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| American Flats   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 38.01300°N / 107.577°W Route Type: Scramble Time Required: Half a day Difficulty: Class 2
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| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Sep 16, 2003 / May 30, 2007 Object ID: 158824 Hits: 1206 Loading... Page Score: 86.64% - 2 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
ApproachSee the GETTING THERE section on the MAIN PAGE, as there are a number of options available.
Be advised that the Bear Creek and Horsethief Trail options from Ouray are long and strenuous backpacks, while the Horsethief Trail access from Engineer Pass affords a short day hike to the mountain. This route description assumes you are using this option, which means parking off the road on the north side below the pass on the Lake City side, by a sign discussing alpine tundra.
Route DescriptionJust below Engineer Pass on the Lake City side, the road bypasses a sign indicating the Horsethief Trail. This former jeep trail heads due north across the tundra toward Wildhorse Peak, contouring and losing altitude gradually. Rounding a talus slope, Wildhorse Peak becomes visible for the rest of your stroll across the vast expanse of American Flats.
Try to maintain altitude, contouring above some marshy areas, passing the unmarked junction with the Bear Creek Trail. The path is briefly a shelf road and narrows to a foot trail, continuing to lose altitude gradually. As you make your way toward Wildhorse Peak, you come to the low altitude point of your hike, less than 200 feet below your starting point at a sign indicating trail options for Horsethief, Bridge of Heaven and Difficulty Creek trails.
Leave the trail across gentle tundra due NNE, heading for a shallow saddle at the bottom of Wildhorse's impressive southeast ridge. Stay high on the tundra dome in this approach to avoid talus slopes on the left, or attack the mountain directly in a northward assault up steep tundra slopes, losing more altitude in the process.
Climbing up the southeast ridge is entertaining. Views and various degrees of scrambling opportunities abound. This is a very steep tundra and rock slope. The summit ridge is gained, but it's not quite the top! Stroll across a ridge with the dizzying exposure of Wildhorse's dramatic east face to your right to reach the true summit. The views are impressive, the solitude is wonderful. Return the same route. Just under four miles round trip, 1000 feet gain.
A variation can be executed from Engineer Pass on a closed jeep road that takes off across the higher portions of American Basin due north in a direct trajectory to Wildhorse Peak. This route will intercept the route described above. More altitude is lost, meaning it must be regained on your return from Wildhorse Peak.
A side trip to 12,968 foot Drangon's Back (unofficial name) due east of Wildhorse can be done by contouring ENE from Wildhorse Peak at just under 12,600 feet. Great photo and scrambling possibilities are encountered in this alpine environment. Seclusion is assured, because this is truly the boondocks! This additional hike adds another two miles to the round trip. Retrace your path for the return route.
See the map in this section.
Essential GearStandard dayhike gear will do in the summer.
This would be a fabulous and safe ski or snowshoe day in the spring, if access up the Engineer Pass road is available.
Winter access is unlikely due to the closure of the Engineer Pass road.
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San Juan Range
