Subaru Outback made it just fine to Sharkstooth TH. From Sharkstooth TH up talus to the black gully then mix of ridge proper and use trail to the summit. The use trail's method of getting atop the first band of rock is horrific. I much preferred scrambling ridge proper. Beautiful mountain with outstanding views and solitude.
DougHemken - Aug 8, 2022 8:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2022
tremendous views
Scrambled up a bit more directly than the standard route; down the standard route
Looking at Hesperus from the Sharkstooth headtrailhead is just awesome, one of the most beautiful peaks and easy to understand why it's sacred to the Navajo. We took the standard route which was well cairned and pretty straight forward.
AZ_hiker - Nov 20, 2020 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2020
Attempt to summit Hesperus Mountain
Only made it to the ridge...started late. Going back and starting early!
birdhead - Aug 30, 2018 2:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2018
Standard Route
Started at the West Mancos trail (Sharkstooth trail head), left the trail after 0.9 miles and hiked through the bushes to the talus field. There is a good climbers trail on the left but it's a little hard to spot. Trended southwest to gain the ridge using a grassy slope that leads to a flat area on the ridge. Headed up the ridge from there. Tried to stick to the ridge proper to find some interesting scrambling. There are a few short sections of scrambling (class 3) but lots of loose rock around. There is an amazing scree ski descent down a black swatch of soft sand/rock that can be seen on skiers right just before a patch of gold rock on the ridge. Using this descent you can lose more than 500 feet in just a few minutes! Good summit views too!
seano - Oct 19, 2017 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2017
From Lavender
Easier than expected based on the info I found online. Returned to Tomahawk Basin. Trip report.
With Rachael, standard route. Looser on the trail than we expected, beautiful peak to look at it but wasn't as much fun to climb as we had hoped. Found a nice climbers trail in the woods and had very little bushwhacking, it was close to where the trail crossed the creek, look for it near some fallen logs, it really helps!
voxnihili - Aug 16, 2014 9:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2014
Amazing Views
Went up from the sharkstooth trailhead. The slog through the steep talus was worth it for the view from the ridge.
Misa - Jul 5, 2014 12:55 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2014
nice summit
not too hard, but not really interested in repeating this one - did not like the bushwhack to gain the ridge, lots of talus.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 30, 2014 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2014
nice hike with my son and Duchess
Nice hike from Sharktooth TH, an interesting bushwhack to gain the ridge, still good for Duchess - 14 year old dog.
Nice views and our first peak in La Plata range.
Larry V - Jul 10, 2013 9:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2013
fields of columbines
Never seen so many columbines in one place. One field in particular was covered purple. Columbines and other bright flowers bordered the dirt slides and made for a terrific experience. Acres and acres of unstable rocks on a very steep north slope. thanks to whoever forged a good path and put up the helpful cairns on the back side below the summit. All in all, a memorable climb and surprisingly fun climb despite having to crash thru the fallen timber and bushes below, and the steep talus slopes above.
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2012
unreal
want to go back soon...
LadyWawa - Aug 23, 2012 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2012
Beautiful
Kind of confusing route up to the ridge, would have been better with a GPS. Lovely summit!
cherylbenson - Jun 17, 2010 12:12 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2010
First Summit
First summit. Great climb with Rob
BigRob - Jun 6, 2010 1:12 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2010
Getting back to my roots
Back on the first mountain I summited. There was enough snow to make for some good climbing.
mirhash - Oct 12, 2009 3:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2009
Hesperus via Owens Basin
Great climb! Weather wasn't too bad until we got back to the car. Lots of talus though.
kavak - Dec 5, 2008 9:48 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
From Sharkstooth TH
While visiting Mesa Verde National Park, we drove out to the trailhead for this peak. She hiked to the pass Sharkstooth Pass while I ventured up the slopes. It was steeper than it looked attaining the ridge. Beautiful weather all day.
SarahThompson - Aug 25, 2008 12:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
Five Peak Day!
Climbed Hesperus via the standard route, then went on to Lavender, Moss, Centennial & Sharkstooth. Great area!
BigRob - Jun 30, 2008 11:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2008
Climbed chute SW of summit
Beautiful climb. I can see Hesperus from my house and have finally climbed it. The weather was great until I regained West Mancos Trail. It hailed from there back. Total time 5.5 hours. Mosquitos were thick in timber around trail.
BKiser90 - Jul 20, 2023 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2023
HesperusSubaru Outback made it just fine to Sharkstooth TH. From Sharkstooth TH up talus to the black gully then mix of ridge proper and use trail to the summit. The use trail's method of getting atop the first band of rock is horrific. I much preferred scrambling ridge proper. Beautiful mountain with outstanding views and solitude.
DougHemken - Aug 8, 2022 8:10 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2022
tremendous viewsScrambled up a bit more directly than the standard route; down the standard route
mstender - Sep 27, 2021 1:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2021
One of the most beautiful peaks!Looking at Hesperus from the Sharkstooth headtrailhead is just awesome, one of the most beautiful peaks and easy to understand why it's sacred to the Navajo. We took the standard route which was well cairned and pretty straight forward.
AZ_hiker - Nov 20, 2020 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2020
Attempt to summit Hesperus MountainOnly made it to the ridge...started late. Going back and starting early!
birdhead - Aug 30, 2018 2:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2018
Standard RouteStarted at the West Mancos trail (Sharkstooth trail head), left the trail after 0.9 miles and hiked through the bushes to the talus field. There is a good climbers trail on the left but it's a little hard to spot. Trended southwest to gain the ridge using a grassy slope that leads to a flat area on the ridge. Headed up the ridge from there. Tried to stick to the ridge proper to find some interesting scrambling. There are a few short sections of scrambling (class 3) but lots of loose rock around. There is an amazing scree ski descent down a black swatch of soft sand/rock that can be seen on skiers right just before a patch of gold rock on the ridge. Using this descent you can lose more than 500 feet in just a few minutes! Good summit views too!
seano - Oct 19, 2017 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Oct 17, 2017
From LavenderEasier than expected based on the info I found online. Returned to Tomahawk Basin. Trip report.
chicagotransplant - Sep 11, 2017 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2017
StandardWith Rachael, standard route. Looser on the trail than we expected, beautiful peak to look at it but wasn't as much fun to climb as we had hoped. Found a nice climbers trail in the woods and had very little bushwhacking, it was close to where the trail crossed the creek, look for it near some fallen logs, it really helps!
voxnihili - Aug 16, 2014 9:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2014
Amazing ViewsWent up from the sharkstooth trailhead. The slog through the steep talus was worth it for the view from the ridge.
Misa - Jul 5, 2014 12:55 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2014
nice summitnot too hard, but not really interested in repeating this one - did not like the bushwhack to gain the ridge, lots of talus.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 30, 2014 12:54 am Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2014
nice hike with my son and DuchessNice hike from Sharktooth TH, an interesting bushwhack to gain the ridge, still good for Duchess - 14 year old dog.
Nice views and our first peak in La Plata range.
Larry V - Jul 10, 2013 9:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2013
fields of columbinesNever seen so many columbines in one place. One field in particular was covered purple. Columbines and other bright flowers bordered the dirt slides and made for a terrific experience. Acres and acres of unstable rocks on a very steep north slope. thanks to whoever forged a good path and put up the helpful cairns on the back side below the summit. All in all, a memorable climb and surprisingly fun climb despite having to crash thru the fallen timber and bushes below, and the steep talus slopes above.
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2012
unrealwant to go back soon...
LadyWawa - Aug 23, 2012 3:06 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2012
BeautifulKind of confusing route up to the ridge, would have been better with a GPS. Lovely summit!
cherylbenson - Jun 17, 2010 12:12 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2010
First SummitFirst summit. Great climb with Rob
BigRob - Jun 6, 2010 1:12 am Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2010
Getting back to my rootsBack on the first mountain I summited. There was enough snow to make for some good climbing.
mirhash - Oct 12, 2009 3:46 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2009
Hesperus via Owens BasinGreat climb! Weather wasn't too bad until we got back to the car. Lots of talus though.
mattpayne11 - Apr 27, 2009 11:39 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2003
Not sure of route, Lots of TalusW/ my girlfriend at the time, Alisa O'Riley
kavak - Dec 5, 2008 9:48 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2007
From Sharkstooth THWhile visiting Mesa Verde National Park, we drove out to the trailhead for this peak. She hiked to the pass Sharkstooth Pass while I ventured up the slopes. It was steeper than it looked attaining the ridge. Beautiful weather all day.
SarahThompson - Aug 25, 2008 12:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2008
Five Peak Day!Climbed Hesperus via the standard route, then went on to Lavender, Moss, Centennial & Sharkstooth. Great area!
BigRob - Jun 30, 2008 11:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2008
Climbed chute SW of summitBeautiful climb. I can see Hesperus from my house and have finally climbed it. The weather was great until I regained West Mancos Trail. It hailed from there back. Total time 5.5 hours. Mosquitos were thick in timber around trail.