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Huron Peak

 Northwest Slopes
Difficulty Class 2 
Risk FactorsExposure: Moderate
Rockfall Potential: Moderate  
Route-Finding: Low  
Commitment: Low  
 
Start10,575 feet
Summit14,006 feet
Total Gain3,500 feet
3,800 feet if you hike the road from Winfield
RT Length7 miles
11 miles if you walk the 4WD road
AuthorBillMiddlebrook
Last UpdatedApr 2025
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Trailhead

From Leadville: Drive 20 miles south on U.S. 24 and turn right on the Chaffee County 390 road.
From Buena Vista: Drive 14.5 miles north on U.S. 24 and turn left on the Chaffee County 390 road (dirt).

On 390, drive 12 miles to Winfield. Turn left and measure from here. Drive 0.1 mile to reach the lower, 2WD trailhead in south Winfield. There's a large parking/camping area or you can park on one of the many pull-offs a bit further up the road. 0.4 miles after Winfield the road turns to 4WD and good clearance is required to drive to the Lake Ann trailhead. The road is rough and narrow. After 0.7 mile, stay right at a junction. Near 1.7 miles, the terrain opens up and you'll find parking and along the road in several areas. Continue to the end of the road and Lake Ann trailhead, at 2.1 miles.

Route

From the trailhead, follow the Huron Peak trail into the forest ( 1). After approximately 1/2 mile, cross a small stream ( 2). Climb 800 feet of elevation via a series of switchbacks, eventually heading south near 11,500'. Near 11,700', the view opens up, revealing The Three Apostles, a group of 13ers that includes Ice Mountain ( 3). Near 11,900', the trail swings east as you exit the trees ( 4), and the summit comes into view to the south. Above 12,100', enter the high basin below Huron's north slopes ( 5).

Continue by following the trail east across the basin ( 6) and switchbacking up a steep slope toward Huron's upper slopes ( 7). At 12,700', you'll reach the base of the slopes; however, the foreshortened view can make it challenging to spot the trail that ascends higher ( 8,  9). Zigzag to reach the crest of the north ridge at 13,500' ( 10,  11). From here, turn right and follow the trail onto Huron's upper northwest face ( 12). The terrain steepens significantly, becoming more rugged. Between 13,700' and 13,900', this section is considered the crux of the route, where you may encounter trail erosion and multiple trail segments ( 13). After regaining the ridge crest ( 14), turn right and continue to the summit ( 15,  16,  17).

Notes

None
#1

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