Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters
Hiking business nearby (~22 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet
Colorado · Hiking · Mount Massive Wilderness
Mount Massive Southwest Slopes
Photo: Gaep13 at en.wikipedia), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- 12.6 mi
- round trip
- 4,460 ft
- climb
- 14,421 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Mount Massive Southwest Slopes open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name Mount Massive Southwest Slopes, so check the source for the area it covers.
Willow Fire Area Closure
Agency closure covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-39 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Interlaken Hotel and Annex Area closure
Agency alert covering Leadville Ranger District · Order 02-12-01-26-19 · USFS · Leadville Ranger District
Interlaken Hotel Tree Hazards
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
Sharpe Fire Update
Agency alert covering Pike and San Isabel National Forests · USFS · Pike and San Isabel National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Mount Massive Southwest Slopes is the shorter way up Mount Massive (14,421 feet), in the Leadville Ranger District of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests in Colorado. It starts at the North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead at about 10,545 feet, at the end of a rough road that needs a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. The route follows the North Halfmoon Lakes Trail, then the Mt. Massive/North Halfmoon trail up the mountain's southwest side to the summit. It is an out-and-back of about 7.4 miles with roughly 3,980 feet of climbing, rated hard. The trail is natural surface, and bikes are not allowed. Without a 4WD vehicle, park at the Mount Massive Trailhead lower on the road: walking the road adds about 5 miles round trip, or the East Slopes route starts from that lot. Elbert Creek Campground is about 2.7 miles away, and the nearest town is Twin Lakes, about 8.5 miles off.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Colorado Trail Seg. 10 Hagerman Pass Road to Halfmoon Creek
~4 min drive
22 mi · Hard
Photo: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Mount Elbert
~5 min drive
Standard route to Mount Elbert (14,439 ft) from Mount Elbert Trailhead (North/Northeast Ridge).
Photo: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Black Cloud Trail
~5 min drive
1.36-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 521 ft elevation gain.
Photo: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)North Fork Lake Creek
~7 min drive
7.77-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,109 ft gain and 12,439 ft max elevation.
Photo: jefftakespictures, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Black Cloud
~10 min drive
6.78-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,747 ft gain and 13,453 ft max elevation
Photo: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Rinker Peak
~12 min drive
Route to the summit of Rinker Peak (13,730 ft) from Willis Gulch Trailhead.
Photo: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Twin Lakes
~10 min drive
1.68-mile out-and-back trail to Twin Lakes in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
Photo: Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)MOUNTAIN BOY
~11 min drive
Mountain Boy is a 2.42-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,921 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Rock Creek
~10 min drive
6.22-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 578 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Deer Mountain
~8 min drive
Route to the summit of Deer Mountain (13,694 ft) from the trailhead.
Route details
- Distance
- 7.4 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 3,980 ft
- Starts at
- North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead (4WD) (about 10,545 ft)
- Summit
- 14,421 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
Season
Season: Year-round.
Other routes up Mount Massive
Questions about this route
How long is the Mount Massive Southwest Slopes on Mount Massive?
About 7.4 mi round trip from North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead (4WD) (about 10,545 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Mount Massive Southwest Slopes?
About 3,980 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Mount Massive Southwest Slopes?
It is rated hard.
Where does the Mount Massive Southwest Slopes start?
North Halfmoon Creek Trailhead (4WD) (about 10,545 ft).
When is the best time for the Mount Massive Southwest Slopes?
Year-round.
How many routes go up Mount Massive?
2: Mount Massive Southwest Slopes and Mount Massive East Slopes.
Conditions and forecast on Mount Massive
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
© openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Local businesses nearby
Outfitters and businesses. They haven’t set up their Roamze page yet.
View operator
Taylor Park Trading Post
Hiking business nearby (~23 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet
Arrowhead Point Campground and Cabins
Hiking business nearby (~25 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet
