Raggeds Wilderness Overview
The Raggeds Wilderness, located in the
Elk Mountains, contains 65,019 acres of land and was designated in 1980. It's boundaries are the Crystal River, Schofield Pass, Kebler Pass and Colorado 133, from the north, east, south and west, respectively. The northwestern corner of the Raggeds Wilderness is occupied by the Raggeds Range, a subrange of the
Elk Mountains. The center of the Raggeds Wilderness is dominated by twin Treasure Mountain and
Treasury Mountain massif. Finally, the southeast corner is occupied by the Ruby Range, another subrange of the
Elk Mountains accessible from the town of Crested Butte, Colorado.
Treasure Mountain, UN13407, and the mighty Elk Mountains, from left to right, from the summit of Treasury Mountain. Photo: JonBradford
Treasure Mountain Overview
Treasure Mountain is the highest of all three Treasure Mountains in Colorado. Treasure Mountain is located almost 5 miles southeast of Marble, Colorado in the
Elk Mountains. Treasure is the highpoint of the Raggeds Wilderness and forms the divide between Crystal River and Yule Creek. Treasure Mountain is a tricentennial thirteener coming in at the 235th highest and 25th most
prominent peak in the state.
Treasure Mountain & UN13407, from left to right, from the summit of Treasury Mountain. Photo: JonBradford
None of the five routes listed below are technical, but the views from the summit are spectacular. From the summit, one can see the massive
San Juan Range, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and the surrounding Raggeds Wilderness.
Trasure Mountain from Lead King Basin. Photo: Kane Getting There
Since Treasure is so massive there are five routes all accessible via Marble, Colorado.
Route Name | Grade | Elevation Gain (feet) | Roundtrip Distance (miles) | Season | Trailhead | Reference |
Southeast Ridge | III | 4600 | 12 | Summer | Crystal | 1,2 |
Northwest Ridge | III | 4828 | 8 | Spring | Yule Creek | 3 |
West Face | III | 5228 | 8 | Spring | Yule Creek | 3 |
Treasure Mountain Couloirs | III | 4728 | 4 | Spring | Schofield Pass Road | 3 |
West Face Direct | III | 5628 | 9 | Spring | Yule Creek | - |
Since all the routes, except West Face Direct, are described elsewhere, only the West Face Direct route is described here.
West Face Direct:
Drive Highway 133 from Paonia or Carbondale. Turn east onto a well-signed road leading to Marble on the north side of McClure Pass. Drive 6 miles to a stop sign in Marble. Turn right onto Quarry Road. Drive 2.6 miles and park at the base of Mud Gulch. This is the same trailhead for both
Marble Peak and
Whitehouse Mountain. Follow the Yule Creek Trail to the base of Treasure Mountain's southwest face. Climb the drainage past Yule Lakes to Treasure Mountain's summit.
Treasure Mountain's West Face Direct Route. Click to enlarge. Red Tape
Northern Section of the Raggeds Wilderness:
White River National Forest
Old Federal Building, Box 948
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
303-945-2521
Southern Section of the Raggeds Wilderness:
Gunnison Ranger District
216N. Colorado
Gunnison, CO 81230
970-641-0471
Mountain Conditions
7 Day Forecast for Marble, CO
Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)
Roaring Fork Avalanche CenterCamping
Camp at a trailhead or
lodging is available in Marble, CO.
External Links
Colorado Prominence Peak List
Trip Report
References
1.
Guide to Colorado Mountains
2. Beyer J (1968) Trail and Timberline. 598: 224
3.
Dawson's Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing, Volume 1