: This peak is Class 2 to summit without any bushwhacking or willow-bashing. Take the North Crestone Trail to the North Fork Crestone Trail (#747). Follow this trail for some 1.5 miles until shortly after you cross the creek to its east side at 10,840'. (This is the fourth creek crossing on the North Fork trail, including one tributary.) A way up through open terrain should be visible. Alternatively, stay on the trail for some 2-300 more vertical feet and reach another obvious field; this way is longer but gentler, and is how I descended. They both meet the southeast-running ridge around treeline. I mostly stayed on or close to the ridge and went directly up and over most of the rock formations. One or two must be bypassed below to the left (south). No snow, last creek crossing is a bit hard, mosquitoes were everywhere. |
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6/30/2019 Route: North crestone creek th Posted On: 7/1/2019, By: tdawg012 Info: The mosquitos are out with a vengeance!! They were persistent up to about 12,300 and 99% deet didn't stop them. Felt like I was in Alaska again....The numerous stream crossings were exciting but doable. We went up a prominent gully just before groundhog basin. A little snow was easily negotiated below summit. |
