Plan with
Confidence
The 277 road can be driven by most capable 4WD vehicles, although there may be snow fairly low even into the summer. The land manager requests dogs be leashed. This is probably a good idea, as vehicles go up and down this road all day.
Path Type
There and Back
Off County Road 162 come to the Baldwin Gulch Jeep Road (277). Most cars will have to park here. This is the beginning of the mapped route. High clearance 4WD vehicles can continue to the creek crossing 3 miles up, and modified vehicles may make it above 13,000 ft. From the start of the 277 road, start up along the switchbacking road, which is steep for cars but not hikers. In 3 miles, come to a creek crossing at 10,850 ft. The road diverges here - follow signs, turning left and crossing the creek. Continue up a rocky road until you hit a switchbacking section around 12,000 ft. Continue up the switchbacks, still on the road, to reach a ridge at 13,100 ft. Stay left and find the trail to the east of the ridge.Continue along a flat portion of the road. It begins switchbacking again very shortly, and brings you to the underwhelming summit of Pt 13,800 - a reasonably unnamed 13er. Finally, it's time for some singletrack. There's not much of it. Cross a rocky ridge toward Mt. Antero. It's easiest to stay just to the right of ridge proper - it's flatter and less treacherous. Once across the ridge, continue up some class 2 talus for about 400 ft to reach Mt. Antero's fairly large summit. The views are slightly unique, as there's way more road than on any other Sawatch 14er.
Named after Chief Antero of the Ute Tribe, Mt. Antero boasts the highest gem field in the lower 48.
No Condition Reports
Contributors