Milwaukee Peak

Route: Southwest Slopes via Deadman Creek
Posted On: 6/17/2024, By: supranihilest
Info: This route is one hell of a bushwhack but is technically easier than Milwaukee's standard north ridge/ledges route. This route is Class 2 or Class 2+, the north ridge/ledges is exposed Class 4. Starting from the Liberty Road trailhead follow the sandy road south. When it splits continue left. The trail is hard to find from the road since there's no sign and it's quite faint, but if you don't find the trail you can continue on the road to the end and just bushwhack a few hundred feet north and rejoin the trail. For the most part the trail follows the north side of the creek - there's two crossings on haphazardly cut but stable trees in short succession not far up the trail - as it weaves up and down the cliffs and steep slopes of the drainage. The entire trail is a mess of deadfall, it's utterly inescapable and very tedious. There's legitimate Class 3 scrambling on trees in some spots. Once you're far up the drainage in the aspen forest you still have to deal with tons of deadfall, and the trail fades out, but the trees are a lot smaller and easier to just step over. There's plenty of little streams and swampy areas in the aspen forest so avoid them as best as you can to treeline. From treeline the route is obvious: go up the drainage, find Milwaukee in the northeast corner, and climb up the obvious slopes to the summit. The slopes are a mix of grass and talus/boulders. It can be kept to Class 2 if desired but it was easier, faster, and more direct to just scramble up some of the little outcrops at Class 2+. Continue on to other peaks from here or descend your ascent route (you must really hate yourself if you do just Milwaukee via Deadman Creek). Keep in mind how long this route takes: my partner and I are on the faster side and it took us about five and a quarter hours to reach Milwaukee a little over 9 miles and 5,800 vert in. 

Route: Up the rocks
Posted On: 7/19/2023, By: Skimo95
Info: Slept in and started around noon from the TH. I was surprised to see a great trail all the way up to Milwaukee ridge. Plenty of water filtering options, and no snow to dodge! Ridge goes at mid 5th. Clouds starting to come in, ran the ridge over to pico and back in around 30-45min. That ridge also goes at mid 5th, with plenty of other options. Beelined it back to cottonwood pass, and the weather was still holding in the evening. Took the ridge over to marble and then down to top of pass. Wasnt able to complete the full ridge as expected, but this is a nice little 3 peak day to get some scrambling in. A metric fuck ton of bugs in and above treeline right now, they had me literally running around the ledges on Milwaukee. Highly recommend these peaks, 12.4mi 4,775 gain 7-8 hours. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 7/6/2023, By: JakeByk
Info: Approached from Music Pass: Snowfield and runoff make the waterfall through the cliffs below Cottonwood Pass a bit of a project. Go above the waterfall and to the left. The old Cottonwood Pass trail is hard to catch but it's there. If approaching from Upper Sand Creek Lake, make a contour line practically straight for the headwall on the left side of the basin and you will find it. Snowfield blocked access via switchbacks from Cottonwood Pass so I climbed up and over the ridge. Notch is snow-free. Gained the north ridge about 5-10 yards passed the Notch and took the Class 5 chimney up. Climbed down and took East Slopes back to the notch. 

Route: N Ridge Milwaukee - Pico Aislado - Pt 13020
Posted On: 6/16/2023, By: markf
Info: I approached from Cottonwood Creek. Snow line was about 12,000', microspikes and step kicking were required from about 12,600'. Crampons/ice axe may have been useful depending on one's comfort level. Milwaukee Pass to the summit and on to Pico Aislado was dry, the saddle between Pico Aislado had some snow, and Pt 13020 was dry until the Pt 13020' - 12989' saddle. Descending from the saddle to Cottonwood Creek was microspikes and step kicking, and again some people would have wanted crampons/ice axe. The snow added a definite alpine flavor to the day, but it's melting fst and I don't know how long this report will be valid. 

Route: Upper Sand Creek Lake
Posted On: 6/30/2022, By: Wildernessjane
Info: Lots of deadfall on the trail up to Upper Sand Creek Lake. Allow for extra time. The route was clear of snow up to the summit. We then went over to Pico Aislado and then Tijeras so can't speak to conditions in the descent gully or up MIlwaukee Pass. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 11/14/2021, By: supranihilest
Info: The ledges on the standard route were clearly snow-covered even as far away as Music Pass. Went for it anyway. Turned around before reaching treeline. Tons of snow hidden in the valley forest, unbroken and undecipherable trail with the snow, which was ankle to shin deep. Not worth continuing so we did 12er Blueberry Peak south from Music Pass instead, which was in far better and easier condition. 

Route: From Tijeras/Music saddle
Posted On: 9/18/2021, By: ScottLovesRMNP
Info: This route skirts Music Mountain on the west side and avoids the infamous exposed ledge from Milwaukee Pass and the traverse over from Pico Aislado. It is an entirely mellow class 2 route. The downside is the steep descent from the Tijeras/Music saddle that loses about 1,000 feet to get below the cliffs on Music's west side. For the most part, you can traverse down and around Music on grass and a few sections of talus. Once you reach the basin below Milwaukee's southwest slopes, the climbing becomes even easier.....basically a walk up from there to the summit, and the route is obvious. 

Route: North ridge and south ridge
Posted On: 6/13/2021, By: Stratosfearsome
Info: Some avoidable snow on trail up near Milwaukee pass (east side). It looks like there are some snow fields in the flats where one would connect with the Upper Sand Creek Trail. I included a photo of the crux ledge, but I took the north ridge so I cannot speak to how clear the grass/rock gully to the summit is. There was a patch of snow over there that appeared avoidable. I also included a shot of the Crestones- still some snow on them. No spikes or axe needed all day. Also, Sand Creek Lakes (water and close by) are closed due to legume contamination, FYI. 

Route: All
Posted On: 6/20/2020, By: Mtnman200
Info: Summer conditions; what little snow there is on Milwaukee Peak can easily be avoided. 

Route: Milwaukee->Pico Aislado->13020 A from Sand Lakes
Posted On: 9/13/2019, By: JasonKline
Info: Dry for now, but that might not last long. The descent north from 13020 A is steep, loose talus.