Mount Massive: Southwest Slopes

This route begins and ends at the North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead after reaching the summit of Mount Massive by the southern slopes. From the trailhead, begin north and follow the North Halfmoon Lakes Trail. At 1.5 miles, reach the junction with the Mount Massive Southwest Slopes Trail. Turn right and climb steeply up rocky terrain, exiting the tree line near 11,800 feet. Follow the trail through a boulder field, crossing and switchbacking up a steep gully. Around 14,200', stay right to avoid the false summits. At 3.4 miles, turn left at the junction with the Mount Massive Trail coming from the east. Follow the rocky ridge, completing a brief Class 2 scramble to reach the summit of Mount Massive at 14,429'. Crux: The rocky summit ridge above the notch near 14,000', where the trail notches through a gap and then weaves right of the crest through loose Class 2+ rock to gain the ridge proper near 14,300'. Massive's multiple subsidiary summits create navigation pressure — stay left toward the true summit to avoid a lengthy detour over a false top. Retrace your steps to return to the North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead.

Mt. Massive, the second highest peak in Colorado, also has the most summits of any 14er. The "Massive Massif" boasts underlying summits South Massive, North Massive, and Massive Green. It has more area above 14,000 ft than any other Colorado 14er, second only to Mt. Rainier in the lower 48 states.During the Great Depression some rather zealous surveyors got into it over whether Mt. Massive or Mt. Elbert was the highest peak in the state. This led Mt. Massive supporters to start building tall cairns on the summit, only for Mt. Elbert proponents to promptly demolish them.