Pueblo County Highpoint Trip Report

Greenhorn Mountain (12,347 ft)

Date: June 12, 2004
Author: Layne Bracy

via Blue Lakes trailhead (11,400 ft)

This weekend felt like a good one for a short hike. There was little or no snow on the drive and hike. We started hiking north from the trailhead along the route described perfectly by Covill and Mitchler in "Hiking Colorado's Summits". This peak is appropriately named with plenty of trees and rock colored green from lichen.

The route goes north to a 12,000-foot saddle and then southeast along gentle slopes up and down a little to the summit. It was a little windy with some clouds. The highlight for me on this peak were the excellent views. To the west, from left to right (south to north), we could see the Spanish peaks, a couple snowy peaks to the southwest (Culebra?), the Blanca group, the Crestones, and Pikes Peak.

The register had been signed last year by Kevin Baker, John Kirk, and Trapper & Roxanne, and we added our names to the little notepad.

The descent off the southeast side of the peak was not bad, and we easily circled right to hit the closed road leading back to the trailhead.

Hike statistics: Approximately 5 mile loop hike with 1,500 feet of total elevation gain.