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Mount Antero

 West Slopes
Difficulty Class 2 
Risk FactorsExposure: Moderate
Rockfall Potential: Moderate  
Route-Finding: Low  
Commitment: Moderate  
 
TrailheadBaldwin Gulch
Start9,400 feet
Summit14,271 feet
Total Gain5,200 feet from the 2WD trailhead
2,400 feet if you drive a 4WD to 12,000'
RT Length15.5 miles from the 2WD trailhead
7 miles if you drive a 4WD to 12,000'
AuthorBillMiddlebrook
Last UpdatedOct 2022
DownloadsgpxGPX Track
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Trailhead

From the junction of U.S. 285 and U.S. 24, south of Buena Vista, drive 5.5 miles south on U.S. 285 and turn right (west) on Chaffee County Road 162 - towards Mt. Princeton. Drive almost 12.5 miles on this road (dirt after 10 miles) to reach the signed Baldwin Gulch Jeep Road on the left (also listed as the 277 Road). If you plan on parking here, there are plenty of pull-offs along the road. This is the lower trailhead. Short, high-clearance 4WD vehicles can drive up the 277 road. Above the river crossing (10,850'), there are dispersed camping spots along the side of the road.

Route

Start up the #277 jeep road - 1. Snow usually covers portions of this road to early July. It's fairly steep but can slowly be driven with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. Hike/drive 3 miles to a road junction at 10,850' - 2. Turn left on the #278 road and cross the stream in Baldwin Creek - 3. Continue nearly 1.5 miles to reach tree line and stay on the road as it begins to switchback up Antero's west slopes - 4 and 5.

Continue on the road as it zig zags up the west side of Point 13,800' - 6 and 7. Near 12,800', there's a long section of the road ( 8) that ascends south to reach the ridge crest , near 13,100' - 9. Once on the ridge, your next goal is to reach the top of Point 13,800' by continuing east on the 278A road - 10. Shortly after leaving the ridge crest, stay left at a junction - 11. Walk another 0.4 mile and stay left at another junction , near 13,200. Continue up the south side of Point 13,800' to reach a small saddle on the east side Point 13,800' - 13 and 14.

Pass a mining area to reach Antero's south ridge - 15. Follow the ridge crest and then trail segments along the right side - 16. This crossing is the most interesting part of the route. After the ridge section, reach a small saddle at 13,850', at the base of the final pitch - 17. A broken trail traverses right of the ridge crest and across the upper south slope before turning left toward the summit. The start of this trail is eroded and braided but gets better past the middle of the slope. Your other option is to stay near the ridge crest and hike directly toward the summit - 18. Since the initial section of the old, traverse trail has become more confusing over the years, most hikers use the direct line. 19 looks south from the summit . 20 looks north toward Mt. Princeton.

Notes

None
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20

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