With Michelle. This is the ridge that basically extends directly from the summit due north. When you are on the bridge over I-70 and staring towards Kelso, the ridge is 100% visible from here. Take the Grays road but take the right turn that heads SW next to a small parking area. When you get to a couple of old buildings, take the left fork. About 200 yards later, left fork again, then left again shortly after. Park at the mine. The start is a bushwhack through steep terrain directly above an old mine building painted red. ~3000 feet gain, but I started way below the mine. Wander through steep terrain and trees. Above treeline, aim left for the sort of start of the ridge. We crossed a steep meadow, maybe 35+ degrees. Once on the ridge, enjoy. A couple 3rd class moves maybe, maybe not, and not exposed but the ridge is still pretty sweet. Way better than the other listed routes. Saw 6 goats total. The ridge tops out right at the summit cairn. Descended into Grizzly Gulch, another bushwhack descent but stayed left of the steep creek. Follow the road in the basin back to your car. I would say more but would not want to rob you of your adventure, lads.
rmjwinters - Mar 27, 2016 8:24 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2016
Winter/Spring climb
Snowshoes, microspikes, ground blizzards and 70-80 mph winds on the ridge. It made for an interesting day.
Boriss Andean - Sep 8, 2015 9:47 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2015
Away from the crowds
Got the mountain all to ourselves. Nice day!. We saw mountain goats and marmots!
Boriss Andean - Oct 26, 2014 6:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2014
Biked and Climbed
Biked from I-70 up to Stevens Gulch TH, then hiked/climbed up to the summit.
Nice to break away from the hordes on Grays and Torreys. Except for the two mountain goats, we had the peak to ourselves.
Climbing Jack - Jul 21, 2014 9:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2014
Avoiding the crowds
Headed up the east slopes from the trail. Saw no one else on the peak.
DanielL - Oct 9, 2013 1:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2012
Great climb
Climbed from Torreys-Kelso saddle and continued to climb the connecting ridge to Torreys and then Grays. Kelso is a fun mountain that provides some solitude in a generally crowded area.
jfulcher - Aug 15, 2013 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2013
Early Evening
South slope.
Kiefer - May 9, 2013 3:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2011
East slopes
Took my sister and a co-worker up this. My sister who isn't an 'outdoor enthusiast' was laughingly scared. Took the east ridge down.
Good views.
nickkarl - Nov 3, 2012 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2012
Stephens Gulch TH
Hiked with Craig from Stephens Gulch TH. Steep depending on the route, cold and windy but a beautiful day.
MattK - Sep 10, 2012 8:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2012
Trifecta
The wife and I went up Kelso Ridge to Torreys, then on to Grays, and finished up with an ascent of Kelso. Goodness it was nice to have the seclusion of Kelso's summit.
theREALCarpeDM - Jul 23, 2012 2:13 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Kelso Ridge + Mtn
Went up Kelso Ridge for Natalie's celebration. Then Valerie and I followed the standard route back to the start of Kelso Ridge, turned 180 degrees and climbed the ridge to Kelso Mtn. First ~300 feet are fun, easy scrambling, then it becomes mainly tundra.
Boriss Andean - Jul 17, 2012 2:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
Nice scramble and hike
Hiked and scrambled from Stevens Gulch TH. Nice views of Torreys and Grays Peaks!
Sarah Simon - Jul 15, 2012 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
South Ridge
Stuck fairly true to the ridge for good scrambling - who the heck wants to opt for side-stepping in scree? :-). Weather held nicely. Only one other party on the mountain.
Senad Rizvanovic - Mar 11, 2012 7:28 pm Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2012
hgrapid - Jul 18, 2023 8:56 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2023
Lots of mountain goatsMost everyone was headed to Grays and Torreys. I was one of two people I saw attempting Kelso. Lots of mountain goats on the slopes.
chicagotransplant - Dec 28, 2020 7:49 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2020
Southeast SlopesSolo, road was well packed out as was the summer trail on Grays/Torreys approach. Left trail and went right up a dry spur of the southeast slopes.
cascadescrambler - Jul 26, 2019 8:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 1987
Kelso MountainPart of a three-fer with Torreys and Grays
habaceeba - May 20, 2019 7:34 am Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2017
KelsoMy god! The crowds! And morons carrying speakers blasting country music! Until the turn up Kelso.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 18, 2018 7:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2018
quick run on the way home from Denverquick run up the mountain from Steven's Gulch, short and great views of Gray's and Torrey's, some mountain goats on the slopes of Kelso.
BradBartick - Jul 9, 2016 8:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2016
North ridge from red mine buildingWith Michelle. This is the ridge that basically extends directly from the summit due north. When you are on the bridge over I-70 and staring towards Kelso, the ridge is 100% visible from here. Take the Grays road but take the right turn that heads SW next to a small parking area. When you get to a couple of old buildings, take the left fork. About 200 yards later, left fork again, then left again shortly after. Park at the mine. The start is a bushwhack through steep terrain directly above an old mine building painted red. ~3000 feet gain, but I started way below the mine. Wander through steep terrain and trees. Above treeline, aim left for the sort of start of the ridge. We crossed a steep meadow, maybe 35+ degrees. Once on the ridge, enjoy. A couple 3rd class moves maybe, maybe not, and not exposed but the ridge is still pretty sweet. Way better than the other listed routes. Saw 6 goats total. The ridge tops out right at the summit cairn. Descended into Grizzly Gulch, another bushwhack descent but stayed left of the steep creek. Follow the road in the basin back to your car. I would say more but would not want to rob you of your adventure, lads.
rmjwinters - Mar 27, 2016 8:24 pm Date Climbed: Mar 21, 2016
Winter/Spring climbSnowshoes, microspikes, ground blizzards and 70-80 mph winds on the ridge. It made for an interesting day.
Boriss Andean - Sep 8, 2015 9:47 am Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2015
Away from the crowdsGot the mountain all to ourselves. Nice day!. We saw mountain goats and marmots!
Boriss Andean - Oct 26, 2014 6:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 26, 2014
Biked and ClimbedBiked from I-70 up to Stevens Gulch TH, then hiked/climbed up to the summit.
telemarkdude - Sep 26, 2014 6:54 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2014
South SlopesNice to break away from the hordes on Grays and Torreys. Except for the two mountain goats, we had the peak to ourselves.
Climbing Jack - Jul 21, 2014 9:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2014
Avoiding the crowdsHeaded up the east slopes from the trail. Saw no one else on the peak.
DanielL - Oct 9, 2013 1:08 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2012
Great climbClimbed from Torreys-Kelso saddle and continued to climb the connecting ridge to Torreys and then Grays. Kelso is a fun mountain that provides some solitude in a generally crowded area.
jfulcher - Aug 15, 2013 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2013
Early EveningSouth slope.
Kiefer - May 9, 2013 3:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2011
East slopesTook my sister and a co-worker up this. My sister who isn't an 'outdoor enthusiast' was laughingly scared. Took the east ridge down.
Good views.
nickkarl - Nov 3, 2012 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2012
Stephens Gulch THHiked with Craig from Stephens Gulch TH. Steep depending on the route, cold and windy but a beautiful day.
MattK - Sep 10, 2012 8:37 am Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2012
TrifectaThe wife and I went up Kelso Ridge to Torreys, then on to Grays, and finished up with an ascent of Kelso. Goodness it was nice to have the seclusion of Kelso's summit.
theREALCarpeDM - Jul 23, 2012 2:13 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
Kelso Ridge + MtnWent up Kelso Ridge for Natalie's celebration. Then Valerie and I followed the standard route back to the start of Kelso Ridge, turned 180 degrees and climbed the ridge to Kelso Mtn. First ~300 feet are fun, easy scrambling, then it becomes mainly tundra.
Boriss Andean - Jul 17, 2012 2:55 am Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
Nice scramble and hikeHiked and scrambled from Stevens Gulch TH. Nice views of Torreys and Grays Peaks!
Sarah Simon - Jul 15, 2012 5:04 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2012
South RidgeStuck fairly true to the ridge for good scrambling - who the heck wants to opt for side-stepping in scree? :-). Weather held nicely. Only one other party on the mountain.
Senad Rizvanovic - Mar 11, 2012 7:28 pm Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2012
SolitudeNice solo hike, short but nice.