Mt Elbert Box Couloirs Guide

June 20, 2023 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

Mt Elbert Box Couloirs are a series of easterly facing snow lines on Colorado’s highest peak. These lines range in difficulty but in general are considered a moderate snow climb and ski descent. On average, these lines are about 40-45° Typically, these lines last until mid June but often require several miles of carrying your gear to access if hitting during the Spring months (when snow has consolidated.

Mt Elbert Box Couloirs Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Mt Elbert Box Couloirs

Mt Elbert Box Couloirs Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 Stars)

Distance: 12.3 Miles RT (subtract 3-4 miles RT if starting at 4WD TH)

Elevation Start: 10,410ft (Upper TH) 9,620ft (Lower TH)

High Point: 14,433ft

Total Elevation Gain: 5,200 ft (subtract about 800ft if starting at 4WD TH)

Estimated Time to Complete: 6-8 Hours RT

Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?

Class: Class 1 – What does this mean?

Season: January- June – the later you visit these, the more walking you will have after descending the box couloirs.

Snow Climb Grade: Moderate: 35-40 Degrees at its crux

Check the Weather Forecast

Avalanche Risk: The Box Couloirs are all avalanche prone even into the Spring months. These lines face directly east and will warm rapidly in the Spring months. I dropped from the summit around 9:15AM after a solid (less than 28°F) freeze. Please understand the conditions and risks before heading out. Watch this video for basic avalanche information.

Directions to Mt Elbert Box Couloirs

Trailhead: South Mt Elbert

Getting Here: From US 24, head to the Colorado 82 junction and drive towards Twin Lakes. Drive for about 4 miles and turn right onto road 24 (yes it’s actually called that). Drive for about a mile and reach the signed TH on your left. If you are able to continue up towards the upper TH, drive past the small parking lot and turn left onto Forest Road 125.1B – it’s another 2 miles to the upper TH from here. The road is not super rough but does require higher clearance AWD/4WD in a few sections.

Parking: Parking at the lower TH can fit about 10/15 vehicles. If heading up to the upper TH, there is room for another 10/12 cars up there as well. Neither area has a bathroom. However, there are several nearby along Twin Lakes on the way to the TH.

Fee: No fee is required

Summary

Dogs: I would not recommend bringing a dog up any couloir but Mt Elbert in general is a dog friendly hike.

Camping: Mt Elbert’s South TH has a handful of camping options, mainly along the 4×4 road and at the upper parking area. Please do NOT camp in any area that is marked or signed as a revegetation area. These spots will fill up on most weekends but usually you will be able to find a spot at the upper TH.

Make it a Loop: The easiest way to make this one a loop is to climb the East slopes of Mt Elbert, descend the Box Couloirs and link back to the standard trail. However, if you wanted to climb the snow and then take the North ridge trail back to the Colorado Trail and take that back to the South Mt Elbert trailhead, that is an option for a much longer day.

Trail X Factors: Trail Approach

With any snow climb, the approach is going to have a fairly big effect on the outcome of your day. With the Box Couloirs on Mt Elbert, you have to hike about 3 miles to reach the climb itself, longer if you plan on hiking to the summit and riding them down. If there is continuous snow from the TH, be sure to have the proper flotation for both the hike in and hike out. If snow levels are high enough, you will still have to transition in several sections, preventing a continuous ride from the summit. If snow conditions are dry, you will be forced to carry your gear in (remember you need an early start) and likely need the flotation on the way out to avoid postholing hell. Regardless of your plan to hit these lines, be sure to have the right gear and a good overnight freeze.

Hike Tip: Before heading out to attempt ANY winter hike or couloir be sure to understand avalanche conditions. Mt Elbert Box Couloirs all face directly east and get the sun the second it rises over the mountains to the east. Snow here will warm rapidly, especially in the later spring months. Rockfall can also be an issue depending on the line you choose to climb/descend. Watch this video for basic avalanche information.

Best Views: Mt Elbert’s South slopes are generally a very pretty hike from start to finish. Once you break treeline, the views of Twin Lakes are awesome. From the summit, the snow capped peaks to your west, south and North are stunning. You can’t go wrong with the views on this one.