Horn Peak

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 6/3/2025, By: Istoodupthere
Info: Started from the parking area for Rainbow Trail before you get to Horn Creek TH. Started at 7:40am due to vehicle issues. Figured it was 50/50 I’d summit with the wet forecast and the good amount of snow it got the night before. Creeks were running high so the 2 crossings took a bit of care. Got a little wet due to all the water on the vegetation and a heavy mist in the air. Got above the clouds around 11,000 and dried out. Trail starts getting obscured by snow drifts around 11,400. Trail peters out at treeline. 11,800 is about the last of it. Pretty steep from here to summit to except for the scrambly section. The last couple hundred feet of gain to summit had about 6 inches of snow from last night which made careful footing necessary. Dark clouds overhead at summit but nothing materialized. Turned out to be a really nice day. On the way down the rapidly melting snow made the steep descent quite slippery so it was slow going. Wore hiking boots and gaiters which were pretty much mandatory. Another great day in the Sangres. Garmin had me at over 4900 ft of gain and 9.95 miles. Saw literally thousands of columbines just above treeline getting ready to bloom in the next few days. They seem to appreciate the recent precipitation. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 9/29/2024, By: climbingyogi
Info: Dry all the way! Fall colors were nice and views of the Crestone group were awesome of course. Didn't see a soul all day on the trail. I LOVE FALL HIKING! 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 5/27/2024, By: zzcarp
Info: Snow conditions began to manifest around 10,000 feet through the creek crossing (which was sketchy no matter how you tried). Then dry up most of the switchback, then snowy, then dry. Kept putting on and taking off my snowshoes. The trail would be clear one minute and completely invisible due to snow drifts. Getting onto the snow from the dry ground also presented a challenge, causing some awkward and painful twisting. Spent so much time routefinding that I decided not to summit even though it was less than a mile away, knowing that being below treeline routefinding in snow in the dark might not be a great time. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 2/19/2024, By: daniel_a34
Info: 3 of us broke a trail to timberline in snow averaging 3' deep. Stashed the snowshoes at timberline, switched to microspikes. Took 8.5hrs to summit from the Horn trailhead, but trail was relatively easy to follow. Could be done much quicker in the next few days using the trail we broke but snowshoes are absolutely necessary - go get it! 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 12/23/2023, By: artemavovk
Info: Horn trail is 1-2 feet powder until the ridge. Sections melted but don't let them fool you into taking off snowshoes. Ridge is deep postholing until treeline. Above treeline you can figure out a way with just spikes. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 10/8/2023, By: SionaRW35
Info: Some patchy snow above tree line but mostly avoidable. Trail runners were fine. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 9/16/2023, By: HokieTom
Info: Wonderful day on Horn Peak. The snow made the trek up a little difficult. The snow was nearly gone on the descent. The views of snow covered mountains were fantastic. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 7/11/2023, By: emilyexplores
Info: Traversed from Fluted and descended standard route. Ridge from Fluted was incredibly fun, with interesting scrambles on solid rock and lots of opportunity to choose your own adventure. There is a pair of very friendly and curious young marmots on the summit who are likely a little too accustomed to free snacks from passing hikers. Descent down the standard trail was relatively heinous. Steep, loose mixed dirt and rubble made for atrocious footing and slow going, and we were incredibly grateful to only have to do this route one way. The switchbacked portion below treeline felt lovely, but for everything else its clear that erosion has not been kind. Minor water crossings felt really low, and a convenient downed tree across Dry Creek made it even easier. Great day out! 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 6/20/2023, By: jrbren_vt
Info: Climbed on Sunday, June 18. Trail is mostly in summer conditions, small snow fields right before tree line and another at the summit which are easily negotiated. Brought spikes but they stayed in the pack. Beautiful scenery with the surrounding peaks looking very snowy. Be careful of the scree (as always), I sprained my ankle on the way down. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 5/29/2023, By: CarpeDM
Info: Not quite summer conditions. Two places with unavoidable snow: First, just below treeline - about 11,350 to 11,600 - there is intermittent snow. It's short enough that you could embrace the suck and posthole through where you can't find a way around if you didn't want to carry snowshoes. Second, the last 20 or so vertical feet to the summit is built up with snow. As long as the snow is not softened up there, it's fine. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 2/21/2023, By: Jonathan Deffenbaugh
Info: Established trench to treeline following the standard route, lot of new snow to deal with, however wind conditions above treeline hindered our progress from going any further. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 11/23/2022, By: kwhit24
Info: We also did this clockwise to get the most difficult (albeit the shortest peak) early on. We stayed on the Horn Creek Trail for about 1.25 miles until about elevation 9,800' then left to start gaining the NE ridge of Little Horn Peak. The trail didn't have too much but once we left it the snow became more prevalent. In parts we could kind of avoid it but higher we got the more we found. There's about 1,200'-1,400' of suck walking through the trees and snow about mid shin deep. Once we got above the tree line the snow became more of a nuisance. We followed the rocky ridge all the way around the Dry Creek bowl to Horn. Off Horn the "trail" is tough to follow and more a game trail. Once we got down the trees the trail was difficult to follow due to the snow. On the lower trail there are areas that are pretty clear but I'd say 90% of it is snow covered in mostly ankle deep snow. the last mile or 1.5 miles we walked in the almost dark due to a later start since Google maps took us down the wrong road. Overall it was a slugfest of a day with plenty of false summits to really get our hopes up. Weather was fantastic with almost no wind and clear skies (12.47 mi; 5,696' gain; 9:43:21 total time) Start at TH 8:00am; Little Horn Peak 11:40am; Fluted Peak 1:10pm; Horn Peak 3:15pm; Back to TH 5:45pm 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 12/21/2021, By: mjlucarelli
Info: Snow in the trees, except where the sun had snuck through and melted it away. Gets a little deep (maybe 12") in certain spots once you access the ridge, especially just below treeline, but didn't feel a need for snowshoes. Of course, it was helpful that someone had already broke trail from a day or two before. The crazy winds from last week knocked down some trees across the trail, but nothing you can't get around pretty easily. Once above treeline there was no significant snow, and any small patches could be avoided. Brought spikes but didn't need those either. 

Route: North Ridge
Posted On: 10/8/2021, By: 14er101
Info: Only people on the trail today. No snow. 

Route: Litte Horn + Fluted + Horn Peak Loop
Posted On: 6/12/2021, By: quandary34
Info: The Little Horn + Fluted + Horn Peak loop has almost fully transitioned to summer conditions with minimal snow as of 6/9/2021. A few unpleasant, unavoidable snow crossings during the bushwhack up Little Horn's northeast ridge, but otherwise, all snow is easily avoidable and quickly melting. I was able to do the whole loop in trail runners without ever using my microspikes or axe. The loop itself comes out to about 12 miles with 5400 feet of gain, and there are a few easy Class 3 sections scattered throughout: near the top of Little Horn as described in the route on 14ers and on the southwest ridge of Horn (although this one could potentially be avoided with better route-finding). Great loop that I would recommend for anyone looking for a big day in the Sangres!