Mt Arkansas North Couloir Hike Information & Review

Mt Arkansas North Couloir Hike Trail Guide

February 2, 2021 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

Mt Arkansas North Couloir (Moonshine) is a classic ski line in central Colorado. If you are not looking to ski this line, it’s still a great moderate snow climb as well. Mt Arkansas North Couloir ranges from 35-50 degrees in steepness with about 700ft of climbing in the couloir itself. This is a great intermediate snow climb that will often last into the early summer because of its north facing aspect. The couloir typically does have a large cornice that forms at the top of it so be sure to know conditions before you head up.

Mt Arkansas North Couloir Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Mt Arkansas North Couloir

Mt Arkansas North Couloir: ★★★★ (⅘ Stars)

Distance: 7 Miles (Couloir Ascent, Hike Down)

Elevation Start: 11,000ft

Highest Point: 13,795ft

Total Elevation Gain: 3,000ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 4-6 Hours (depending on season, approach/descent method)

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 2 What does this mean?

Snow Climb Rating: Moderate (Sustained 35 degree climbing, steepest sections nearing 50 degrees)

Season: Late April – Late June – Can be climbed outside of this period, but beware of conditions

Weather: Check the Weather Forecast

Avalanche Forecast: This route and area is avalanche prone, check conditions here.

Directions to Mt Arkansas North Couloir

Trailhead: Freemont Pass South Trailhead

Getting Here: From I70 Points North: From Exit 195 (Copper Mountain) on I70 take CO-91 South for 11.4 miles until you reach Freemont Pass. Head down the pass and reach a sharp curve in the road where parking will be on your left.

From Leadville/Points South: From Leadville, take CO-91 North for about 11.7 miles until you reach the Freemont Pass South trailhead on your right. If you have driven up the pass (to the main mining area) you have gone too far.

You can enter Freemont Pass South Trailhead into your GPS.

Fees: There is no fee to hike Mt Arkansas.

Parking: Parking for Mt Arkansas North Couloir is very limited and along the road. There is a small parking area that can fit about 10-15 cars and limited road parking as well. This area is typically the most busy during ski season in the winter and spring but does see traffic in the summer as well. Overall though, Mt Arkansas is not a terribly popular hike and parking should not be an issue. There are no bathrooms anywhere along the hike.

Summary

Camping: Limited camping is available at the base of Mt Arkansas but beware that there is private land scattered throughout the area. Camping would be backcountry/car camping and not at the TH itself.

Dogs: Mt Arkansas North Couloir is not a dog friendly hike. If you bring your dog up the North Ridge (standard route) of Mt Arkansas, this would be dog friendly for most dogs.

Make it a Loop: If you are climbing Mt Arkansas North Couloir and not skiing/boarding down, it’s necessary to make this hike a loop. Once you top out of the couloir and summit the peak, you will head down the standard hiking route to end up back near the parking area of this hike.

Trail X Factors: With any couloir hike, conditions are the biggest x factor. For Mt Arkansas North Couloir the conditions extend to the snow and a large cornice that typically forms at the top of the line. Although this cornice is usually pretty easy to avoid by heading out of the line to the left, it can present issues to skiers and snowboarders looking to drop into the couloir.

Hike Tip(s): When hiking Mt Arkansas Moonshine Couloir it can be easy to get lost on the approach. Check out my video on this hike to understand the key areas to look for on the way up to the upper basin. In general, you want to follow the power lines that follow the forest road southeast until you reach a very steep hill and the end of the treeline on your right. From here, ascend the steep hill and your remaining route will be obvious to reach the base of the couloir. On my first attempt at Mt Arkansas North Couloir, my group ventured too far south and added unnecessary mileage.

Best Views: Once you ascend the aforementioned hill to reach the basin of Mt Arkansas, the views are insane. Although you are less than 2 miles from a major mountain pass and road you feel extremely secluded. From the summit, views are almost 360 degrees. For such a short hike, Mt Arkansas really offers great views almost everywhere you look.

Mt Arkansas North Couloir Route

Gear Needed

Mickey’s Mountain Kit

Backpack – this has been my go to
Mountaineering Boots that accept crampons
Crampons

Crampon Bag
Mountain Axe or Ice Tool
Helmet

Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
Protection from the sun: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses – lots of exposed hiking
Snowshoes in winter or spring OR

Optional: Skis/Splitboard
Optional: Depending on Season – Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Probe, Shovel
Optional: Hiking Poles

Optional: Gaiters (in winter)
Optional: Camera and Lens
Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod

*Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

My Trip to Mt Arkansas North Couloir: May 2020

After a failed attempt our last time around, my friend Nick and I were ready to take a second shot at Mt Arkansas Moonshine Couloir. We had a small window of time on a Saturday morning in May and decided to give it another go. The overnight freeze was not ideal making for a punchy approach with lots of postholing. Spirits were low until we got up to upper basin and saw conditions in the couloir itself looked fantastic. We ended up having a fantastic morning on the mountain and highly recommend this route for anyone looking for a great ski descent or snow climb. Watch a virtual trail guide of our trip below or check out some pictures from our trip up Mt Arkansas.