The easiest route up to the cirque is via the Kendall Mountain Road famous for its annual run. The The note stated it was hard for hiking, but easy/moderate for OHV. Class 2 up Kendall Benchmark's east ridge. Fun afternoon. It's one of the highest mountain roads in Colorado.Nestled in the San Juan Mountains, the road to the summit is called County Road 33 (also known as Kendall Mountain Road). Back along CO110, there are a number of at-large, primitive sites, usually occupied by RV's and the likes. Featured trails in the area include Rainbow Trail, Kendall Mountain, Stony Peak, Kendall Peak, Highland Mary Lakes, Columbine Lake and Pass, Ice Lakes, Porphyry Basin, Bear Creek National Recreation Trail, and Spencer Basin. Molas Lake to Animas River via Molas Trail, Vestal Basin via Colorado and Elk Creek Trail, Silverton to Lake City OHV via California Pass and Engineer Pass, Stony Pass, ATV Trail 821, and Cinnamon Pass OHV Route. Mount Rhoda summit, view toward Whitehead Peak (left) and Peak 13109 (right). I made it to the Kendall Gulch parking area the night before, and slept at 11460'. Shortly after the previous photo, I left the road, heading up this grassy slope. From the saddle, I located a social trail. A sign here indicates Cunningham Gulch and Stony Pass. Eventually the trail ends at a Private Property sign, which reads that hiking is fine. If in Silverton, check it out. Summer and early autumn are the easiest since the road is snow free and you can drive relatively high if you have ATV (all terrain vehicle) or high clearance 4 WD car. North to south, these peaks include: Kendall Peak 13451 ft, Peak 13409, Peak 13399, Peak 13434, Peak 13402 and Whitehead Peak. We turned to the left at the end of this trail to continue around to try to get a view of Silverton but the road was blocked with snow. Again narrow, loose rocks and debris with off camber approach leaving Jeep toward ledge. You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. I parked where I did because it was located at the junction where I'd complete the loop. Aspen Loop Trail. Great views and several spots of rapid water run right alongside the trail. Descending the pleasant grassy slope. This page lists Colorado's summits between 13,000 and 13,999 feet. Wide shot southwest toward Twilights (center) and Sultan Mountain (right). Reaching Kendall Peak from Kendall Mountain requiers dropping all the way down rather than sticking to the ridge because the traverse between the two is likely not doable. Kendall Peak Trip Report 07/03/2022 | 14ers.com Sueca Travel Guide 2023 - Things to Do, What To Eat & Tips - Trip.com A dawn is beautiful as it is, but this beach is spectacular and very romantic. Coordinates are approximately: N 37 46' 10.4" W 107 34' 34.8". You get to the old mine cave that is closed off and the road forks. If there's no room to park here, you can park before crossing the creek on a flat area just beyond the intersection atop some old mine tailings. Click to reveal I took the dirt roads back to my car. Whitehead Peak, view back toward Mount Rhoda. The road to the summit is precarious, offering. If having more time add group of 13ers above Highland Mary Lakes - incredible scenic area. It's a great hike with absolutely incredible views pretty much the whole way up! Come and disconnect from the city! I descended the Benchmark back towards the road and from the saddle between the Kendall Benchmark and Kendall Mountain I chose the easiest path up - there are no trails here. Adventurers rule: the path less taken often connects with other paths needing taking. Benutzer berichten, dass dies eine mig schwierige Route fr das Fahren im Gelnde ist. This is an easy drive out of Silverton. View back toward the road I ascended. We chose to not follow the ridge on over that day because of time constraints and because of a difficult looking notch just west of the Kendall Peak summit that appeared to offer a 3rd class scrambling problem. 1. View back along the road toward Kendall Benchmark and the road leading to its summit. Mount Rhoda has a serious-looking summit block protected by a cliff band, but the cliff band is easily avoided by wrapping around to Mount Rhoda's south side. Please note, registration is required to join us for trailwork; please click below to register. View of the end of the Whitehead Trail at a Private Property sign and an old mine. Peak List. Stop and investigate at every opportunity. Well, cabin, officially. Bike - Durango Trails Smelter Mountain Trail. There is even a running race up it called Kendall Mountain Run, but runners are racing up the unranked Benchmark and not the ranked mountain, which is higher and there are no established trails up the Kendall Mountain. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 50 min to complete. West Needles Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. At 5.9 miles, stay right again. September 18, 2016 Story By Justin Fort Just outside of Silverton, Colorado, looms Kendall Mountain. At 7.6 miles is an old toilet on the east side of the road and a camp area on the west. The climb rate increases once past the Hazelton portal and approaching Kendalls peak. The first summit had a broken cairn, the other one was unmarked. Or - "Furthermore" on LoJ reports finding a trail from the saddle at 12,900 feet that contours below 13,409 on its north side and leads back over to the low point saddle between Kendall and Pt.13,409, avoiding the rubbly mess. They look different from the page you're on now. I hope . All three Kendall summits can be nicely combined together in one day. Kendall Benchmark summit, view southwest toward Snowdon Peak, The Twilights, and Molas Lake. This is a new adventure! Tread wisely. Easy hike as you can stay on the road crossing snow on foot. Kendall Peak - Colorado | peakery Hike Kendall Mountain, Mountaineer Peak, Mount Rhoda Loop Kendall Benchmark visible center. Please explore responsibly! 2. The trail goes to a small electrical tower on a false summit. Keep your dogs on a leash or leave them at home. We parked at the base of Kendall after crossing the animas, and hiked all the way up! Mchtest du AllTrails auf Deutsch nutzen? Colorado PEAK is the place to apply for and manage benefits online. Kendall Mountain Run - July 11, 2021 - UltraSignup Trip.com features the best things to do in Sueca Ribera Baixa, including travel-guide, attractions, restaurants, and cheap hotels. adventures and follow local regulations. One way distance (via a 4WD road): 7 miles, View Kendall Benchmark Image Gallery - 30 Images. If you find my site helpful, please help me replace my many broken cameras, fund my website fees (hosting, APIs, security), or just support my countless hours of work. The bottom half of the routes up and down, with Round Mountain in the center: As with most of the Silverton area, mining ruins were everywhere. Most of the road is above treeline so expect sun exposure. Kendall Trail Loop. I ascended to the dirt road above (sort of visible in the center of this photo). Or, explore the areas jeep roads from Pole Creek to Animas Forks. Peaks by Region. For a celebration of the joys that come from climbing Colorado's highest peaks, see Gerry and Jennifer's guidebook, Colorado's Thirteeners. You will also lose the trail, so you just aim yourself towards the summit and pick your own way. Use PEAK to apply for or manage your medical, SNAP, cash or other State of Colorado benefits. Near Silverton you'll find a number of thirteeners that can be completed as day hikes, including Kendall Mountain, Kendall Peak and Stony Peak. Cross the saddle on tundra and talus, then drop down into Spencer basin losing perhaps 300 feet in elevation. Be the first to share your experience. Snow was over the trail with water running underneath the snow. Montesa Fax number. Dont cheat yourself go where you can, and remember where you couldnt for the next adventure. In his photos, the trail would apparently cut through a lot of scree and talus. Because it dominates the view from Silverton . While the Animas River runs for miles in the San Juan National Forest, a beautiful (and accessible) stretch runs right through Silverton, CO. There are also a number of trails that take you around the train tracks a Ophir Pass Road is a point-to-point trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Ophir, Colorado. I had no idea what to expect, but it wasn't this. Again. Kendall Benchmark, view east toward Kendall Mountain (left), my next peak. Mount Rhoda, view back toward Mountaineer Peak. The road loops around the southern face of Kendall Benchmark and ascends initially through trees and later through exposed road often with patches of snow year round and large boulders higher up. All rights reserved. Description Contact Columbine Lake Trail #509 in San Juan National Forest is a difficult and steep trail with 16 discernible switchbacks but it's worth the effort. 2023 Durango Trails Inc | Privacy Policy. Montesa - City, Town and Village of the world Trails are the cornerstone of our community and the gateway to the outdoors. Sultan Mountain visible in the distance. Downhill traffic must be in control, especially around blind corners, to avoid coming in contact with uphill traffic. Aug 10, 2021 This really beautiful traverse just outside of Silverton, Colorado that leads from Kendall Benchmark over to unnamed 13er Peak 13109 creates almost a perfect loop, if not for a couple of hiccups. I've hiked ice lakes 3 times and it's at least as hard as going to island lake. From the Town of Silverton, drive to the east end of town where the paved road splits one block past the courthouse. It was a bummer to have to drop down so far only to regain the vertical, but that's peakbagging for you! High clearance 4WD vehicles only. Could not go all the way around because the river was too high. Serene and pristine though. I'd say anything with decent tires and clearance can make it to where I did since the road is rocky and at times a little steep, but 4WD isn't necessary. A fusin of all colors: the yellow-blue sky, the fine Brown sand, its texture, the reflection of the sea . Users report that this is a moderately difficult route for off road driving. Once you reach the gated-off mine, the road ends and you see two trails starting here: one heading left and one heading right. There is a social trail that wraps around the left side (north) of Spencer Peak. The nearest National Forest campgrounds will be either up South Mineral Creek or Little Molas Lake. Photos (10) Directions. Look for the latest news stories and features, sent straight to your inbox! Dont forget to tune for altitude; you never know when youre going to need to keep the flame lit, and brakes work better with vacuum. 2023 The Climbing Cooneys. We give you excellence. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 29 min to complete. Gorgeous views, very windy/icy at top in August, but can be worth the stressful passes. Expect some jeeps and all terrain vehicles on the 4 WD Kendall Mountain Road. The road has some rough sections and I drove only part of the way to the intersection with Deer Park Road. As witnessed from downtown Silverton, Kendall Mountain does a lot of looming. View back toward Kendall Peak. My adrenaline finally fading, I found myself drained. I'm not sponsored, so all site fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing these trip reports is unpaid. Peak Challenges. Kendall Mountain 13,338 Kendall Peak 13,451 Point 13,434 "Rhoda 13,402" Unranked Whitehead Peak 13,259 Point 13,109 Point 12,936 Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights. Kendall Mountain, view toward Kendall Peak (left). The walking was easy, mostly on gravel, snow and grass. Returning through Arrastra Basin may be a more attractive option with an opportunity to view wildflowers, etc. The trails youre about to enjoy wouldnt exist without our year-round work to plan, build, and maintain them. Heading north now along the Whitehead Trail. The first would include Kendall Benchmark and Kendall Mountain as a small loop. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 50 min to complete. We made it to a lookout with the electrical tower and its a good turnaround spot. Discover this 1.1-mile loop trail near Silverton, Colorado. Easy access from Silverton. Silverton, Colorado offers a variety of moderate to difficult high country trails. This approach could save over a couple of miles and some elevation over our suggested route, however, there may be a private property issue with this approach. Vantage points like these make snipers and off-roaders happy. The last few hundred feet along the ridge were Class 2 on somewhat loose scree, and I got a bit of vertigo when looking down at the drop on my left. Earned its Hard rating. I followed the well-worn social trail past the old mine into the center of this photo. I descended south facing slopes, mostly grass and little gravel section covered by snow fields back towards the road and continued now on snow covered road to Titusville and up the steep gully leading to south ridge of Kendall Peak. Great area to hike despite the presence of the off road vehicles. Overall moderate trail, rain or snow would make it very hard. Log-In or Apply for Benefits | Colorado PEAK We took the left trail, towards Kendall Mountain, in attempts to summit it. We're taking you to PEAK pages that we're still working on. From Molas Pass, head north on the Colorado Trail towards Cement Creek and into the town of Silverton. There was no summit register (2019). For more information on Silverton area . Kendall Peak Topo Map in San Juan County, Colorado Pre-Lidar elevation was 13,451. At the time, there was snow covering some of this, so I did not attempt this section and chose instead to turn around. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Make sure your cooling system is in order as this is a very long trail to the top. Continuing along the beautiful tundra from Spencer Peak to Mountaineer Peak. We invite you to get behind the wheel with us, it's certain to be an interesting drive. This mine portal, on an offshoot trail, exhibits the outflow of water that all hard-rock mines display. Please consider helping me out if you find my site useful. Our route to Kendall Peak is from the Highland Mary Lakes trail. Creating "social trails", cutting switchbacks, or ignoring trail closures leads to greater erosion and impacts on ecosystems. Just did this trail on 6/4/20 with a Ford Ranger. A really fun trail that makes for a short but sweet loop hike. I dropped back along the east ridge to get back to the road and continued east to Kendall Mountain. Kendall Peak, Colorado Prominence: 1131 ft, 345 m Elevation: 13,451 feet, 4100 meters True Isolation: 4.05 mi, 6.52 km This page has been served 2293 times since 2004-11-01. At around 12800 ft theres a saddle and the road becomes impassable for most vehicles but a trail will lead you to the summit. The views through out the trail are stunning with jagged peaks in all directions, little creeks and waterfalls throughout, with plenty of wildflowers and marmot on the sides of the trail. Mountain Capital Partners, or MCP, which owns Purgatory and seven other ski areas in four states, sees opportunity in a proposal for five new lifts and 300 acres of ski terrain climbing up toward the summit of the 13,451-foot Kendall Peak. There was plenty of room to turn around at that switchback too, so no problem there.