Forest Road 302

Overview

This is a short, relatively easy scramble to an open summit with great views in all directions - that is if you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle. From the 4-wheel drive trailhead the summit is less than a mile round trip. From the 2-wheel drive trailhead the summit is over three miles round trip. You will spend longer getting to the trailhead along a series of forest service roads than you will scrambling to the summit.

This route is detailed in the Colorado Mountain Club's book "Colorado - Summit Hikes For Everyone" by Dave Muller.

For a serious workout and a more interesting route that has easier trailhead access and allows for summiting other great peaks in the area try starting from the Blodgett Peak Open Space trailhead.

Getting There

See the Getting There Section on the Ormes Peak main page.

Route Description

After turning right on FR 302 from FR 303 drive until you approach the first severely rutted section and either drive your 4-wheel drive vehicle or park your vehicle and hike to the 4-wheel drive trailhead at the base of the south slopes of Ormes Peak.

There is reportedly a very faint trail to the summit from FR 302 although I never found it. It is just as easy to scramble up the south slopes towards the summit. Facing south this route is relatively clear of spring snow, undergrowth and downfall. After scrambling about 300 feet up the south slopes the final 100' to 150' involve some route finding through some minor boulder fields.

When you pop out on the summit you will find it to be a small, flat plateau area relatively clear of trees. The views from the summit plateau are amazing in all directions including Blodgett Peak to the east, Eagle Peak to the northeast, Cheyenne Mountain to the southeast, Rampart Reservoir and the Lost Creek Wilderness area to the west, Raspberry Mountain to the southwest and the huge Pikes Peak batholith to the south. The high point is located on the northwest corner of the summit plateau.

Essential Gear

Standard hiking gear is all that is necessary on this route. A topographic map, specifically the Pikes Peak atlas, is more useful to find the trailhead than for route finding since this route is fairly straight forward. A topographic map and compass is great to identify all of the surrounding peaks. The condition of the couloir routes on the north face of Pikes Peak could be easily previewed with a pair of binoculars.

Images

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