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Horsetooth Mountain

Statistics

  • Date - 04/13/2026
  • Elevation - 7,255'
  • Route - South Ridge
  • Miles - 5.0
  • Elevation Gain - 1,865'
  • ACME Mapper - Link
  • CalTopo - Link
  • Partners - Not Applicable

Description

I had a somewhat extended work assignment in Fort Collins, Colorado, so I thought I'd take advantage and recreate in the area.  My first outing took me past Horsetooth Reservoir to Horsetooth Mountain.  There are a lot of great trails in the area and I really enjoyed my time in the State Park.  I started at the Horsetooth Rock Trailhead to the south of Horsetooth Mountain which required a $10 daily car fee.  I worked my way up the Horsetooth Rock Trail and circled around the north side of the summit block.

After scrambling the north ridge to the high point, I was a bit suspect that the north side of the split summit block was the actual summit and highest point of Horsetooth Rock.  I descended down the way I came up and then circled back around the south end of the summit rock formation and found several weaknesses to finally reach the south side of the split summit block via class 3 and 4 scrambling.  My intuition was correct and the more challenging south high point had a summit marker and is the official summit.

I worked my way back down the scrambling section and then picked up the South Ridge Trail back to my vehicle to make a loop.  Given the length of my assignment, I suspect I'll return for a second hike of Horsetooth Mountain since it's in a pretty cool area and it is very convenient to access.

Photos

My first look at the actual summit block of Horsetooth Mountain.


Near the east base of the summit block.


Views to the east from the north summit.


Views to the south from the north summit block.


Views to the north from the north summit block.


Views to the west from the north summit block.


Summit Photo (North Summit Block)


Views to the north from the south summit block.


Views to the south from the south summit block.


Summit marker on south summit block.


Summit Photo (South Summit Block)


Start of scramble to reach the south (actual) summit of Horsetooth Mountain.