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Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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38.01880°N / 107.5634°W |
County:
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Ouray |
Activities:
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Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling |
Season:
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Summer, Fall |
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Elevation:
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12968 ft / 3953 m |
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Overview
Dragon's BackDragon's Back is a beautiful semi-technical peak located in the Uncompahgre Wilderness of San Juan Mountain range. The peak is not often climbed and appears nearly inaccessible, but with careful navigation you can find a class 4 to its summit. Scrambling is exposed, but not technically too challenging. 
Dragons Back
I would recommend to combine it with nearby 13ers: Wildhorse Peak and Blackwall Mountain.
The name is an not official - you will find it under Peak 12,968 feet.
Colorado Rank: 656 (just a few feet shy of being a 13er).
Parent Lineage: Line Parent: Wildhorse Peak Proximate Parent: Blackwall Mountain
Class: 4
Wilderness: Uncompahgre
Closest Peaks: Wildhorse Peak 13,266 feet
Blackwall Mountain 13,073 feet
How To Get There
Alpine Loop RoadThe trail combined with Cinnamon Pass constitutes the famous Alpine Loop.
Information about Engineer Pass Road:
There is a lot of information about driving Engineer Pass road on the web. My own observation: the roughest section of the road is if one drives from Ouray. The road from Silverton to Animas Forks is pretty good and then the section from Animas Forks to the summit of Engineer Pass has some really rough spots: you will NOT be able to make it without a high clearance vehicle with 4 WD. The easiest driving is from Lake City. The whole drive is super scenic with incredible views.
Route
Dragons Back scramble
Dragons BackThe hike is not too long, about 8.7 miles round trip.
I believe there are always different options to reach the summit. I knew from my previous explorations that it is better to start past the lake and ascend an obvious weakness in the lower cliff. There are a couple different options how to scramble higher up and gradually reach the main ridge. I found scrambling here pleasant and not too hard, but it is exposed. The rock is loose, so double/tripple check each hold. There was a sling to rappel off near the summit, which I don't think is needed.
The summit is incredible, great views. There was a small cairn and plastic bottle summit register. The bottle was cracked the log was hard to read.
Red Tape
Hiking, driving the Scenic Alpine Loop and scrambling are free.
The peak is located within Uncompahgre Wilderness, so wilderness rules apply.
Wilderness Rules:
-- Group size is limited to no more than 15 people. -- Camping is prohibited within 100 feet of any lake, stream, or trail. -- Campfires are prohibited at the following locations: 1. within 100 feet of any lake, stream, or trail 2. above treeline -- Caching equipment, personal property, or supplies for longer than 7 days is prohibited. -- Dogs must be under direct verbal control or leashed at all times. -- Do not cut switchbacks. -- Collecting or capturing butterflies is prohibited between June 1 and August 30 each year.
Camping
There is a plenty of camping opportunities along the Alpine Loop. I have slept in my car on the summit of Engineer Pass a few times. If you descent on either site you can find many places for car camping, some by the stream, some by little lakes. Developed campground are close to towns: Silverton, Ouray and Lake City.