Thirtynine Mile Mountain

Overview

Thirtynine Mile Mountain is a bulky, hulking Elevener with over 2,000 feet of prominence in the rolling volcanic hills of southern Park County. A remnant of the Tertiary Period Guffey Volcano (inactive for about 30 million years) in the Thirtynine Mile volcanic field, Thirtynine Mile Mountain is studded with outcrops of red volcanic conglomerate.

In addition to its prominence (the 76^th most prominent peak in Colorado, per the "Colorado's Most Prominent Peaks" list on SummitPost by SP member RyanS), a further attraction to Thirtynine Mile Mountain is that the mountain is not cut by any trails, all but ensuring a sense of solitude and isolation en route to the summit. While the summit is shrouded in trees, many fine views are available en route to the top along the undulating East Ridge. Views from outcrops studding this peak include the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Pikes Peak.

Colorado Rank: 1527^th highest peak in Colorado
Prominence: 2,088 feet
USGS Quad: Thirtynine Mile Mountain

Rank & Prominence Source: Lists of John

Getting There

Thirtynine Mile Mountain sits forty miles west as the raven flies from Colorado Springs, 30 miles by road southeast of Hartsel and less than 10 miles north of the town of Guffey.

Red Tape

Very few rules govern your use of this part of the National Forest. There are privately-held ranches nearby, however; be mindful of avoiding private property. There is no fee to use this part of the National Forest and parking is free.

Camping

Immediately Surrounding the Peak
This peak is very dry and the soil well-drained, thus reliable water sources are scarce. Camping right near the peak cannot be recommended.





US Forest Service Campgrounds

The National Forest Service has a large selection of campgrounds in and around the Lake George area.

Campground Name	Elevation	Sites	Nightly Rate	Reservations?	Notes
Blue Mountain	8,200 ft.	21	$12	Yes	Less than 3 miles as the crow flies from the summit of Blue Mountain.
Spruce Grove	8,600 ft.	27	$12	No	Let the gurgling Tarryall Creek sing you to sleep.
Twin Eagles	8,600 ft.	9	$8	No	Must haul or purify drinking water.
Happy Meadows	7,900 ft.	8	$12	No	Situated along the South Platte River.
Round Mountain	8,500 ft.	16	$12	Yes	Drinking water, vault toilet and trash pickup.
Springer Gulch	8,300 ft.	15	$12	Yes	Situated within the Elevenmile Canyon; water, tables, fire grates.
Riverside	8,000 ft.	19	$12	Yes	Situated within Elevenmile Canyon; large grassy meadow with little shade.

Eleven Mile State Park
Colorado State Parks operates eight campgrounds near the Eleven Mile Reservoir, as well as 25 backcountry campsites accessible by foot or boat only. Visit this site for detailed information.

Weather & Seasons

Summer: Summitting this peak would be pretty hot (due to relatively low altitude) in the summer, though the trees shading the slopes would provide relief.

Spring: The snowpack is less deep here than in the high country and melts out faster than higher areas to the west. None-the-less, expect post-holing through unconsolidated snow drifts in the trees – bring a snorkel.

Fall: The aspen coating the slopes of this peak and surrounding neighbors make this area a golden-hued heaven in the fall.

Winter: Thanks to proximity to both US Hwy 24 Colorado Hwy 9, as well as to “primary dirt roads”, this peak is accessible year-round, barring a major blizzard (the roads in this area are prone to wind-drifting). Expect some deep snow wallowing where the trees are thick during a winter ascent.

External Links

To learn more about geography in the South Park area, including the Thirtynine Mile volcanic field, visit this local geology page.

Images

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