Uncompahgre Peak

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/22/2025, By: Bonesaw
Info: Maybe five or six snow crossings of any significance, all in the big basin. They were all still solid as I descended before 11am. Rest of the route is great. Couple streams flowing a little over their designated paths thanks to the snow melt 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/22/2025, By: asmenyak
Info: Hiked from camp about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. The creek crossings were chilly but not too bad, wish I would've remembers to take my shoes/socks off though, because they were soaked for the next few miles afterwards. Several snow patches as you go up, but they were packed pretty well and we managed without spikes/snowshoes. Got progressively windier and windier as we went up, culminating in what felt like low-grade hurricane-force winds right as we got up to the ridge. We considered bailing, but glad we didn't because the wind was somehow non-existent at the top. Otherwise a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky! 

Route: South Ridge from Matterhorn Creek
Posted On: 6/22/2025, By: shaines90
Info: Still a good number of snow fields crossing the basin on the Ridge Stock Driveway trail; some were solid enough to walk across while others were posthole city. Don't think snowshoes are really worth it because the largest crossing was maybe 150 feet. A few snow fields after joining the standard route, didn't need any traction or flotation. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/13/2025, By: HokieTom
Info: I tried to summit Uncompahgre from Matterhorn Creek Trailhead via Ridge Stock Driveway Trail. Snow is a huge problem, hold off on this route for awhile. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 6/9/2025, By: zg_hiker
Info: There were a number of large patches of snow to cross in order to reach the ridge and snowshoes/floatation was absolutely necessary. We left the upper TH at 5 am and still postholed, even with snowshoes. You can ditch the snowshoes just before the last few switchbacks to reach the ridge crest (around 13,600?). There’s great opportunity for glissading but you’d need an earlier start. The snow was far too soft by 10/10:30 to glissade. We saw 3 other groups attempt the trail but without snowshoes, it’s impossible to cross the snow as it’s just too soft underneath and you’ll be up to your hips. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 5/24/2025, By: VictorPF
Info: There’s a snowdrift blocking the road about 1.7mi from the trailhead. After that, a few big branches and some rocks in the road, but will be passable with a little work. Patchy snow from the trailhead to about 12k, then it gets more consistent. I got a late start and postholed my way to 12.1k before turning around. 

Route: West Gullies
Posted On: 5/10/2025, By: FrankP
Info: Followed Wetterhorn with Uncompahgre. Thank god for phones, maps, and gps. We spent 10 hours in a white out that day. Skiing was fantastic. 6"+ in the west gullies. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 4/8/2025, By: DanielL
Info: Got an early spring ski attempt at Uncompahgre over the weekend. The recent snowstorms left quite a nice layer of powder from the 4WD turnoff to Nellie Creek, allowing for a skin all the way to the summer TH where we camped for a couple nights. The creek crossings 2 miles in (10.2k) and at 10.7k were interesting :) The route from summer TH to the ridge at 13.8k is fully covered and a very nice skin. We dug a pit at the base of the steeper slope leading to 13.8 ridge due to concerns about wind slab with the recent storm, but the slope was OK. We turned around at 13.9k on the west face due to wind slab issues on that aspect (surprised how much snow there was!). While sad not to summit this one, it was a delightful ski back to camp. Two days of sunny weather left some melted out sections between 9.7k and our parking spot at 9.3k by Monday morning. All in all, a wonderful early spring adventure and we had the mountain to ourselves - you do all the work, you have all the fun! 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 12/23/2024, By: milnerwg
Info: Skiable, continuous snow from the Nellie Creek turnoff until about 13,700'. Drop skis before the 13,800' saddle, practically summer conditions through the gully and on the summit block. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 10/4/2024, By: runbyu1
Info: Summer conditions for both Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre. No snow, ice, or slick spots whatsoever in the afternoon. 

Route: South Ridge from Matterhorn Creek
Posted On: 9/26/2024, By: CraigE
Info: Hiked Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn from Matterhorn Creek trailhead. Most high peaks in the area have a little snow dusting on the northern faces. But the south-facing routes up both of these mountains were completely dry, including the Class 3 section of Wetterhorn. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 9/16/2024, By: ColoNativeGal
Info: Summer conditions on Sunday 9/15. We did get rain, sleet and ice chunks as we made our way back to the car late morning. The forecast called for snow, but no accumulation Sunday afternoon, but I believe 1" of snow was forecasted for Monday 9/16. So check the forecast. With minimal accumulation and warm temps it will melt out. Great fall day with some beautiful colors. Need a good 4w vehicle to get to upper TH, road is narrow. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 8/18/2024, By: Csteve30
Info: The road up is rough, but seemed to have more pulloffs than Princeton so dealing with traffic coming up on the way back down wasn't bad at all. Actual hike is amazing, only one little scramble just to the right of the tower which seems like the route everybody is taking now. Not sure how it is to the left but going up and down the right side is no issue at all. Great views at the top. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 8/15/2024, By: eliyancey
Info: Made it up the Nellie Creek Road in a stock 4Runner. Definitely a trip up that road and had some moments a little out of my comfort zone, but in the end was able to make it up. 4WD necessary, good clearance necessary, take note of passing points, and take it at your own pace. Trail was in amazing shape thanks to the CO 14ers Initiative. Steady climb until the class 2 section. Would definitely recommend going up the right side of the rock tower. Very steady rock and was a fun and easy climb. Summit was amazing with views of pretty much the entire San Juans and even over to the Elk Range. Four hours round trip not including plenty of time spent on the summit. Favorite 14er so far! 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 8/3/2024, By: marcusmartin
Info: Drove from Henson Road to the Nellie Creek 4WD in a stock 4Runner no problem. That segment to the 4WD TH takes 45 minutes. Arrived at the TH at around 6 pm last night, and I was the first one there. Camped at the TH. Conditions were perfect all day today: no wind, sunny and warm. Left the TH at 5:45 am and was back to the car at 10:30 am, with a long time on the summit. My only recommendation is that you should stay to the right (not left) of the Rock Tower in photo 11. I went up to the left of the Rock Tower and found it very dangerous - loose rocks, dry/sandy dirt and no good hand or footholds. I descended to the right side and the rocks are more stable. No question in my opinion that the right side is the best way to ascend/descend.