Uncompahgre Peak Trip Report 08/16/2025

Report Type	Mini
Peak(s)	Uncompahgre Peak - 14,318 feet
Date Posted	08/16/2025
Date Climbed	08/15/2025
Author	Mark Goldstein

An Easy Day in the San Juans
An easy drive up the trailhead with a stock Jeep Wrangler. No problem. The road was in great shape and a vehicle with moderate clearance can make it. We saw side-by-sides and Subaru's make it up here. The upper trailhead had many, many campsites with fire rings. Had deer come into the campground within 10 feet of us. The upper trailhead outhouse is nailed closed. Bummer. Slept overnight. Woke up at 6:30 AM and had breakfast by 7:00 AM and then left the trailhead at 8:00 AM. Summited by 11:05 AM. Had some snacks on the summit with great views of the San Juans. The trail to the summit was incredibly easy and actually in my opinion class 1 walking. Long plateaus made it all easy. The only crux to the hike was at the small headwall. The left of the tower was a dirt/rock scramble with no particular handholds. Some dirt can slide here and there, but nothing really exposed. The summit had 2 US Geological markers. There were two black labs on the summit with their owners. Several small groups of 2-4 people made it in record time too. The way down we took the left route (or right on the headwall from the approach) which was more vertical, but easy way down. At first, it looks narrow but really opens up. There are cairns noting where to go down the route. Again, not exposer noted. Old people and dogs went down this way too. Overall, the trail was class 1 walking with a brief moment of using your hands for the small headwall. Again, no real exposure noted. Everything was dry too. I would highly recommend taking this mountain to see a great view of the San Juans. You can see Matterhorn Peak and Sneffels too! Enjoy! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

An Easy Day in the San Juans

An easy drive up the trailhead with a stock Jeep Wrangler. No problem. The road was in great shape and a vehicle with moderate clearance can make it. We saw side-by-sides and Subaru's make it up here. The upper trailhead had many, many campsites with fire rings. Had deer come into the campground within 10 feet of us. The upper trailhead outhouse is nailed closed. Bummer. Slept overnight. Woke up at 6:30 AM and had breakfast by 7:00 AM and then left the trailhead at 8:00 AM. Summited by 11:05 AM. Had some snacks on the summit with great views of the San Juans. The trail to the summit was incredibly easy and actually in my opinion class 1 walking. Long plateaus made it all easy. The only crux to the hike was at the small headwall. The left of the tower was a dirt/rock scramble with no particular handholds. Some dirt can slide here and there, but nothing really exposed. The summit had 2 US Geological markers. There were two black labs on the summit with their owners. Several small groups of 2-4 people made it in record time too. The way down we took the left route (or right on the headwall from the approach) which was more vertical, but easy way down. At first, it looks narrow but really opens up. There are cairns noting where to go down the route. Again, not exposer noted. Old people and dogs went down this way too. Overall, the trail was class 1 walking with a brief moment of using your hands for the small headwall. Again, no real exposure noted. Everything was dry too. I would highly recommend taking this mountain to see a great view of the San Juans. You can see Matterhorn Peak and Sneffels too! Enjoy!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

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