Colony Baldy

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/19/2025, By: earl555
Info: A few patches of avoidable snow. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/8/2025, By: coopergould
Info: Great morning on Colony Baldy! Full on summer conditions - took maybe 15 steps on snow the entire day, all by choice due to convenience. A few remaining snow patches right below treeline, and then some for the final 500vf, but again all completely avoidable. Wish I had my mountain bike for the Rainbow Trail miles - if you’re willing to hikeabike a portion of the connector from the Trailhead to the Rainbow trail, you can ride probably 98% (both directions) until the descent to the Macey Lakes fork - would stash the bike at the top of that descent (~3.1 miles from trailhead). Would have been a whole lot more fun, and saved probably 1hr 15min RT, compared to the road walk. Anyways, will upload a few pictures of the route and surrounding peaks - summer is here (at least in the Sangres)! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 3/27/2025, By: daniel_a34
Info: We put on and took off our snowshoes 7-8 times before treeline, but they were very helpful when we had them on. All south aspects on the Rainbow trail were basically dry, but northern ones were much easier with snowshoes. Trench/trail is relatively easy to follow once you leave the Rainbow trail. The snow had a 3-4" crust that we broke through in most places and it was a slippery mess underneath that, so steep slopes were difficult to get traction on the way up. Above treeline you can avoid snow almost entirely, and the snowfield crossings we did were short and on low angle terrain. No traction needed above timberline. Wind was pretty stiff at the top but a beautiful day for views. On the way down (left the peak at 9:45am) everything below treeline was a slushy mess. We had no purchase on steep angle slopes and sometimes just slid until we hit a tree (which thankfully isn't far in that forrest). Rainbow trail was 3" of mud in some places. No avalanche concerns, felt two collapses about 10' in diameter underneath us on 20 degree slopes, and some very minor cracking around our snowshoes, but nothing concerning on steeper terrain. Despite the nasty slush on the way down nothing gained any momentum or slid lower than us as we slid. 4.5k vert, 13.5mi round trip, 5hrs up, 3.5hrs down. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 3/9/2025, By: sarahmariekirk
Info: It must have snowed in the Sangres on Friday night quite a bit because there was continuous snow on the trail today, with all of Will’s trench filled in from Friday afternoon. Slow going today with lots of fresh unconsolidated snow, we turned at 12200 due to time constraints and tedious trenching. The rapid warming caused soft and sticky snow on the way down, with faceted slabs up higher (however low angle). Looked like snow all the way to summit. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 3/7/2025, By: Will_E
Info: Easy drive to Horn Creek TH, anything can get there. Rainbow trail had a good mix of dry trail, packed snow, and I used snowshoes for a short distance. When I broke off the Rainbow trail initially I had a trench to follow for a short distance, it disappeared, I had to get out of snowshoes for a while in the lower part of treeline. After that I occasionally could see remnants of the former trench. Trenching wasn't difficult today, there were some deep sections, some average sections and some easy parts, pretty good mix, I made treeline in 2:44. Weather ended up warmer and less windy than forecasted, really a beautiful day. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 2/16/2025, By: yaktoleft13
Info: About 4-8 inches of fresh snow. Wore snowshoes from the car, mostly for traction purposes. The second half of rainbow trail needed ankle deep trenching, definitely better than booting. After turning onto the NE ridge, I was mostly able to follow the prior trench, which kept any trenching to no more than shin deep. Was about knee deep when the old trench disappeared at times. Stashed snowshoes at treeline, windswept up high. Brutal winds, some of the worst I've had. Would take 20 steps, then brace myself for the knock off-balance. Eventually the wind became more consistent from the same side and was able to brace myself against it better. By the time I got back down to treeline, the wind had filled in much of my trench. 12.7 miles, gps misread vert (said 5700, but should be more like 4700 I think), 7:40 car to car 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 2/8/2025, By: Laxer04
Info: Mixed conditions today. The first two miles or so is mixed dirt and snow, but the snow is really well packed down. After that snowshoes were helpful, especially when we got off the main trail to head up the ridge. The snow was soft and deep at times. We put in a solid trench. The snow is completely avoidable above treeline so we ditched the snowshoes. Saw a bunch of bighorn sheep up around 12,000 feet and a ptarmigan. Great day in the mountains. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 11/16/2024, By: Dobsons
Info: Was blessed to have a day to climb Colony Baldy today. I was expecting a lot of snow but there was more than I even expected. Several feet deep in the trees at spots and getting around in the Sangre definitely requires flotation. Everything above timberline was fairly windblown for now on Colony at least. The forecasted sunny skies didn't materialize until the afternoon, and I got pretty battered by snow and wind up high but was able to get the summit. Unfortunately, no views to the Crestone's on this day... It's been a pretty impressive start to the winter in terms of snow for the Sangre! 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 2/19/2024, By: josephnephi
Info: Nice trench for the first 2ish miles of Rainbow Trail. After that put in a trench to treeline. Above treeline, it is almost completely bare so there was no avalanche danger. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 1/21/2024, By: astranko
Info: Set a trench with a group of 3. Clear above treeline to the summit. The rainbow trail was pretty easy to make progress on. Once we got onto the northeast ridge, the trenching became strenuous at points. At one point we slowed to about 400ft in an hour. The snow pack was reactive, with varying slabs on top of a sea of facets left over from before the storm. The route angle maxes out at ~20deg, so it is safe. The trench in those sections is poor due to the facets that go to ground level, but if you dont like it you can put a new one in. Views at the top are out of this world. The KC massif was shining and the Crestones look as beautiful as ever. Two lucky ducks started ~3hrs behind us and caught our trenching group as we were sitting at treeline to take our snowshoes off. Impeccable timing. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 12/17/2023, By: kyrawhitworth
Info: Lots more snow compared to Wills trek. Rainbow trail was full of fluff and the turn off to treeline had over a foot of new snow; snowshoes absolutely mandatory. Ryan put in a great trench so go get after it! Ridge was pretty windswept and dry. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 12/7/2023, By: Will_E
Info: Rainbow trail is well packed by ATV's, first half of the way through treeline the snow was fairly minimal, maybe 3"-4", it got a bit deeper towards the top of treeline, but I didn't regret leaving snowshoes in the car, really wouldn't have used them long. Above treeline almost completely dry. Tough day, wind was pretty fierce. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 8/1/2023, By: kwhit24
Info: We left Denver around 4:15am and parked at the Horn Creek TH. You are on the Rainbow Trail for about 3.5 miles and 1,000' before turning. The bushwhack wasn't to bad as there are a few game trails but do to downed trees there is some navigation necessary. Once out of the trees it is an obvious ridge/slope hike to the top. So many flies and grasshoppers right now including on the summit. Saw two deer on the slope and only 2 ATVs on the Rainbow Trail. (13.18 mi; 4,760' gain; 6:43:29 time) Start at TH 7:00am; Colony Baldy 10:40am (30 min on top); Back to TH 1:40pm 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 7/22/2023, By: blazintoes
Info: Sangres sunrise! Rainbow trail is nice with intact bridges. Head through the deadfall, follow the cairns and keep going up. Its relentless. 1500 vert for one final mile to the summit. Not much rivals the Crestones view. This climb is worth it for that iconic view. 

Route: Northeast Ridge
Posted On: 6/14/2023, By: Scott Conro
Info: Summer bushwhacking. Snow was completely avoidable.