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Mount Antero - Little Browns Creek Route from the Browns Creek TH Mount White 13,667' Rank 111 of 584
Date: Thursday, September 6, 2012
Start time: 0530
Summit Antero: 0905
Summit White: 1045
End time: 1340
Elevation Gain: 6,250'
Milage: 17.50
Company: Solo
The Little Browns Creek Route to Antero is a good alternate route for those who would like to avoid the standard 4WD road route as much as possible. The route is detailed in Gerry Roach's Book Colorado's Fourteeners - From Hikes to Climbs Pg 159 Route - 17R3.
There is some blow down along the trail, which should be cleared by the forest service within the next month. It doesn't pose much of an obstacle, but the forest service recommends that people on horseback do not attempt the trail. The Little Browns Creek runs intermittently along the trail, and would be a good source of water for those who want to camp in the area.
Jones Peak, Mount White, and Mount Antero from from County RD 270 (Photo taken in March 2012)
Browns Creek TH a short walk from the parking lot
The route begins at the Browns Creek Trailhead just west of Hwy 285 on County RD 272. Follow the trail to the signed Colorado Trail Junction at 9580', and turn right (North) onto the Colorado Trail/Browns Creek Trail.
Colorado Trail Junction - Turn Right (North)
Follow the Colorado/Browns Creek Trail to 9700' and turn left (West) at the signed Little Browns Creek Trail Junction.
Little Browns Creek Trail Junction - Turn Left (West)
Follow the Little Browns Trail into the valley between Mount White and Mount Antero. There is plenty of dispersed camping along the trail. I found a really nice campsite at 11,600.
Good campsite @ 11,600 ft.
Just after emerging from the treeline you'll get the first view of the 12,820' saddle between White and Antero.
Mount White/Antero Saddle
Turn Left to go to White, Right to go to Mount Antero
There is a trail on the right hand side that climbs steeply to the 4WD road, or join the 4WD road on the left hand side of the valley that will eventually end at a T - Intersection. Follow the 4WD road as it switchbacks up the slope to Antero.
4WD road to Antero
Eventually the 4WD road will come to an end at 13,700' and Antero's summit is in to full view.
End of the 4WD road, Antero's Summit
I reached the summit at 9:05 am after 7.40 miles. I took a few minutes to remember Rob Jansen and Chris Gray who lost there life's recently while climbing our beautiful Colorado peaks. Then started down towards my next objective Mount White. While coming down I ran into a few people from Vail who had came up the standard route. Antero was one of the guys first 14er, Congrats on making it to the summit shortly there after.
Follow the 4WD road back down onto the saddle, then continue up the road until it dead ends at the west ridge of Mount White. Continue up a faint trail up a false summit then to the true summit.
Looking back down the Ridge
Mount Whites Summit
Looking down on the Saddle from Mt. White
Fall colors
Ptarmigan
I still felt really good, so I debated going for Cronin Peak but decided against it since some clouds were starting to form. I headed back down into the valley and joined the Little Browns Creek Trail once again. On the way down I met a prospector named Travis who was looking for a mine on Antero that hasn't been mined since 1918. He told me that he's been camping out around the area for the last month prospecting.
The aspens along the trail were all starting to change colors, and made for an enjoyable hike back to the truck.
Colors along the Trail
Buck off of CR 270
My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):
Just a comment on the junction of the Colorado Trail and the Little Browns Creek Trail. The junction has been reconfigured a bit since the picture above was posted, and while its still an obvious junction during the day, during the night its really easy to miss (ask me how I know!). The signage for the the junction is positioned perfectly if you are going south on the Colorado Trail, but it is not as visible coming from the north.
It's just under 0.4 miles from the Browns Creek/Colorado Trail junction to this one, so as long as you pay attention to your mileage you'll be fine.
Otherwise - this route is a fantastic alternative to the standard and is the one I would recommend to anyone climbing Antero.
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