Thanks to its position east of the Continental Divide, this gentle thirteener has incredible vistas of snow-capped peaks rising above wildflower-filled tundra.
Colorado’s fourteeners get a lot of acclaim. But hikers shouldn’t overlook the state’s gorgeous (yet still strenuous) 13,000-foot peaks. Take the easily accessible, 13,223-foot Mount Audubon, which is located about a mile east of the Continental Divide and is the most prominent peak visible from Boulder. It’s a gentle mountain, with expansive slopes and broad ridges that offer a mellow route to the rocky summit, and whose easterly perch offers close-ups views of the rugged peaks along the Divide.
Although most hikers in decent shape shouldn’t have a problem bagging this peak, Mount Audubon is still an alpine summit with 2,900 vertical feet of elevation gain, so be sure to take all prudent precautions, including starting early. From the trailhead near the upper end of the Mitchell Lake parking lot, the route is stony but easy to follow. It climbs steadily through a glacial valley with dense fir-spruce forest before bending to the right to ascend a series of switchbacks up the valley’s side wall.
The route climbs to a small saddle just north of the summit, where a large cairn marks a faint trail to the left, toward the final, steep ascent up a blocky boulder field. Before you start up this slope, it’s worth first walking a short distance north, where you’re treated to the route’s most vibrant wildflower displays and gorgeous mountain views.
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