| North Face to Geneva Peak Route |
Contribute  Loading...
Geography Parents Loading... Routes
| North Face to Geneva Peak   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Route Type: Hiking Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Time Required: Half a day Difficulty: Class 2
| Route Quality: | | | | Loading...
| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Jul 7, 2009 / Jul 7, 2009 Object ID: 527369 Hits: 286 Loading... Page Score: 87.15% - 5 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
OverviewThis climb of obscure 13er Landslide Peak utilizes an approach from the east via Geneva Creek. This area is popular with campers and a variety of outdoor enthusiasts. Expect crowded conditions in this valley during the warmer months. Your chances for solitude on the peaks though is a good bet.
Geneva Creek is known for its bugs. Bring plenty of bug repellent.
Four wheel drive is a good idea for getting to the trailhead, although it is possible with skillful driving to get a 2WD vehicle up most of the road if not all the way to the starting point of this hike. Obviously, parking earlier on the road extends the length of the hike described here.
Access to the Continental Divide from this approach can be problematic. Read further to get past these “obstacles.” Climbing Landslide Peak via the entire length of the east ridge would involve getting across the notorious bug-filled bogs of Geneva Creek, and the creek itself. A longer approach to this ridge from the south is certainly possible. This route attacks the ridge from the north near the headwaters of Geneva Creek.
This route covers the Class 2 climb of both Landslide and Geneva Peaks. Sullivan Mountain and Santa Fe Peak to the north could easily be added. On a flawless day and with lots of stamina, Silver, Revenue and Decatur Mountains could be added for a mighty tour of the Continental Divide.
Hiking on Colorado's Continental Divide |
Getting ThereOn Highway 285, drive to the small town of Grant and proceed north on the Guanella Pass road approximately 7 miles and turn left onto County Road 1038, which is just after the Bruno Gulch road turn-off. This dirt road gets gradually rougher and may be a challenge for low clearance vehicles, but with the exception of a couple of rocky spots, this is not a difficult road to maneuver on. Many good campsites will be passed along the way. Expect crowded conditions during the warmer seasons.
Measure from the Guanella Pass Road. Drive up County Road 1038 for about 5 miles. Along the way, you’ll come to a heavy duty gate. If the gate is not locked, proceed through the gate, closing it behind you (unless it has been left open). This portion of the road passes through private property. Stay on the road and proceed to a fork.
The fork on the right leads up a steeper 4WD road to abandoned mining ruins and claims. The road on the left has a closed gate, which is the beginning of the route. Turn your vehicle around here and park well out of the way and do not block the intersection area or access to the gate.Route DescriptionProceed past the gate and walk up the road due west. You are now on Clear Creek County open space land. You will soon come to a large water crossing. Go to the right, bypassing an old ruin, to get around the pool. Angle left from the ruin, hopping streams to regain the road. Crossing the pool at its outlet may be a slippery affair if the water is high. If the water is low, this crossing will not be difficult.
You’ll soon come to another “fork.” The left option leads to an iron stained bog flat. Stay to the right. The road will soon angle directly south over iron soil, then angle back to the east.
Do not stay on this road much longer. When you come to a spot where streams are crossing the road (which actually may be entirely under water-see WAYPOINT #1 coordinates below), turn right and assume a course climbing directly south through the timber. Some dead fall is present, but as bushwhacks go, this is not a difficult undertaking and is short lived. It is important to keep the stream to your left as you climb up through the forest.
Clearing & Access to Landslide Peak |
You will arrive at a nice clearing where the hump of Landslide Peak will be visible. This clearing may actually be soggy. Skirt the clearing in the forest by its edge to avoid soggy encounters. Another very brief patch of forest will bring you to the larger clearing below the slopes of the mountain. To avoid soggy areas, stay right of the stream and rock hop a collection of boulders to drier ground.
Climbing to Landslide's East Ridge |
Near the ruins of a collapsed miner’s cabin, hang a left and find a route across the marshy grasslands, aiming for a band of tundra that climbs up to a spur ridge. Climb this steep tundra eastward, hanging a right once on top. Scamper up over brief rocks to more tundra. Climb south up this steep spur, staying right of a prominent drainage. This spur gets you up onto Landslide’s East Ridge proper in quick fashion.
Sullivan Mountain from Landslide Ascent |
Gradually angle right due west, following the gently rising terrain to the summit, located on a vast plateau.
Hiking Over to Geneva Peak |
If time and weather dictate, return via the same route or continue west over to Geneva Peak, following the obvious ridge line. You’ll come across large cairns marking the famous Continental Divide Trail. From the top of Geneva Peak, it’s a pleasant Class 2 scramble along the CDT (kudos to the builders of this well designed trail). The descent to the saddle south of Sullivan Mountain presents no problems.
Descent from Geneva Peak on the CDT |
Proceed on up steep tundra slopes to Sullivan Mountain and perhaps to Santa Fe Peak and beyond.
Descent From Saddle |
Otherwise descend from the saddle, perhaps via steep and loose terrain to nice tundra not far below for a pleasant stroll through the basin. Route possibilities are many. This route proceeds due east, staying left of a zig-zagging stream, angling northeast past the old miner’s cabin in the valley and retracing the rest of the route back to the vehicle. This route obviously works well in reverse, too.
Route Map-Click for More Information |
DISTANCE: 6 miles
GAIN: 2,714 feet, Class 2
WAYPOINT #1 COORDINATES: 39 degrees 34.095N, 105 degrees 48.811W
Essential Gear4WD or high clearance vehicle, although 2WD may suffice
Standard dayhike gear
Good boots impervious to water
Snow gear for possible glissade, snow climbing options
Bug repellent Images
|
|
Front Range (CO)
