Montrose County Highpoint Trip Report

Date: August 26, 2007
Author: John Mitchler

Since penning the description in Hiking Colorado's Summits, there has been some uneasiness on our part about a clean description to Castle Rock, the highest point of Montrose County. The network of dirt roads and the forest bushwhacking has not prevented many from reaching this highpoint but now we believe we’ve found the simplest route that minimizes bushwhacking, which can be difficult over non-descript, lumpy forest terrain. This improved route can be credited to new ATV "roads" that did not exist during our original visits in the mid-1990s.

1) Driving to the Park

The approach remains the same, which is to reach Buckhorn Lakes Park, the water source for Montrose. This park is well-used and it shows. Mosquitoes populate the area. Reach the park by turning east onto Buckhorn Road off US 550, north of Ridgway and south of Montrose and just south the Montrose-Ouray County line. From US 550, zero your odometer and proceed on paved Buckhorn Road for 1.1 miles and make a right turn to continue uphill on Buckhorn Road. At mile 4.0 the pavement ends and a bit further the nice gravel road abruptly becomes stone and hard-pack dirt. Arrive at the signed park entrance at mile 11.1. This road gains significant elevation from US 550 but it is not too steep for passenger cars. There are a couple rough spots that require care, unless you are in an SUV. If conditions are dry, proceed past the sign as the road turns left and downhill. Pass by picnic areas as you go between the Buckhorn Lakes, with one of them visible on your right. After this lake, at mile 12.0, stay right. Do not stay straight. At mile 12.4 you can park your vehicle on rather level ground with space on the left side, just before the road makes a slight bend to the right and ascends to where a spur road goes off to the right.

2) Walking a Road

From your car, hike 200 feet on the road that bends slightly to the right going uphill and then take a level spur road to the right. In 2007 this road had huge mud puddles and water-filled suck holes in it; enough to challenge the Martin-Honda combo. Continue hiking on this road, passing a spur road on the left that descends into a meadow. Continue walking the road passing over two rather rough sections. The road improves, no rocks or ruts, and you’ll wish you could’ve driven past the mud holes at the beginning. If someone does drive this road (maybe on an ATV), please record the mileage. Continue hiking on this road, passing another spur road on the left that remains level as it enters the forest and passing a spur road on the right that ascends into the forest. Hike the road as it generally curves to the left toward the ridge. You should be able to see the large Sawtooth Rocks on your left as you walk the road. After maybe a mile, the road widens somewhat, with a wonderful view of Sawtooth Rocks to the south.

3) Walking an ATV Trail

Walk through the wide area in the road and continue on the obvious ATV trail as it follows the trend of this road. This trail enters the forest and goes uphill, becoming a wandering, winding, up-and-down path that is much fun for off-road vehicles but not so much for hikers. It is better than bushwhacking! This trail ascends the forested ridge. The highest point of the trail (over the ridgeline) is somewhat obvious and we marked it with a cairn on the right (south) in the forest. Along this ridge to the left (north) is Sawtooth Rocks and to the right (south) is the rise up to the Storm King/Castle Rock mesa. Do not go downhill or farther east on the trail.

4) Bushwhacking up the Ridge

Leave the ATV trail and immediately take the ridgeline gently uphill. Stay on the ridgeline as much as possible, following a faint footpath which leads all the way to the highpoint, although it disappears for stretches where downed trees obliterate the trace. When in doubt, stay to the left (east) to go around deadfall or to avoid exposed rock and hummocky terrain. The gentle ridgeline gives way to steep slopes as you gain the mesa. As you ascend you should have less and less of a problem staying along the right edge of this ridgeline which actually becomes a cliff on your right as you ascend. Through breaks in the forest you will enjoy airy views to the west and south. Sometimes the use-path passes right along the edge of the cliff on your right (west). A couple sections are very steep.

5) Bushwhacking the Top

You’ll know when you reach the mesa top when you stop the grinding uphill assault. The rest of your journey will now be a pleasant woods stroll. Keep to the right, within close sight of the cliff edge. You should be able to identify the very highest point of Storm King along this edge, as Travis Canon did during our climb. Proceed south through the forest on the flat mesa ridge top, going around deadfall that is testament to the high winds this mesa must receive. As you proceed south on the ridge, you will gently lose elevation off Storm King. Watch for the "sand dune gap" low spot along the mesa ridge which is a grassy dune walk with steep, loose conglomerate gullies on your right (west). Re-enter the forest and follow a footpath south until you notice the rocky rise of Castle Rock which portends the end of the mesa ridge.

6) Summit

Ascend this rise to a broad, flat, pine-covered summit, and locate the cairn just south of the television tower and shack. The register was missing in August 2007, likely taken by an autograph collector who believed a value in the signatory list of a decade of county highpointers. We replaced the register but someone should take a large can with a lid there. Collect your nerves and walk farther south to the end of the flat-rock "sidewalk in the sky." Peer off to the north to notice how high Storm King appears. Look down the eastern cliff to spot a ranch road that serves the basin immediately east of the highpoint. This valley has gated ranch roads, so no access is available. Look to the south/southeast skyline and spot massive Uncompahgre Peak, highpoint of Hinsdale County. To the right (west) of it you’ll see the fourteener Wetterhorn, the sharpness of Matterhorn, and the slanted blocky top of Coxcomb. To the southwest you can spot the unique outline of Mount Sneffels, highpoint of Ouray County.

Return the same route, taking care to stay left (west) on the ridgeline as you descend so that you arrive at the ATV trail where you left it.

topo chart - Entrance sign to Buckhorn Lakes Park

topo chart - Approximately where dirt road becomes ATV trail

topo chart - Leave ATV trail to hike up ridgeline

topo chart - Highest point of Storm King

topo chart - Castle Rock (with BM South Castle Peak, and Montrose/Ouray county line)

Tip - As you ascend from US 550, take a moment to study the mesa in front of you and to your right. Notice the exposed rock of Sawtooth Rocks to the left (north) of the cliff-faced, pine topped mesa. Notice also that Storm King dominates the mesa and seems to be the highest point, however, Castle Rock is the higher ground at the far right (south) end of the mesa.