Engineer Mountain Trail

Engineer Mountain is the layered pyramid that stands over US 550 between Durango and Silverton, and the climb from Coal Bank Pass is the shortest way onto a 12,968-foot summit in the San Juans: 3 miles each way with about 2,300 feet of gain, through the wildflower meadows below the peak and up an east ridge that finishes with a short Class 3 scramble through a rock band. The summit view covers the whole southern San Juans.

From the Coal Bank Pass trailhead at 10,640 feet, the Pass Creek trail climbs through spruce and fir for 2.2 miles, gaining about 1,000 feet, to the open meadows and the junction with the Engineer Mountain trail at treeline. The meadows are the wildflower show in July, with the peak's striped face above.

The summit route leaves the trail and climbs the east ridge on a use path, steep on grass and then talus, to a rock band near 12,600 feet where the route steps up through a short Class 3 section with real exposure to the north; the moves are solid and short. Above the band the ridge narrows and finishes on the summit at 12,968 feet. Return the same way; downclimb the rock band facing in.

Coal Bank Pass is on US 550, 34 miles north of Durango and 14 miles south of Silverton. At the pass summit, turn west onto a short dirt road; the Pass Creek trailhead is 50 yards in, and there is a toilet at the pass. The lot fills by 8 AM on July and August weekends. No fee or permit. The Engineer Mountain trail can also be reached from the Engineer Mountain trailhead lower on the highway, a longer approach.

Dogs are allowed and should be leashed above the meadows; the rock band is a bad place for one, and many owners turn around there. Not a kid hike, though the meadows at 2 miles are a fine family walk. Carry two liters; there is no water on the ridge. A helmet is reasonable for the rock band. The trailhead is above 10,600 feet. Silverton and Durango have the services. The Durango hikes page has Hermosa Creek and the lower trails, and the San Juan region page covers the rest.