From the parking area, start by following the Missouri Gulch Trail. Cross the bridge spanning Clear Creek and enter into the forest. After just over 1/4 mile, ascend a series of steep switchbacks. Near 10,400', above the switchbacks, continue southward along Missouri Gulch. At 10,800', turn left and cross the gulch stream to the east side via a makeshift log bridge -
1 and
2. Turn right and hike south through an open area (
3) before re-entering the trees to reach the remnants of an old shack
-
4. Shortly after, exit the forest near 11,300' and follow the trail south in the gulch, gradually approaching both Mt. Belford and Missouri Mountain -
5.
At 11,600', arrive at a trail junction
. The Missouri Gulch/Elkhead Pass Trail continues to the right, while the Mt. Belford Trail branches off to the left. Stay right. From this point, Missouri Mountain dominates the view directly south -
6. Traverse through willows and cross the stream again before gaining a small hill in the basin. Continue south (
7) until you find another junction
near 12,600' -
8 and
9. At this junction, turn right onto the Missouri Mountain Trail and begin zigzagging westward up a slope -
10. At 12,900', the terrain levels out as the trail approaches Point 13,784' -
11. Follow the trail northwest to reach a rugged talus slope, then traverse across the south side of Point 13,784' -
12. Stick to the trail as it zigzags upward to reach the saddle
between Points 13,930' and 13,784' -
13.
From the 13,700-foot saddle, turn left and follow the trail onto Missouri's northwest ridge -
14. Pass the west side of Point 13,930' (
15) and climb onto the crest of the ridge, where the summit finally comes into view -
16. From here, stay on the trail along the ridge crest. Two-thirds of the way across, the route dodges rocky obstacles on the ridge crest, dropping about 25 feet on the right (a short section of Difficult Class 2 terrain) -
17 and
18. After clearing this section, continue along the trail to the summit -
19 and
20.
GPX Track File
