Hoosier Ridge

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 3/29/2026, By: paigemoney
Info: The GPX for Hoosier Ridge takes a different route than the standard Silverheels route through the trees. Would recommend using the Silverheels trail. Otherwise you may end up off route (following a road) and quickly bushwhacking and (if you’re lucky, post holing) in some willows. Using the Silverheels trail through the trees, there is no bushwhacking.

Up until treeline there are patches of snow, but the deeper areas are harder packed/tracked out. No postholing on the Silverheels trail. Muddy sections in the afternoon.

After exiting the trees, all snow is avoidable.

We added Red Peak for a little extra—took us 42 minutes round trip for the addition.

I wore Gore-Tex trail runners. Never used spikes or gaiters. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 3/21/2026, By: sehessler92
Info: Basically summer conditions! No spikes or snowshoes needed. Started at 4am and got back around 9:45 taking a couple longer breaks. Some post holing at the end but not enough to warrant snowshoes. Took a couple photos of Mt. Silverheels which looks to be in good shape too! 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 2/28/2026, By: JROSKA
Info: Reached the ridge and it was reasonably wind scoured and dry once up there. HOWEVER. We did not use flotation which made things tedious. There was a lot of snow between Hoosier Pass and the ridge. A few deep sections in between the trees down low but more substantial and sustained deep snow near the radio towers and approaching the ridge. Thigh deep post holing. There are some alternate paths to the ridge but there’s no way to avoid deep snow. If you choose this location for a winter hike, don’t misjudge the short distance of this section or the need for flotation like we did. Bring snowshoes and put them on at Hoosier Pass. I won’t say they’re 100% necessary but you will be happier and get farther if you use them. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 11/13/2025, By: climbingyogi
Info: Some small sections of snow, but all of it can be easily avoided. Carried spikes but never took them out of my pack. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 9/20/2025, By: Ssgustafson
Info: Summer conditions to Hoosier Ridge and the two Red summits. Saw about 5 snowballs of the white stuff on route.... Just a little bit of snow on the North face of Silverheels, but nothing at all on the standard route. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 6/20/2025, By: jaba9631
Info: Hiked this with Red Mountain, basically summer conditions all the way to Hoosier. Red Mountain had one decent snow patch but was otherwise clear 

Route: Selkirk/FSR801
Posted On: 6/14/2025, By: dwoodward13
Info: Followed below TR for an excellent off the beaten path to get this group. Road was easy to follow most of the way up Red Peak. Easy traverse across to Hoosier. Couple snowpatches from Hoosier to Red Mountain, one of which I broke out the microspikes and ax for. With how wet the snow is I doubt you'd start sliding, but the slope off to the west is pretty steep and goes a looonng ways down. I personally would want both for the next couple weeks until it melts. Way down from Red into Horseshoe Basin was something. Snow was terrible. You could avoid a lot of it by weaving. The willows toward the bottom were also pretty bad. At one point I resorted to just walking in the creek itself, my shoes weren't getting any wetter! During actual summer this would be a lot more enjoyable.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=17364 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 6/7/2025, By: Laxer04
Info: Summer conditions 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 12/4/2024, By: nilaoire
Info: You may as well put on snowshoes once you cross the road, from the parking lot, and continue to wear them until above tree line. We put in a trail through the trees today following the summer trail, that at least should help. Wind blown snow above the trees, soft in spots, thin in other areas. Once you reach the 1st high point on the ridge, approx 12800 ft, snow shoes are totally unnecessary. Enjoy. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 6/16/2024, By: bangerth
Info: Summer conditions as long as you always stay left of the snow fields on your way up. There are still very large cornice remnants along both the way up and then the long ridge over. But you never have to cross any as long as you stay left. 

Route: Via Coronet Drive
Posted On: 4/21/2024, By: man_of_nature
Info: Climbed Red Mountain, Hoosier Ridge, and Red Peak starting from the dead end of Coronet Drive. Started at 0445, boot pack was fine on road. Wore snowshoes from my turn off point until tree line. Ridge between the three peaks was good, no traction needed. Only one small spot coming off of Red Mountain going down to the saddle with Hoosier that I used my axe for. Wore snowshoes from tree line after Red Peak until I got back to the road/trail and there was sufficient boot pack. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 1/16/2024, By: 14ercooper
Info: Climbed mostly before sunrise. Quite a lot of wind and blowing snow still. I only used my snowshoes for a short segment near treeline, and didn't bother past that point. Be very careful of potential avalanche slopes in the region (should be a no-brainer given the 3/4 or 4/5 avalanche danger that was and still is forecasted), I definitely was seeing signs of instability, even if I didn't personally kick off anything on the slopes below me.
Overall a good day, if a bit windy and cold still (without any real ways to avoid the wind either), though it was actually colder back in Denver than on the summit. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 11/12/2023, By: Rampaging Baloths
Info: Not a lot of snow. Packed trail that is easy to follow in trees. Typical wind blown drifts of sugar and crunch above treeline all the way.

Brought and did not use traction and an ax.

Warm and for the most part windless. Glorious time to be up high. 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 11/12/2023, By: 14er101
Info: No traction or flotation needed, the snow that is there isn't a problem 

Route: From Hoosier Pass
Posted On: 10/22/2023, By: GGScheer
Info: Totally dry all the way. Only went as far as Hoosier Ridge, but both Red Peak and Mountain likewise were dry. Totally calm sunny day -- amazing -- hiked in shorts and one layer on top.