1 and
2 show the area of the river crossings near Rockdale. After the crossings, hike/drive 2.6 miles up the road to a large open area which is often used for camping and 4WD parking. Continue 0.3 miles to reach a gate at 11,040' (
3) - this is the "upper" trailhead. Pass the gate and continue up the road for another 0.1 mile to a point where road descends toward Clohesy Lake. In this open area, the Missouri trail starts on the left and goes up a small hill -
4.
Leave the road and hike up through trees. Hike over a small hill, stay left, and reach a confusing trail junction near 11,100' -
5. Continue straight through the junction and angle up (
6) and away from Clohesy Lake -
7. If you find yourself going straight on a trail along the side of the lake, you're on the wrong trail - backtrack and hike east up from the lake to hit the trail for Missouri. Near 11,200', reach a trail junction where another trail goes up to the left -
8. This is shortcut trail that was made in recent years and heads southeast up through the trees. It may save you a small amount of time, but the main/old trail is a bit more scenic. The shortcut is often used on the descent. Continue on the old trail (
9) as it gradually climbs the slope and enters the trees.
Near 11,400', reach the drainage/stream that runs west out of the basin below Missouri Mountain -
10. Turn sharply left and climb steep terrain along the stream -
11 and
12. Near 11,600', and possibly after having to scramble over a few fallen trees, reach the trail junction where the shortcut meets the main trail -
13. Leave the trees and continue along the drainage (
14) to reach the basin below Missouri Mountain -
15. Missouri's summit is ahead and Iowa Peak (13,831') is off to the right. Your next goal is to hike up a broad, grassy slope to reach the crest of the west ridge. Taken from Huron Peak,
16 is another look at the remaining route. Follow the trail up to 12,200' (
17) where it begins to fade away. Pick your line and begin climbing northeast up the slope -
18. Haul up the slope (
19,
20 and
21) until you are at the crest of the west ridge -
22. The cairn seen in
22 is near 12,800' and provides a good landmark for your descent.
Find a weak trail and hike northeast along the ridge -
23. Reach a steep section near 13,400' and climb onto the first pile of rocks -
24. The crux of the west ridge is next -
25 - a 200-foot section of talus, between 13,500' and 13,700'. Climb steeply through the rocks on the left side (
26) and then angle up to the right to reach the top of this section along the ridge crest -
27.
Above the difficulties, ascend 150' on easier terrain to intersect the standard trail that comes up from Missouri Gulch (
28), at the northwest end of the summit ridge. On the defined trail (
29), hike along the summit ridge where you can finally see the summit -
30. More than half way across the ridge, the trail dodges some difficulties by dropping about 20' (brief, Difficult Class 2) on the right side of the ridge -
31 and
32. After the drop, follow the trail to the summit -
33 and
34.