Mount Belford and Mount Oxford

The route begins and ends at Missouri Gulch Trailhead (9,680'), reaching the summits of Mount Belford (14,202') and Mount Oxford (14,153'). From the trailhead, follow Missouri Gulch through forest and willows to treeline, then climb Belford's steep west slopes directly to its summit, about 4.5 miles and 4,500 vertical feet from the trailhead. From Belford's summit, descend the east ridge to the saddle with Mount Oxford (13,500'), then climb Oxford's gentler southwest ridge about 1.3 miles to its summit. Descend the same way, re-climbing Belford's east ridge back to its summit before descending the west slopes to the trailhead. Total distance for both summits runs about 11 miles round trip, with roughly 5,600 vertical feet of cumulative gain. Afternoon thunderstorms are the dominant hazard above treeline, as with any Sawatch 14er — start early and plan to be off both summits well before early afternoon in summer.

Mt. Belford is named for Judge James B. Belford, the "Red-headed Rooster of the Rockies". Mt. Oxford is named after Oxford University, keeping with the prestigious college naming tradition of the "Collegiate Peaks".