Deer Mountain - Just Hiking

Statistics

Date - 09/19/2025
Elevation - 13,761'
Route - Northwest Ridge
Miles - 9.0
Elevation Gain - 3,026'
ACME Mapper - Link
CalTopo - Link
Partners - Not Applicable

Description

With fall quickly approaching and snow dusting the big mountains, I was able to get out one more time to hike another Colorado Bi-Centennial Peak. Deer Mountain was my 15th Bi-Centennial this year bringing my top 200 total to 150. I actually tried to hike Deer Mountain last spring but bailed on the hike in after more than a mile of miserable post-holing on the trail in the valley. Since I had to day trip the hike, I thought returning to Deer Mountain made sense since the trailhead is right off the highway.

I left my house shortly after 5:00 am and was hiking up the North Fork Lake Creek by 7:40 am. The initial three miles are pretty flat and I was able to maintain a fair pace during this section. The trail steepens as you approach an unnamed lake at 12,378'. After gaining a saddle northwest of the peak, the trail disappears as I worked my way up the ridge to the summit where most of the elevation gain occurred.

I reached the top at 10:55 am after 3 hours and 15 minutes of hiking. I spent 15 minutes on the summit and was back at the trailhead at 1:20 pm for a 5 hour and 40 minute car-to-car day. I actually really enjoyed this hike and got a bonus leaf peeping drive on the way home as the colors were starting to turn and looked really beautiful.

Photos