Hermosa Peak stands at the east end of the Rico Range, a small, understated sub-range of Colorado’s mighty San Juan mountains. Like its more popular neighbor Engineer Mountain to the east, Hermosa Peak stands by itself and thus offers a spectacular, unobstructed view of the San Juans. The Rico Mountains are remote and usually overlooked when compared to the higher and more accessible neighbors that create the western groups of the San Juans. For SummitPost, this mountain page and route, along with the accompanying photographs are the first to be contributed covering this area of Colorado. These views of the San Juans are unprecedented on SP.

Summit View Looking East

For very little effort, the rewarding view from this isolated summit is a thrill. The north face drops down to the tundra below for nearly a thousand feet. Parked at the trailhead, your vehicle is visible from the summit. Equally rewarding is the climb itself, which offers the complete variety of San Juan terrain in a very short distance. Experience in steep San Jun terrain and exposed Class 3 climbing is highly recommended.

Northeast to the San Juans

The actual admission price is in reaching the trailhead, which is in a remote area, miles from any town and accessed only on a rough road. Vehicles with four wheel drive capability are required to reach this trailhead, although the road itself is not particularly difficult and traveled often by locals and a variety of outdoor enthusiasts.

Getting There

The Spectacular View from Bolam Pass

FROM DURANGO-Allow two hours to reach the trailhead. 4WD required.

• Begin measuring from the intersection of Highway 550 and Highway 160 in Durango.

• Drive 27 miles north on Highway 550 to the Durango Ski Resort entrance.

•Turn left into the entrance, drive up the road a bit. At 27.4 miles, turn right onto the Hermosa Park Road.

• At mile 28.2 a sign indicates it is 17 miles to Bolam Pass.

• At mile 30.3, stay right.

• At mile 30.7 go left on the Hermosa Creek Trail

• At 35.7 miles stay right, bound for Bolam Pass.

• At mile 36.2, road turns north.

• At mile 37.2, a large, shallow crossing is encountered. This crossing is best executed during summer and fall, although high clearance vehicles will have no problem unless the water is raging.

• The road switchbacks and winds its way further north, becoming a shelf road, passing a ghost town and eventually reaching the spectacular Bolam Pass summit at mile 45.5. Be sure to stop for a photo!

• At mile 46.5, you’ll cross a culvert in a draw. Turn left onto a spur road. (An earlier spur road also meets up with this road).

• At mile 47.3, the spur road dead ends.

FROM HIGHWAY 145-Allow 1 hour to reach the trailhead. 4WD required.

• 6.3 miles north of Rico, or 6 miles south of Lizard Head Bass, exit the highway for Barlow Creek, Forest Service Road 578. Measure from this point.

• At mile .3, arrive at Cayton Campground and turn right for Bolam Pass.

• Do not deviate from road 578, staying left.

• At approximately mile 6.4, the road drops to cross a culvert. Just before this drainage, a spur road goes off to the right. Take this right turn and follow the road to its end .8 of a mile.

Red Tape

No fees or restrictions.

Camping

Plenty of camping is available along the Hermosa Park road, both in established campgrounds and impromptu spots. Camping in the Bolam Pass area or the basin beneath Hermosa Peak would be one of the most stunning places for a camp site in your life.

The National Forest Service fee Cayton Campground is located just off of Highway 145 along the Barlow Creek road if you are approaching Hermosa Peak from that direction.

Mountain Conditions

Hermosa Peak as seen from Graysill Mountain

The mountain is likely inaccessible until the snow has melted out. Late spring climbs are possible. Since most of the route is on a ridge, avalanche danger is likely minimal by the time you are able to access the area.

NOAA FORECAST FOR THE AREA

Images