The mountains around us were reverberating with noise. Echoing off the nearby peaks, the rumble growing as it rose from the valley beneath us, it sounded like thunder or the report of boulders avalanching over a cliff.
Yet, this early autumn day was bright blue, the sky above Colorado’s Cimarron Range punctuated with fat, puffy clouds. The sky was turning dark at the horizon as afternoon moisture began to build, but high atop Courthouse Mountain, it was a perfect day on top of the world. We were exposed, but we weren’t in any danger from lightning. We weren’t hearing thunder, but rather the opening of elk season.
Ordinarily, I think twice about hiking in remote areas during the autumn. Hunting is a cultural fixture in Western Colorado and while most hunters are very conscientious and safe, I always have some fear of encountering the exception. But this was Labor Day weekend, bow season (no bullets allowed) and we were on an established, well-used trail.
When we arrived at the trail head, part way up Owl Creek Pass on the Cimarron side, we’d seen the hunters’ camp: Horses staked out, RV’s and OHV’s parked alongside the meadow. We’d also heard them shooting at targets. But, as I told my sons, when climbing a peak I’d rather hear gunfire than thunder.
Courthouse Mountain is an exposed escarpment of rock smack dab in some of the most gorgeous scenery in Colorado. A short trail, only 1.8 miles one way, it rises nearly 2,000 feet, along an often steep and sometimes nearly-vertical trail. But the payoff is huge, with Mount Sneffles in the Western foreground, endless views of the San Juans to the South and the impossibly jagged Cimarrons to the East.
The Courthouse Mountain trail starts at 10,300 feet in dark forest. For the first .8 mile, it rises steadily. At 11,000 feet the trail flattens briefly in a small clearing. At this point, hikers can either enter the Uncompahgre Wilderness and hike 9.3 miles back to Owl Creek Pass Road or continue for one more mile to the top of Courthouse Mountain.
Choosing the shorter trail to the top, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve picked the easy route, but as the trail rises through aspen and open meadows thick with the season’s last wildflowers, the views become stunning. Around every switchback lies a unique vista of rock and sky.
While the trail to this point is definitely uphill, tree line is where the adventure starts. After passing through a band of steep conglomerate, the trail leads across a talus slope and then up through an alpine meadow (if a 50 degree slope can be called a meadow). While I could try to describe what the trail is like at this point, I think our photos show it best.
After reaching the summit at 12,152 feet, we rested for a bit and took in the view. Golden mantle ground squirrels skittered and chattered at our feet, hoping for a dropped nut or maybe a bite of apple. Heading down, we met a hunting party of two bowhunters and their llamas.
When we asked them if they expected to find any elk in the Wilderness Area, they laughed. “We see them, but we rarely get them,” one explained. “Still, he said, “there’s nothing like getting up close, within just a few feet of an elk and wondering if this is the time when it won’t startle, and I’ll actually get a shot off.”
Each to his own, I say. For some, joy involves getting close to an elk, pitting human wiles against animal wits. For me, I’d rather climb high and touch the sky.
When You Go…
The Courthouse Mountain Trail is found below the summit of Owl Creek Pass on the West Fork road. From Silver Jack Reservoir go south and bear right at the intersections for the East Fork and then the Middle Fork (the signage is good). The trail head will be on your right as you pass through a large clearing with many primitive campsites. An entrance point to the Uncompahgre Wilderness, the trailhead is well marked, and has a sign-in box.
Camping abounds in the Silver Jack area. We were there on a holiday weekend, with perfect weather, and still had all the privacy we could imagine in an established campground. Camping in the campgrounds is $12.00 per night and is first-come/first-served. There are no hook-ups for RVs, just water spigots and vault toilets. If you are in search of a primitive campsite simply look for an established fire ring and other evidence of prior use.
Enjoy!
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Martha Berry says
Nice photos! We love Courthouse. Happy to see you guys got up there and showed the boys how things look from the top!! It is a beautiful sight for certain. Rob and Martha
braveskimom says
Next time, we’ll meet you and hike with you! Thanks!
Kim Kircher says
Looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Looks pretty steep in some spots!
braveskimom says
It is steep, but that’s what makes it exciting. My dog hated those parts however. Thanks for the comment!
Kristen @ stress and health online says
Wow, what beautiful photos. Someday, I will have to do some hiking there. Although it will be a shock after so many years in the flat land of Florida.
braveskimom says
You can do it! Thanks!
an alaskan mom says
Great Pictures. Is that a Phillies ball cap?
Stopping by from the bog hop.
Enjoyed the Xbox post!!!
braveskimom says
Yes It is! Go Phils! My father-in-law lived in Mt Airy for a long, long time. You a Philly fan?
jenni says
you write very well! I loved reading your stories, specially about the Xbox. No wonder Im always grumpy 😉 Have a great daY!
braveskimom says
That’s funny! I wish I had that excuse for my own grumpiness.
Trish Mahre says
Got a new topic for ya, lady. Why don’t you blog about how to hike with a woman, similar in age to you, that is definitely not in the same athletic condition as you. You could also post a picture of what the woman might look like attempting to breath hiking steep increasing altitude, wobbly legs on the way down thinking her head may land on a large rock, and thereafter develops a poor attitude that she cannot keep up with athletic adults and energetic young boys….
braveskimom says
What a great idea! But where are we going to find such a woman? I know you can’t mean yourself….You were smiling in every picture! Funny!
Brenda H says
I love the mountains in Colorado. Every time I visit, I fall in love with them all over again.
This was my first visit to your blog and I enjoyed looking around and learning. I left you a review because I liked it so much!
braveskimom says
You are so kind! As I recall from visiting your site, you’re in beautiful Northern Utah! Nice to meet you neighbor!
Cute Coconutters says
Hi!..your site makes me want to go for holiday and hiking, so green soo refreshing..love those pictures 🙂 …stopping by from MBS and I just put a review on Alexa ^_^
braveskimom says
Thank you!
Jennifer says
Thanks for stopping byJust
Wedeminute on the blog hop. I love your blog, it reminds me of when I lived in Durango, CO during my teen years. We go back once a year but it’s not enough.
Julia says
Looks like an awesome hike! Posts like this make me want to move to Colorado. We spent a week there in May this year and loved it. Thanks for stopping by today.
braveskimom says
You’re welcome! I thank you too!
Julia is the owner of http://www.confessionsofafrugalmind.blogspot.com/ Check out her blog!