East Buffalo Peak

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 11/2/2024, By: Istoodupthere
Info: Mostly 2-6 inches of snow on the route. A few deeper drifts. Just enough snow to make every step a bit more difficult than normal. Talus traverse was slow going with the snow and the fact that most of those rocks move. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 9/28/2024, By: dwoodward13
Info: Beautiful day out. Any remaining snow is inconsequential up West. You could avoid all snow descending East, but it would be rather circuitous. Easy enough to just plunge step the very short patches. I actually thought it was nicer than the rocks. There are some decent trails contouring around the basin back to the road, but I saw only 1 or 2 cairns so you kind of just have to go by intuition of which game trail is best (or constantly be looking at gps). Very strong animal smell just after leaving treeline, but didn't see anything. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 6/29/2024, By: sarahmariekirk
Info: Climbed East Buffalo Peak -> traversed to West -> bushwhack down -> run back down the trail to the Jeep. Great day today, took a chance on the weather and got lucky! So many wildflowers cropping up throughout the trail and above treeline. Road is in great condition all the way to the TH - any 2WD vehicle can get up there. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 6/26/2024, By: Kcmartinez22
Info: Great day in the wilderness with the desert dog. Do your research before. Download pics. The descent is a way finding challenge. Peaks are dry. For both peaks, including the Rocky obstacles on East, stay ON the ridge. There is no need to drop into loose talus and suffer. The ridge goes, the views are beautiful up there, its mostly solid, and just way more fun. Definitely waypoint your spot when heading into the wilderness at 11,600 for your descent. And even then, be ready for an adventure in the trees. When they say work your way through drainages, they arent kidding. Make sure youre in the right one before dropping too low. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 6/22/2024, By: mijoflynn
Info: Essentially summer conditions. No snow up to East Buffalo or on the ridge to West Buffalo. Depending on the exact bushwhacking route you take down from West Buffalo, you might run into short sections of shallow snow above treeline, and marshes or running water below, but nothing that requires extra equipment or attention. Spectacular views of the Collegiates, esp. from West. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 5/26/2024, By: Geckser
Info: I skied East and West Buffalo Peaks today, starting from the Buffalo Springs Campground. I was able to bike from this campground up to the Lynch Creek Trailhead, the road was in great shape with just a few drifts on the way. I was hoping the gate would be open and I could drive some of the road, apparently this will not happen until June 15th. The bike was generally pleasant on the way up and was a reasonable slope the whole way. From Lynch Creek there were about 800 vertical feet of inconsistent trapdoor drifts of snow making for very slow going. After this the coverage was decent (or as as decent as it gets in this area). I used trailrunners until 800 feet below the pass where I switched to boots which I kept on until the summit of West Buffalo. I was hoping to ski the East face of West Buffalo but none of the nice looking lines looked filled in so I just skied down the ridge towards East Buffalo. I booted East Buffalo then skied down from the summit into a large north facing bowl. The coverage was only passing and the snow was hard pack but it was quite aesthetic and very deep in the wilderness. I doubt this will be skiable in a few weeks. From the apron I skied as low as I could before the snow became too inconsistent to ski and where I switched back to runners. This left about 1.8 miles back to the road where I stowed the bike. This section was terrible as the drifts in the forest were no longer holding my weight. From the bike it was a wonderful ride back to the car. This is certainly not the easiest (or probably nicest) way to hit these peaks. My Gaia claimed I went about 25 miles, though most of this was on bikes. It was cool to ski some rarely skied lines in a pretty secluded area. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 10/15/2023, By: d_baker
Info: If you google Buffalo Peaks trail head, Google maps provides same directions as what BillM gives in his route description found here on this site. Easy 2wd, with a few bumps and ruts. Route is mostly snow free. Had no more than ankle deep in spots on descent from WestB. 

Route: Old Mine TH/436
Posted On: 9/9/2023, By: cloudust
Info: Summitted East & West Buffalo Peaks from the South/CR 436, per a route recommended on climb13ers.com. Key points: (1) Gate closure at 38 degrees 57 minutes 27 seconds N, 106 degrees 4 minutes 29 seconds W (2) Mile 2.0 from gate closure: cabin (3) Mile 2.25 from gate closure: end of CR 436 (Note: Do not deviate from CR 436. You will cross Trail #618.) (4) From end of CR 436, navigate at compass bearing 348 degrees through the woods, until at the base of E Buffalo (Return bearing is 168 degrees.) (5) You are able to descend from the saddle vs returning over E Buffalo. Enjoy! PS - CR 436 is passable by vehicles with standard clearance, in summer conditions. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 7/2/2023, By: ekalina
Info: Route is entirely snow free, and the traverse between East and West Buffalo is quite fun (2+/3- if you stay strictly ridge proper). Of note, I encountered quite a few old roads and social trails below treeline that don't appear on maps and spent some time getting turned around/shwhacking in the trees. In particular, at the 0.7-mile mark on the ascent, the road/trail splits. I took the rightmost branch and ended up off-route and eventually headed up West Buffalo, even though I had intended to start with East. To stay on route, you should take a left at this junction and head up the switchbacks shown in the topo in the 14ers route description. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 9/23/2022, By: zootloopz
Info: Up here right now!! Great car camping and cell service at the 285 junction. Aspens are out and poppin. An excellent and enjoyable 13er route so far. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 6/20/2022, By: kwhit24
Info: Windy day once on the ridge. There's no snow except for a very small patch while coming down West Buffalo. Quite a few cairns on the route. The road driving in is very smooth for a mountain road and the Ford Edge made it easy. Didn't see anyone else all aside from the "Trailhead" (11.07 mi; 3,301' gain; 4:55:06 total time) Start at TH 5:00am; East Buffalo Peak 7:05am (5 min break); West Buffalo Peak 7:50am; Back to TH 9:55am 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 12/4/2021, By: Anima
Info: There is an inch or two of snow just below treeline. Other then that the route is completely dry. Absolutely no snow gear needed. 

Route: Viewed from 13374
Posted On: 11/6/2021, By: IHikeLikeAGirl
Info: Looks like summer on east and west Buffalo Peaks. Viewed them from 2 sides: 13374 and while driving back near Hartsel. 

Route: From Fourmile TH/Chaffee CR 375
Posted On: 6/11/2021, By: supranihilest
Info: Summer conditions. I took the Tumble Creek trail to the Salt Creek trail, when the latter turned 90 degrees right I left the trail and bushwhacked up Salt Creek to treeline. A GPS was helpful in spots where the peaks weren't visible. Copious deadfall in the aspen glades. Above treeline the route is entirely talus and scree but plainly obvious. No snow to contend with. I traversed from West Buffalo to East Buffalo which involved minor scrambling on solid rock. Descended East Buffalo's southwest slopes towards my ascent route and followed that back to the trail. 

Route: Buffalo Peaks from the North
Posted On: 9/26/2020, By: angry
Info: Dry to summit.