Started at Scarp Ridge trail because we heard there were private property issues. Ascended to the ridge connecting Purple and Scarp Ridge. Headed toward Purple and cut off down into the basin, traversing along the base of Purple and Owen to connect with the road leading up to Green Lake. Ascended the road to the saddle between Owen and Ruby and headed up the south ridge of Owen. For whatever it's worth, we met some locals on the summit who said the private property issues are BS now since the landowner lost a suit trying to restrict access. We ended up walking down the road from Green Lake and there were some gates up still, so it seems the land owner is still laying claim to the area. That being said, our ascent route using Scarp Ridge does work, it just adds a few miles and an extra 1,200 feet of elevation gain.
Liba Kopeckova - Oct 6, 2018 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2018
nice hike with fresh snow
The weather forecast was rain and snow, so I planned something easier to do. Mount Owen and Ruby Peak with fresh snow on the ground. Lovely day and did not see a soul.
The road is now closed to travel =private property, so I had to negotiate around and skirt Ruby Peak high above the road. I guess there is some law suit happening regarding the rights to this road currently.
I climbed late in the day after driving in a ways on the 4WD mining road that goes up towards Ruby Pass (or whatever the saddle between Ruby and Owen is called). There was a fair amount of snow on the road after an early season snowfall, and there was enough snow to form a cornice along the east-facing side of the ridge up to Owen. This made it interesting - I was wearing trail runners on my feet. Great views of Green Lake and Lake Irwin most of the way to the summit, and an easy jog down once I was out of the east-facing bowl below Ruby and Irwin.
Left from lake irwin campground and climbed snow up a saddle between the Dyke and ruby mountain. Then traversed over Ruby,Owen,Purple,Afley,Oh Be Joyful,and descended down oh be joyful pass into oh be joyful basin where I camped and was picked up at the railhead the next day. Waterfalls galour in oh be joyful basin. One of the prettiest places in Co IMHO.
A few patches of remaining snow covered the trail leading from Green Lake to the scree slope, but was passable with a little care. Began hike at Lake Irwin campground, followed the 4x4 road up to end of Dike trail and walked north along the East side of Ruby until we came across the saddle trail.
climbed as part of a mountaineering seminar I guided. Turned back by high winds and snow in July.
Dan Leonhard - Sep 29, 2009 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2009
Great Fall Hiking
Hiked Ruby, Owen, and Purple. Great views!
thebeave7 - Oct 8, 2008 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2008
Fall Colors
Traversed Ruby, Owen, Purple, and Afley on a beautiful fall day. Peak was fairly mellow, never more than class 2, though there is some very loose terrain to watch out for. Colors near Kebler were just coming in.
A short traverse of Ruby, Owen & Purple. Viewing the fall colors from up high was pretty awesome!
SarahThompson - Mar 28, 2008 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2007
Southern Ruby Range Traverse
Climbed many peaks in a long day: Ruby Pk, Mt Owen, Purple Pk, Afley Pk, Oh-Be-Joyful Pk, Hancock Pk, Scarp Ridge, Garfield Pk & Peeler Pk. The last 5 were unplanned "bonus peaks". This is great area with some fun, easy scrambling and great scenery. The amount of snow was less than normal for this time of year and posed no problems. I need to return earlier in the fall sometime to see the spectacular colors.
Kane - Mar 2, 2008 11:20 am Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2007
Nice mountain
Did this one with Aaron and Ellen. A stunning day in the Elks.
jfrishmanIII - Oct 1, 2007 3:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2007
West side
Climbed from Horse Ranch Park, via Ruby's west ridge. Small snow flurries were blowing through all day. Lovely fall colour views to the west whn the clouds would clear. Skipped Ruby, but summited Owen, descended Owen's southwest ridge to Gold Basin. Terrific day, perfect solitude!
jensenl - Aug 17, 2006 2:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2005
Amazing Views All Around
Great hike with spectacular views in all directions. For anyone wondering about the condition of the 4WD road to Green Lake, it is definitely NOT for beginners.
seth@LOKI - Aug 1, 2006 1:09 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2006
Climbed Ruby Peak, Amazing Views
Climbed Ruby with out knowing really where I was. "Green Lake" ws crazy gorgous and drove me to keep on climbing to Owen adn beat the weather. Mad my July "shoe turns" glisadding down to the lake. Awesome! one of the prettiest short tours I've ever been on!
birdhead - Sep 13, 2021 5:42 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2021
From Green LakeStarted at Scarp Ridge trail because we heard there were private property issues. Ascended to the ridge connecting Purple and Scarp Ridge. Headed toward Purple and cut off down into the basin, traversing along the base of Purple and Owen to connect with the road leading up to Green Lake. Ascended the road to the saddle between Owen and Ruby and headed up the south ridge of Owen. For whatever it's worth, we met some locals on the summit who said the private property issues are BS now since the landowner lost a suit trying to restrict access. We ended up walking down the road from Green Lake and there were some gates up still, so it seems the land owner is still laying claim to the area. That being said, our ascent route using Scarp Ridge does work, it just adds a few miles and an extra 1,200 feet of elevation gain.
Liba Kopeckova - Oct 6, 2018 6:14 pm Date Climbed: Oct 6, 2018
nice hike with fresh snowThe weather forecast was rain and snow, so I planned something easier to do. Mount Owen and Ruby Peak with fresh snow on the ground. Lovely day and did not see a soul.
The road is now closed to travel =private property, so I had to negotiate around and skirt Ruby Peak high above the road. I guess there is some law suit happening regarding the rights to this road currently.
LDuszer - Sep 30, 2013 12:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2013
Nice early fall hike from Lake IrwinI climbed late in the day after driving in a ways on the 4WD mining road that goes up towards Ruby Pass (or whatever the saddle between Ruby and Owen is called). There was a fair amount of snow on the road after an early season snowfall, and there was enough snow to form a cornice along the east-facing side of the ridge up to Owen. This made it interesting - I was wearing trail runners on my feet. Great views of Green Lake and Lake Irwin most of the way to the summit, and an easy jog down once I was out of the east-facing bowl below Ruby and Irwin.
chicagotransplant - Aug 18, 2013 7:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2013
Green Lake TrioRuby, Owen and Purple from Green Lake Road/Trail. Great views from these peaks, good climbers trails on Owen's ridge avoid the difficulties.
blackhawk - Aug 16, 2011 8:20 am
5 peaks dayLeft from lake irwin campground and climbed snow up a saddle between the Dyke and ruby mountain. Then traversed over Ruby,Owen,Purple,Afley,Oh Be Joyful,and descended down oh be joyful pass into oh be joyful basin where I camped and was picked up at the railhead the next day. Waterfalls galour in oh be joyful basin. One of the prettiest places in Co IMHO.
JohnnyCO - Feb 20, 2011 5:51 pm
One of ThreeDid this climb in conjunction with Ruby peak and Purple peak. Nice fall day. Great views of the Beckwiths.
byates - Oct 3, 2010 7:12 pm Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2010
Perfect Fall dayVia Green Lake with my wife Mary Ann, I really enjoyed the light scrambling on the ridge.
joseppie - Jul 20, 2010 6:06 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 2010
Mt. Owen ClimbA few patches of remaining snow covered the trail leading from Green Lake to the scree slope, but was passable with a little care. Began hike at Lake Irwin campground, followed the 4x4 road up to end of Dike trail and walked north along the East side of Ruby until we came across the saddle trail.
Darren9 - Nov 7, 2009 1:21 am
mountaineering campclimbed as part of a mountaineering seminar I guided. Turned back by high winds and snow in July.
Dan Leonhard - Sep 29, 2009 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2009
Great Fall HikingHiked Ruby, Owen, and Purple. Great views!
thebeave7 - Oct 8, 2008 3:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2008
Fall ColorsTraversed Ruby, Owen, Purple, and Afley on a beautiful fall day. Peak was fairly mellow, never more than class 2, though there is some very loose terrain to watch out for. Colors near Kebler were just coming in.
heather14 - Sep 29, 2008 10:36 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2008
Amazing Views!A short traverse of Ruby, Owen & Purple. Viewing the fall colors from up high was pretty awesome!
SarahThompson - Mar 28, 2008 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 10, 2007
Southern Ruby Range TraverseClimbed many peaks in a long day: Ruby Pk, Mt Owen, Purple Pk, Afley Pk, Oh-Be-Joyful Pk, Hancock Pk, Scarp Ridge, Garfield Pk & Peeler Pk. The last 5 were unplanned "bonus peaks". This is great area with some fun, easy scrambling and great scenery. The amount of snow was less than normal for this time of year and posed no problems. I need to return earlier in the fall sometime to see the spectacular colors.
Kane - Mar 2, 2008 11:20 am Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2007
Nice mountainDid this one with Aaron and Ellen. A stunning day in the Elks.
jfrishmanIII - Oct 1, 2007 3:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2007
West sideClimbed from Horse Ranch Park, via Ruby's west ridge. Small snow flurries were blowing through all day. Lovely fall colour views to the west whn the clouds would clear. Skipped Ruby, but summited Owen, descended Owen's southwest ridge to Gold Basin. Terrific day, perfect solitude!
ktimm - Sep 3, 2007 10:31 pm
FunLot of fun .. did a bike / hike combo
jensenl - Aug 17, 2006 2:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2005
Amazing Views All AroundGreat hike with spectacular views in all directions. For anyone wondering about the condition of the 4WD road to Green Lake, it is definitely NOT for beginners.
seth@LOKI - Aug 1, 2006 1:09 am Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2006
Climbed Ruby Peak, Amazing ViewsClimbed Ruby with out knowing really where I was. "Green Lake" ws crazy gorgous and drove me to keep on climbing to Owen adn beat the weather. Mad my July "shoe turns" glisadding down to the lake. Awesome! one of the prettiest short tours I've ever been on!
pksander - Jul 18, 2006 6:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Ruby Ridge TraverseClimbed with Gerber (see below). I carried the vowels. pks
Chris - Jul 17, 2006 4:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2006
Awesome viewsDid this as part of a Ruby, Owen, Purple, Afley traverse with pksander. Very beautiful area!