From the trailhead
, follow the excellent trail as it parallels Stewart Creek and enters the forest -
1. After 2 miles on the trail, pass the faint remnants of an old log cabin on your left. Pass beaver ponds and many dead spruce trees as you gradually hike higher into upper Stewart creek -
2. Near 3 miles, the trail weaves through willows and may be a bit difficult to follow in spring or if there any trees have recently fallen. Near 4.25 miles and 12,000', the terrain opens up as you approach tree line -
3. Continue southwest toward the upper basin.
Near 12,300', turn south and drop to a creek -
4. Cross it and continue through more willows to the base of the broad slope
below the Organ Mountain-San Luis saddle. From creek to the saddle, it's approximately 0.8 mile and 800 feet of elevation gain. Staying on the excellent trail, switchback up the slope (
5,
6 and
7) to reach saddle
, at 13,100' -
8.
Hike west across the saddle and onto the south side of a large point on San Luis' northeast ridge -
9. Traverse west toward the ridge crest -
10 and
11. Near 13,750', gain the northeast ridge
and cross to the west side -
12. Follow the trail back to the ridge crest (
13) and gain the summit
-
14, and
15.