9/30/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 9/30/2023, By: shapovalovm Info: The route is practically in summer conditions. There is some snow at the last 0.2m (or ~100 feet of elevation), but it is easily avoidable. Very easy trail. There's so much wildlife there. |
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9/23/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 9/24/2023, By: ProfetaP Info: We chose to do the south ridge and it did not disappoint. Almost any car will be able to make it to the lower TH and the upper any decent clearance car (room for about 10 cars in each). But, due to the mountain being so secluded there are not bathrooms or trash cans at the TH. The hike ended up being around 15.5 miles (started at the lower TH) and was around 4.1k gain. The trail is very easy to follow and crosses through numerous gullies and terrain, which make it very fun and beautiful. There are several water crossings for the first 4ish miles, which are easily crossable without soaking your feet. The summit stretch is loose-ish talus that could be easy to slip on or roll an ankle. There is also a few false summits, so dont get too excited when you think you are at the top. But, the trail is almost completely free of snow. A few patches here and there, but it is completely avoidable. |
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9/18/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 9/18/2023, By: Piotr Info: Nice and dry all the way. Northeast ridge route had few inches of snow near the top. |
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9/4/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 9/4/2023, By: FREESKIER Info: Great hike today. Weather was windy and cold up top and I expect that to be the case for the rest of the year up there. The trail is very easy to find and all blow down trees have been cleared. We started at 5:20am and flew up to the top of the peak. The wind up top made it cold, but other than that it was surprisingly easy. You can run/jog the lower 3-4 miles of the trail on the way down if you want to. I think the summit to parking area could be done in about 1.5hrs if jogged. We took our time and hit 2.5hrs. Could be a great 14er if you're bringing a beginner. Super remote and very few hikers, but very pleasant. |
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9/3/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 9/6/2023, By: taylorharris50 Info: Easy drive to TH in a TRD Pro 4Runner. Road was hard to find in the dark on minimal sleep. There is a mine with a locked gate that appears to be the route but it's a little bit back from there. San Luis south ridge was beautiful and a cruiser. Had the summit to myself. Saw a lot of through hikers and a couple going for the summit. Heavy beetle kill. Appeared that 90%+ of the pine trees had been dead for years. |
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9/2/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 9/2/2023, By: BRadleyC Info: Trail is in great shape. Kudos to whoever cut and cleared all the deadfall (14ers Initiative?). Saw no moose today. Very windy on the headwall saddle (gust likely up to 40 or 50 mph). |
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8/31/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 9/9/2023, By: joannalee07 Info: Absolutely loved this trail, beautiful and a great route to trail run!! Made it to the TH easily in a stock 4Runner, room for a few people to camp. Full trip report here: https://www.coloradomountainpack.com/post/san-luis-peak |
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7/31/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 7/31/2023, By: Logan5280 Info: Interestingly, the hardest part of this climb was finding the trailhead. I've attached a screenshot of an OnX line with the location of the trailhead. It's a little over a mile past where Google maps thinks it is, but about a mile short of my odometer's estimate based on the directions on this site. It's just the little pull offs at the end of the drainage, before the road turns left up steep switchbacks. The trail itself is excellent and dry currently. Use caution to not miss the turn off the CDT on the return. |
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7/31/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 7/31/2023, By: sean23 Info: Started 0.5 mi below the 4WD TH but likely could've made it all the way in my CX-5. I started at 4:15 and struggled to find the trail in the dark. But once I got on the CDT, routefinding was simple. The trail is in great shape all the way to the summit. |
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7/21/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 7/25/2023, By: ElScurto Info: As noted in other updates, there are several downed trees across the path, but only a handful of spots that required crawling/alt. route finding. Otherwise excellent trail condition and ease of navigating. Earlier reports this season mention snowfields to cross, we did not encounter any snow to cross (a few small creek crossings but nothing that spilled over our boots). Lots of animal sightings and beautiful flowers this time of year! |
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7/14/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 7/16/2023, By: RWSchaffer Info: The only obstacles between trailhead and summit were a downed tree and two minor snowfield crossings (pictures 1-3). Streams were low enough that the soles of my boots got wet but waterproof uppers kept my feet dry (picture 4). There are no fields of wildflowers on this route, but quite a variety of individual specimens were in nearly peak bloom (picture 5). All pictures but the last taken on descent. |
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7/2/2023 Route: South Ridge Posted On: 7/3/2023, By: kkulling Info: Summer conditions except about 4 snow field crossings. The first one is the trickiest. About 3 trees across the trail. |
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7/2/2023 Route: CDT to S Ridge Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: madmattd Info: Backpacked a loop of San Luis and Organ via the CDT and the Stewart Creek Trails from the East. Conditions on Stewart Creek are well-described in recent reports, but I will add that there are very few decent camping areas more than 1-2mi in due to a combination of the terrain and all of the beetle kill trees. You do NOT want to camp under a stand of dead trees - just look at all of the blowdowns all over the place if you don't get why. CDT is in good shape overall from Eddiesville to the saddle between San Luis and PT13155. Scattered blowdowns throughout that are the usual mix of step-over or go-around, but only one "jungle gym" to negotiate. Tons of solid camping options throughout until the last creek crossing at 11,750', and constant water availability. There are dry camping options near the saddle if you are willing to get creative, I didn't find the options as amazing as the CDT book suggested, but the view was pretty nice in the morning. Trail from saddle to summit is in good shape, but plenty of sections paved with loose small rock, nature of the terrain on the summit cone. One very small snowfield about halfway up that was booted and required all of 8-10 steps to navigate, traction was not needed even when frozen solid in the morning. There looks to be an interesting semi-snow bridge forming over a gully on the CDT/CT heading West from the San Luis-PT13155 saddle. It looks to have a good bootpack now, but this might get interesting in coming days/weeks as it melts out more. |
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7/1/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: dwoodward13 Info: Summer conditions. A couple pockets of deadfall that are annoying, but pretty good paths being put in with the easiest bypass routes. |
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6/26/2023 Route: Northeast Ridge Posted On: 6/27/2023, By: sabviv Info: As other reports have indicated, summer conditions and lots of downed trees to navigate. Posting this to add some photos. |