Snowmass Mountain 14er Hike Guide
Snowmass Mountain is a long hike that tops out at 14,092 feet, the 4th highest peak in the Elk Mountains and one of the most remote 14ers in Colorado. This is a long hike and is best attempted during months where snow remains on the snowmass of the mountain. It is common to stretch the hike to Snowmass Mountain into 2 days, with one night spent at Snowmass Lake, about 3 miles from the summit. This is one of the most beautiful 14er trips I have ever done and one that I will never forget.
Snowmass Mountain Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide: Snowmass Mountain
Snowmass Mountain Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Distance: 22 Miles RT (8.25 to Snowmass Lake)
Elevation Start: 8,400 ft
Highest Point: 14,092 ft
Total Elevation Gain: 5,900 ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 15-17 Hours RT
Difficulty: Strenuous What does this mean?
Class: Class 3 – What does this mean?
Season: May – September – This hike is easier with snow
Directions to Snowmass Mountain
Trailhead: Snowmass Creek
Getting Here: From Glenwood Springs, drive about 27 miles to Snowmass (literally a spec on the map) and turn right on Snowmass Creek at the gas station. From here, star to measure miles and continue to a fork in the road and head left. After about 7 miles (from the gas station), the road will turn dirt. Continue on the road across a bridge at 10.7 miles and reach another junction shortly after. Take a right here and reach the trailhead shortly after (11.3 miles from the gas station). The dirt road to the Snowmass Mountain trailhead is passable with most vehicles and will most likely be snow free in May each year.
Fees: None
Parking: Snowmass Mountain has parking for about 20 cars and will get busy during summer months. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.
Summary
Camping: While there are some camping spots at the trailhead, the most popular spot to camp on the hike to Snowmass Mountain would be at Snowmass Lake itself. No fires are allowed here, but there are camping spots around the lake and creek. Please camp at least 100 feet away from the water and be sure to pack out anything you bring.
Dogs: Snowmass is not typically a dog friendly hike. Although it’s doable with dogs who have lots of scrambling experience, it is a very long hike which is best done in snow. If your dog has experience hiking on rocky ridge lines and/or in soft snow, you could bring them along.
Make it a Loop: Snowmass Mountain is an out and back hike and one you will probably not want to add additional mileage to.
Trail X Factors: Time of Year You Visit, Length
The hike to Snowmass Mountain is a long slog, regardless of the time of year. However, to make things easier on you, I would recommend breaking the the hike into two days. On top of that, I would strongly recommend hiking Snowmass Mountain when there is still a lot of snow on the mountain, especially the parts above the lake. If you hike Snowmass Mountain in the summer, there will be lots of loose gravel and rocks on steep slopes that will be a major pain to hike. In the spring or winter however, these same slopes are covered with snow which makes traction on the steep gullies much easier. I think a perfect time to hike would be in May or June. In addition to the snow cover, the log crossing can be a real problem when the water is high or partially frozen.
Hike Tip(s) : Hike Snowmass Mountain with Snow
I would strongly recommend that you plan your trip to Snowmass Mountain when there is still lots of snow on the mountain. Sure, you may lose the breathtaking blue waters of Snowmass lake because there is still ice on it, but hiking the mountain itself will be much easier. Since a large portion of the hike is up steep slopes with lots of loose rocks, not having to deal with them is the best choice. If you do hike Snowmass Mountain in the snow, be sure to hit it very early so the top is crusty and not a sloppy mess.
Best Views: My favorite views on Snowmass Mountain were in the snowmass, on the summit at the lake and at the log jam. Since Snowmass Mountain is so secluded, there really are amazing views all over this hike. It’s going to be a pain to lug a heavy camera or photo equipment 22 miles, but some of the views are absolutely worth it.
Snowmass Mountain Hike Route
Gear Needed
- 14er Day Hike Packing List
- Men’s Trail Runners
- Women’s Trail Runners
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women’s)
- Backpack
- Food & Water
- Microspikes – only needed in winter and spring
- Gaiters– only needed in winter and spring
- Mountain Axe – only needed in winter and spring
- Climbing Helmet
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Headlamp
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
- Optional: Ski or Snowboard
- Optional: Crampons – only needed in winter and spring
- Optional: Crampon Bag– only needed in winter and spring
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Headlamp
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Probe, Shovel – only needed in winter and spring
- Optional: Snowshoes
- *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 Snowmass Mountain: May 2018
Day 1
When I first created my list of all 58 Colorado 14ers, I had Snowmass Mountain in the category I labeled as “hard”. The hike to the summit is 22 miles and over 5,500 feet of elevation. Simply put, it’s a beast. In mid May 2018, I decided to make an attempt on this beast knowing full well there was still a lot of snow up high. When I arrived to Snowmass creek trailhead, it was 75 and sunny. I felt somewhat silly having hats, gloves and multiple jackets in my bag with snowshoes, microspikes and a mountain ax attached. However, I knew that all of this would be needed along the long trek. My goal for the first day was to get up to Snowmass Lake and send the night. It was 3PM and the lake was 8.25 miles away, I figured I would need some luck to make it there by sunset, but knew it was doable.
After a quick meal in the car (to save some weight in my bag), I hit the trail. The first couple of miles worked through private lands which essentially just meant having to close a gate every ¾ of a mile. The terrain was very flat but scenic with lovely views of green aspens all over the valley. About 2 miles into the hike, I passed my first trail intersection and shortly after entered Aspen Snowmass Wilderness. This was my first time in this area and I was thrilled to discover a new portion of this beautiful state.
Around 3 miles, I finally started to gain some elevation, but still not much. I worked up a small hill and got my first views of the north east side of Snowmass Mountain, still miles away. Even though I could see the top, I could not make out my route to the summit because it was behind a large hill. I passed the only group of people I saw all day and asked them where they were coming from. They had hiked Snowmass Mountain earlier in the day, so I asked them about trail conditions. I was prepared for anything, but it was good to get some additional information from there.
We parted ways and I continued up the trail towards Snowmass Mountain. It was starting to get dark and I was about a mile away from the infamous log jam. I rounded a corner and was greeted with stunning views of some small ponds, surrounding mountains and a number of beaver dams and houses. It was stunning. I so often rush to get to the top of mountains, worrying about my pace and mileage, but don’t stop to enjoy the beauty of nature. On this hike, I really tried to make a conscious effort to do so. As I continued towards the lake, I ran into my first pockets of snow. I had no problem staying on top of the snow, but noticed several areas of post-holing which seemed like no fun.
A little while after, I reached the log jam. This is a notorious section of the hike to Snowmass Mountain where you must walk over a section of several logs to cross the creek. I was surprised how wide the crossing was (probably 50-60 yards) but had no problem making the crossing. By the time I was across it was about 7:30PM and I knew I only had about 40 minutes of sunlight left. I continued towards the lake, working up some switchbacks and eventually entering the dense forest that surrounded the lake. At this point, I ran into consistent snow and decided to pop on my snowshoes. Luckily, I had no problem staying on top of the melting, yet firm snow for the remainder of the hike to the lake.
When I arrived at Snowmass Lake, it was 9PM and the sky was beginning to welcome the stars of the night. I was thrilled to find an area with no snow to pitch my tent. I created a bed of pine and fir tree limbs to insulate me from the cold night ahead and went to bed. The plan was to get up at 2AM to start the final push to the summit. I was exhausted but excited for the morning ahead of me.
Day 2
I don’t sleep well the night before a hike, regardless of whether I am at home or in the tent. This night was no different. I woke up countless times and at one point was so cold that I had to add some layers to my body. When my alarm went off at 2AM, I immediately thought, “Nope. No way I am getting up right now.” I ended up snoozing the alarm twice and started getting out of the tent around 2:30AM. I popped on my hiking boots, which were partially frozen from the wet snow on the day before (god, I need gaiters) and hit the trail. The sky was pitch black and bright stars (and some planets) painted the sky above me. It was a stunning scene. I hadn’t been under the stars on a hike since the previous summer and it made me feel so alive. I picked up the tracks of the group I passed the previous day and ended up following them around the lake.
I found the exact spot they had taken off their snowshoes, so decided to follow their lead. Since it was so cold, the snow was very crusty and I didn’t even need to use my microspikes. As I worked up the steep gully from the lake, I stopped to admire the milky way in the night sky. I didn’t have my tripod, so made a makeshift one out of some rocks and my bag to snap some long exposure shots of the sky. After a quick photoshoot and some water, I was ready to keep hiking. I was near the top of the steep gully and could see the first signs of sunlight on the eastern horizon.
After I reached the top of the gully, the terrain started to mellow out a bit. There was still lots of snow, but I could easily make out the tracks I had been following. I continued to follow them up the slopes because they had not led me astray this far. Anytime you hike for hours in the night, the first signs of the sun rising make me feel so good. This day was no different, the bright orange rays started to light up the white snow around me and I immediately felt a boost of energy. I was near the top of the snowmass beneath Snowmass Mountain and had a decision to make: go the more direct, steep route or take the longer way to the top of the ridge.
The tracks I had been following went up the direct route. Although there was several small wet slides in the snow, I decided to follow their lead. It was hardly 6AM and the snow was still crusty, I figured I had about 4 hours before conditions would start to get dangerous so I thought it was a safe decision. I popped on my microspikes because the terrain was starting to get very steep and I could use the extra grip. As I neared the ridge line of Snowmass Mountain, I saw that I basically had two choices: try to make my way up what looked like a 10-20 foot gap in the ridge or continue right to much steeper terrain to gain the ridge. Although my microspikes were good in snow, I didn’t trust them on such steep terrain so I decided to go for the ridge gap. When I got to the gap, I realized it was going to be tougher than I thought.
I took out my mountain ax, re-positioned some things in my bag and while I was doing that, dropped my GoPro selfie stick down the steep slopes I had just walked up. Welp, now I knew I had to go down this same way to get the damn thing on the way back. Cool. Luckily, the snow was still crusty enough to allow me to get creative with my feet positioning (basic rock climbing skills FTW) and shimmy my way up the steep section of snow and rock. After 5-10 feet of climbing, I was able to grab a hand on the rock of the ridge, so I pulled myself up to see what the other side was like. It was fairly flat and wide, so I pulled myself out of the steep hole in the rock and up onto the ridge.
Once I was on the ridge, my first thought was how much that was going to suck to go down that steep section. Problems for future me, I suppose. The ridge had some snow on the east side, but on the west side (where I was hiking) was basically all melted. I continued up the class 3 terrain towards the false summit and reached the real summit about 20 minutes later.
The views from the summit of Snowmass Mountain were beautiful. Some of my favorite I had seen in Colorado to date which made a lot of sense because the mountain was so remote. I could see neighboring 14ers Capitol Peak, North Maroon, Maroon Peak and Pyramid Peak along with a ton of other mountains in all directions. For the first time in my hiking career, I brought a summit beer (extra sugar, carbs and water all in one drink) which I promptly crushed. It was 7AM and I had absolutely no problem enjoying the Weldwerks beer I just carried up 14,092 feet. I enjoyed my time on the summit, taking lots of videos, pictures and eating some snacks. I tried to really soak in this accomplishment because I knew I might never be back.
After a while, the strong rays of the sun shifted my mind towards all of the snow I had to descend, so I decided to start the long trek down the mountain. I worked my way down the ridge to that same section of rock where I had left my hiking poles to remind me where to start the descent. I re-positioned my bag again and put my camera on the ground. If you have read my previous trip reports, you may know I have bad history with setting my camera on the ground (link to Mt Shavano and Lakes near mt Evans). I thought the ground was flat, turns out it was a slope. My camera started to slip, underneath the large rock I was standing on, down the 15-20 foot gap and began to tumble down the steep slope. It continued bouncing past my GoPro selfie stick, rolling past my trail I had hiked up earlier in the morning and eventually stopped amid the debris of one of the large wet slab avalanches. It easily tumbled 600 yards (probably 300 vertical feet) down the slopes. F. F****. FU*K!
As if I had any chance before, I now knew I had to go down this way to salvage what was left of my $1200+ DSLR. I carefully worked down the precarious section rock, continued down the steep snow and glissaded a bit towards my GoPro selfie stick and eventually down to my camera. I picked up my camera, the lens was in tact and from what I could tell, there was no broken glass in the camera or lens. It was a minor miracle. I dried off the camera as best as I could and took some test shots. From what I could tell, the camera seemed okay. Impossibly lucky.
I made my way across to my route up Snowmass Mountain and continued down the steep white slopes. The sun was warming up the snow enough so that I could glissade a bit, which made for a soaking wet butt and a nice reprieve for my tired legs. I continued a cross of hiking and glissading until I reached a spot right above the lake. These slopes were too steep to safely glissade (in my opinion) and I didn’t know how deep the snow was. I slowly worked down the steep gully and reached Snowmass lake shortly after. I looked back up towards the summit of Snowmass Mountain, in awe of what I had just accomplished. I reached my camp and took a nice long break.
Even though the blue waters of Snowmass Lake were frozen over, the views were still stunning. I re-hydrated, ate some snacks and took in the beauty of the area. Its rare to enjoy this level of beauty in nature without another soul in site, so I tried to soak every moment in. Eventually, I knew I had to make the long slog out, so I packed up my tent, organized my bag and started the 8 mile hike back to the car.
Snowmass Mountain was one of my favorite hikes in Colorado to date. It was an extremely taxing hike, but the seclusion and beauty of both Snowmass Mountain and Snowmass lake made all of those painful miles worth it. I was extremely happy with my decision to hike Snowmass in May while there was still plenty of snow on the mountain. Even if you have no desire to hike Snowmass Mountain, the hike up to the lake alone is well worth your time and effort.
