Wetterhorn Peak is one of the most photographed mountains in Colorado, with a distinctive horn-shaped summit visible from Lake City. The standard Southeast Ridge is a class 3 scramble that goes from class 2 to surprisingly technical near the top.
Standard Route
From the Matterhorn Creek Trailhead (4WD recommended), the trail climbs through forest into a high basin before ascending the southeast ridge. The crux is the final 200 feet — a class 3 chimney with real exposure. 7 miles round trip, 3,300 feet of gain.
What to Expect
The 'Ship's Prow' false summit is the photogenic horn; the actual summit is just past it. The final chimney is harder than it looks from below — make sure you're comfortable downclimbing what you climb up.
Related Reading
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