Castle and Conundrum Peaks

This route begins and ends at the lower Castle Creek trailhead at the end of Castle Creek Road, after reaching the summits of Castle Peak and Conundrum Peak. From the trailhead head south, keeping right on Pearl Pass Road and hiking along the dirt road. At 3.0 miles, reach the junction with Montezuma Road. Bear right, cross the bridge, and continue ascending Montezuma Road. Around 5.1 miles, near the road's end at 12,800', keep right along the rugged path heading toward Castle Peak's northeast ridge. Scramble up steep, loose talus to the ridge saddle at 13,400', then follow the ridge line to the summit of Castle Peak at 6.1 miles. Crux: The upper 500 vertical feet of Castle Peak's northeast ridge — from ridge proper at 13,700' to the summit — is the most demanding section of the route: very steep, very loose rock that stops just short of requiring hands-on scrambling but demands slow, deliberate movement. Route-finding deteriorates here too, though the false summit near 14,000' keeps you oriented. Conundrum's ascent from the 13,800' saddle is separately described as "absurdly steep," though slightly more straightforward than Castle's ridge. Both summits punish any attempt to rush. From the summit of Castle Peak, descend northwest down loose rock to the Castle-Conundrum saddle at 13,800 feet. Ascend the steep, rocky ridge north to reach the summit of Conundrum Peak at 6.5 miles. Retrace your steps back along the ridge, re-summiting Castle Peak, and descend Montezuma Basin to return to the trailhead.

Castle Peak's name is derived from the summit's "castellated appearance." It looms over a quasi-permanent snowfield, rendering these peaks a destination for Colorado's backcountry skiers and snow climbers.