North Ridge from Mesa South Trailhead

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Shirttail Peak
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North Ridge from Mesa South Trailhead

Page Type:	Route
Lat/Lon:	39.93430°N / 105.2884°W
Route Type:	Hiking
Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Time Required:	Half a day
Difficulty:	Class 2
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Overview

Shirttail Peak from the top of the Old Mesa Trail

Shirttail Peak (right of center) from the top of the Old Mesa Trail.

This route allows one to climb to the summit of Shirttail Peak from the Mesa South Trailhead.

This is not the shortest route to the summit of Shirttail Peak. For example, the North Ridge from Eldorado Canyon Trailhead route is shorter. However, the route from Eldorado Canyon Trailhead requires some class 3 scrambling and the route from the Mesa South Trailhead requires only a class 2 section.

This route is likely the easiest route to the summit of Shirttail Peak from a public trailhead.

Getting There

Start at Mesa South Trailhead.

Route Description

Stats: Class 2, 5.1 miles (round trip), 2500 feet of elevation gain.

From the trailhead (image left), follow the Mesa Trail to the Homestead Trail which branches left off of the Mesa Trail approximately 0.1 miles after leaving the trailhead. Follow the Homestead Trail west-northwest. After 0.9 miles the Homestead Trail merges with the Towhee Trail. Continue heading west on the Towhee Trail. After 0.2 miles the Towhee Trail merges with a segment of the Mesa Trail.

Where the Old Mesa Trail leaves the Mesa Trail

Continue heading west on the Mesa Trail for 0.3 miles until an unmarked trail branches off of the Mesa Trail heading south (image left). This trail is called the Old Mesa Trail. Follow the Old Mesa Trail south.

Shortly after heading south on the Old Mesa Trail, the trail will break out of the trees into nice grassland. Shirttail Peak can be seen to the southwest (image left).

From here the trail continues to the south downhill. Follow the Old Mesa Trail south for a total of 0.5 miles to where you can leave the trail and head west up a gully that is immediately north of Shirttail Peak. This gully can be seen in the center of the image to the left. Bushwhack up this gully to its terminus near the top of the ridge. From here head southeast to the summit of Shirttail Peak. Reaching the summit requires a few class 2+ moves.