Stewart Peak

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/27/2025, By: hanada
Info: Early summer conditions. Still some snow, but can mostly avoid with minimal effort. I stayed low on most of the ridge compared to where gpx went to find easiest path through snow fields. I was coming from lake city and originally planned to hike from north side. The road to the cebolla TH was gated 5.5 miles from TH. Also, it says on here the road is rated 1. This is definitely true approaching from the gunnison side, but the road from lake city is more like a 2. I found the road to nutras creek more chill than that one. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 1/12/2025, By: Pappyred78
Info: The road to the Nutrus Creek trailhead was as smooth as you're going to get in Colorado. I parked right off the main dirt road before Nutrus Creek. The trail was really just a game trail with a trail marker on it. It ran parallel to the creek. It's was a choose you're own adventure. I followed the info posted by BillM. His photos and route description were spot on. Thanks for the beta. Here is a Youtube video that can help. Happy hiking! https://youtu.be/thUUHggNOIk?si=ifk4FfxRlteaeGN9 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 9/22/2024, By: kyrawhitworth
Info: Hiked up Stewart via Nutras creek. Decent trail until you cut up to the ridge where its choose your line. We then headed over to Baldy Alto which was straightforward. It was windy so we descended steeply down a rib to the Stewart Creek trail. Weather was holding so we decided to go up the basin and cut up to the ridge for Organ. Watch for moose in the willows heading over to Organ. Weather deteriorated as we headed down and hiked out from Stewart Creek. Rain turned quickly to heavy snow so my guess is theres more than a dusting on the peaks now. Aspens were phenomenal which was the saving grace on the hike up the road to our car at Nutras creek. Reg0928 has a great gpx track for this route. 16.1 miles and 5880ft of vert for us. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 7/22/2024, By: mijoflynn
Info: Hiked Baldy Chato / Column Ridge / Stewart from the Cebolla TH. Drove from Lake City; the GPS in my car didn't want to let me, but Google Maps recognizes the route just fine. It's worth noting that modern map apps use totally different names for the roads than Roach and the TH description on this site do. Figured I'd post the newer names here in case it helps anyone: take CO 149 to just before Slumgullion Pass, turn left on CR50 and continue for 15 miles to Cathedral (mailboxes at a three-way intersection), turn right on CR52 and continue for about a mile (to a gate at the start of CR45), then hang a slight left onto CR45 (aka CRKK14, aka George Bush Dr). CR45 is the roughest part of the drive; continue on it for about 5 miles (until you see a sign on the left giving distances to Lake City and CO 114), then turn right on CR8EE and follow it to the TH. Took about 1:30, maybe 1:45. It's not a "1;" CR45, especially, is bumpy. I'd give it a "2.5." But most passenger cars should be able to make it; it's easily Subaruable. Man, I thought the Stewart Creek TH was in the boonies. Cebolla is way out there. I was surprised at how good the Cebolla Trail was, given how remote it is; whoever carved that path through the sea of willows on Baldy Chato deserves a medal. The whole hike was a breeze: the hardest part was not stepping on all the wildflowers blooming up there. Pink and red paintbrushes were everywhere below treeline, and yellow paintbrushes and sunflowers above it; but I also saw asters, bluebells, columbines, fireweed, purple fringe, and a bunch of others. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/10/2024, By: JakeByk
Info: Went up Stewart Peak via Stewart Creek, ascended Baldy Alto, and traversed to Stewart with a descent of Nutras Creek due to storms, then walked the road back to my truck. I've rarely felt more isolated than in Nutras Creek. Spikes are helpful for the saddle between Baldy and Stewart but the entire basin is dry and San Luiis is in summer condition. The Nutras Creek trail is a combo of wildlife paths and the 'trail' is basically non-existent. The basin itself is very boggy and has some active moose in the area. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/3/2024, By: Phill the Thrill
Info: Almost summer, but not quite. Still some icy snow starting at 12,700 to approx 13,500. Micro spikes with trekking poles will get you to the top. Or instead of climbing to the ridge immediately, do a low traverse for a few hundred yards then climb the steep mostly snow-free slope to the summit ridge. Mine was the first entry in the summit ridge for 2024. Is that possible? I saw approx 30 deer, 2 elk, 1 moose, and no humans after Dome Lakes WIldlife Area. Where is everybody? 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 10/14/2023, By: Scott Conro
Info: From Cebolla TH via Baldy Chato and Column Ridge. Almost entirely dry ground conditions and the unavoidable snow needed no traction or spikes. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 9/6/2023, By: PikaSteve
Info: Trail from Cebolla trailhead through forest and willows was well worn and easy to follow until the last fifty yards of willows. Only tundra and a few rocks after the willows; user choice on minimizing elevation gain/loss vs minimizing sidehilling between Baldy Chato and the final saddle between Stewart and Column Ridge. I used every layer available (5) at the summit due to extreme winds. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 7/20/2023, By: truekyle
Info: 10/10 loved this route! FYI: 1 be careful you enter the willows in the right spot on your decent. gps and gpx flie helped a ton! 2 Be smart around animals. i saw 1000 + elk and waited for them to clear for an hour before going to the ridge. no need to presure them! 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 7/4/2023, By: madmattd
Info: We had 2 vehicles, so did a Cebolla-Stewart Creek traverse of Baldy Chato, Stewart, and Baldy Alto. The first 20 feet of the Cebolla Trail are obscured, but climb over the large log behind the trailhead sign and you can pick it up, and with a little care in places, follow it to treeline without major issue. It's faint in places above treeline, but follow the tall sticks and there's a good path visible through the willows - resist the temptation to cut uphill until through the willows, the route up is obvious once through the willows. We did go directly over Baldy Chato, and kept the ascent to it on just tundra versus getting into some of the rocks a little further East where some cairns were visible. Nice route, and a short class 3/4 scramble option just below the summit of Stewart if one is so inclined. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/25/2023, By: cloudkicker
Info: Almost completely summer conditions EXCEPT FOR a lingering snowfield on the ridge crest between 13100ft and 13400ft. Its not too steep or exposed, spikes will suffice. And if you want to avoid the snow altogether you can stay 100-200ft below the ridge crest on climbers left until the snow thins around 13400ft. Difficulty never exceeds 2+ bypassing through the talus, if youre careful. Fairly mellow day other than a few small annoyances. My lazy Sunday splits: left car at 10:45am, on summit at 1:30pm, left summit at 2pm, back to car right at 4pm. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 6/19/2023, By: Ssgustafson
Info: Hiked Stewart Pk today from Cebolla TH. The trail thru the forest up to the willows section is free of snow and easy to follow. Still quite a few manageable snow fields in the willows and all the way through the bowl. The saddle and ridge to the summit are free of snow. Micro spikes were useful in several sections including the super slick morning ice in the willows. Flotation not needed. Also, I clocked 8.9 miles versus the advertised 7.6 miles - and I probably didnt take an optimal route, but its still at least a mile longer than listed. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 9/9/2022, By: cougar
Info: Traversed from San Luis over Baldy Alto to Stewart, and descended east ridge to Nutras Creek. All clear, and can be kept at class 2, with one slope section of loose rock going towards Baldy Alto. East ridge is pretty straightforward, descending to Nutras Creek you have to pick a good line to bushwhack down, with various game trails to follow. No cairns. Nutras Creek trail is as described, faint in spots, some fallen trees of different sizes, and a bit of up and down, but nothing terrible. Lost trail for a section in meadow on the eastern part. The road shown on maps that extends about a mile up the creek from the main road doesn't exist anymore, there's just a faint doubletrack as you get towards it. 

Route: via Baldy Alto
Posted On: 9/4/2022, By: 14ercooper
Info: Lots of walking across grassy slopes, with a bit of loose dirt mixed in. It's definitely not a short out-and-back to get over to Stewart and back - so make sure you've got good weather and plenty of water. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 6/6/2022, By: Istoodupthere
Info: Snow free until you get to the summit ridge. As I got closer, the snow looked to be covering the ridge so I traversed below and gained the ridge around the false summit directly below the summit. Lots of loose talus and some scree. On the way down I stayed on the ridge and realized the snow was mostly avoidable. Easiest thing to do is gain the ridge around 13,100, cross a bit of snow, then stay on the right side of the ridge going up. Some graupel and light showers after noon. Oh and the peak that is a few hundred yards south of where the summit register and wind break are is actually the high point. So there's that. River crossing before Nutras Creek TH is maybe 4 inches deep. Passable with any vehicle. Nutras Creek crossing is maybe 6 inches deep tops