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Hello everyone,
I will be in Leadville this summer and I am considering trying out some class three scrambling and I am wondering if anyone has any good suggestions. I have a very limited amount of previous class three experience outside of Colorado, so I would love some route recommendations that aren't incredibly difficult. I would be willing to drive about an hour out of Leadville to get to the routes. Thanks to everyone that gives suggestions!

Pacific Peak! One of my favorites.

Ice Mountain is another good one that can be paired with North Apostle.

zootloopz wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:22 am Ice Mountain is another good one that can be paired with North Apostle.

I'll second this suggestion. My personal limit is class 2+ and I just about made it to the top of North Apostle before my dog's paws started bleeding. So if you find Ice Mountain too treacherous there's still nearby North Apostle as the consolation prize.

mtree wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:58 am Pacific Peak! One of my favorites.

Not OP but which one would you recommend in terms of being more fun, west or east ridge?

Ryan987 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:55 pm

mtree wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:58 am Pacific Peak! One of my favorites.

Not OP but which one would you recommend in terms of being more fun, west or east ridge?

I originally climbed the east slopes route. The lakes and valley area are GORGEOUS, but the climb was mostly tedious. The east ridge was faaaar funner! However, at the time I made it a bit more complicated than I had to. (I didn't have alot of data.) As long as you stay on the ridge or to the left during the first half of the ascent you can't go wrong. To the right is bad bad bad. Had to back track a couple of times. The descent was much easier and quicker after learning to stay out of trouble.

Deer Mtn., Unnamed 13738, and Mt. Champion make a nice three-bicentennial day with some Class 3 territory between Deer and 13738. Bonus: the trailhead is accessible to any vehicle.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=20496

Ryan987 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:55 pm

mtree wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:58 am Pacific Peak! One of my favorites.

Not OP but which one would you recommend in terms of being more fun, west or east ridge?

I haven't done the Eastern approaches personally to give a comparison, but I thought the West Ridge was great. After the first point (that the description on this site will have you bypass to climber's right), you can stay basically ridge proper for pretty sustained and occasionally exposed but generally solid C3, or drop slightly to climber's right on easier, less-exposed but looser terrain as you wish.

madmattd wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 12:12 pm

Ryan987 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:55 pm

mtree wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:58 am Pacific Peak! One of my favorites.

Not OP but which one would you recommend in terms of being more fun, west or east ridge?

I haven't done the Eastern approaches personally to give a comparison, but I thought the West Ridge was great. After the first point (that the description on this site will have you bypass to climber's right), you can stay basically ridge proper for pretty sustained and occasionally exposed but generally solid C3, or drop slightly to climber's right on easier, less-exposed but looser terrain as you wish.

I have done both the East and West ridges, and I thought the West ridge was a lot more fun. You can do a nice loop by going over to Atlantic and descending its West ridge, which is much easier. The West ridge route has the added advantage for the OP in that it is a lot quicker to get to from Leadville.

The East ridge route does have a nice bonus though. You get to visit Pacific Tarn, which I think is the highest officially named lake in the US.

Nick,
I recommend:
Wheeler Mtn. South Ridge from Montgomery Res. : https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=whee1
Keller Mtn. East Ridge from Rock Creek TH: https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=11118
Kelso Ridge on Torrey's Pk + Gray's Pk: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=torr4
Grizzly Pk. A and Garfield from McNasser Gulch: https://www.14ers.com/route.php?route=201607161106273

I don't recommend Ice Mtn. for one of your first class 3 peaks: it is steep for a long time and there is plenty of loose rock to navigate. Just my opinion, but I suggest waiting on that one until you feel more comfortable on Class 3 peaks. Feel free to DM me with questions or for more ideas.
Happy scrambling!
Best,
Rob

It's listed as class 4, but Dyer Mtn. West Ridge right outside of Leadville was a fun tune up for me before doing Little Bear last summer. It's short and the exposure is "considerable" and not "high" which felt accurate on my ascent. You can descend the easy Southeast Slopes or continue on to Gemini and Sherman for a quick peak-bagging loop with the descent of Sherman's west side taking you back to where you started on Dyer.

I second Keller! Some great views of other more fearsome ridges and peaks, with solitude. I also think Ice should not be someone’s first class 3.
Also second the nice loop of up Pacific West ridge with descent of Atlantic west ridge.
Finally, for a 14er experience, there is a short bit of scrambling on N Massive and a tour of Massive’s four summits over 14k can be a fun outing, albeit nearly all class 2. Just behind Massive is Oklahoma, which also has a touch of class 3 up high and allows for solitude.

But I think Keller is the best choice.