HIKE TO: Red Mountain Number 3 TRAIL: Red Mountain Three Road TRAILHEAD: St Paul Lodge and Hut MILES: 3.88 miles out and back TIME: 2 hrs DATE I WENT: 9/3/22 DIFFICULTY: easy ELEVATION: 12,905 ft ELEVATION GAIN: 1,372 ft HIKE PERMIT: no LOCATION: San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Explore the Rainbow Mountains of the US: Red Mountains in Colorado
I’ve been excited to visit Red Mountain in Colorado because it really reminds me of my trip to Rainbow Mountain in Peru back in 2016. I’m a sucker for colorful mountains and a trip to the San Juan Mountains never disappoints.
Where are Rainbow Mountains in Colorado?
Although I call it the rainbow mountains of Colorado, these mountains are actually called Red Mountains, located off the Red Mountain Pass in Colorado. There are three Red Mountains in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado between Ouray and Silverton and I chose to hike the third as it’s the highest of the three and very beautiful. The San Juan Mountains are what makes “colorful Colorado” colorful, in my opinion, and although I haven’t explored much of the Colorado Rockies yet, the San Juans in Southwest Colorado are definitely my favorite.
Best Time to Visit Red Mountain Number 3
The road to Red Mountain is unpaved and one of the highest roads in Colorado so there may be snow early in the summer season still; I’d aim to visit in July-Sept depending on the snow year. The trail should be accessible until the first winter storm in Fall (?) but I’m not local and don’t fully understand how the weather out there works.
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How to get to Red Mountain #3 from Red Mountain Pass
I believe you used to be able to drive up the whole trail as it’s an old mining road, but now you have to hike most of the dirt road to access the summit of Red Mountain 3. The trailhead on Google Maps shows it is located right off Red Mountain Pass on the Million Dollar Highway (the 550), but you can drive closer to the hiking start.
Drive on Forest Service Road 825 off the Million Dollar Highway for about 0.8 miles to the (abandoned) St. Paul Lodge and Hut. Although a high clearance 4wd would certainly make it a lot easier, an AWD, non-high clearance small SUV will make it.
The hike to the top of Red Mountain no 3 is a short, easy one, open to all levels. The trail gains 1,372 ft of elevation in just under 2 miles and stays on a wide road the whole time. This hike starts on private property so be respectful of that and pay attention to not miss the junction about a quarter-mile to continue on the Red Mountain Three trail.
From the summit of Red Mountain No 3 (12,905 ft), you get 360-degree views of the beautiful mountains. We went for sunrise and caught it just as it crept over the mountains.
Hiking further down into the Red Mountains from the summit is highly recommended. We hiked about half-mile one way, taking a ton of photos along the way, and spent two hours just enjoying it all down there. It can be a bit slippery with all the little rocks going down at first and remember you’re still on a ridgeline the whole time so watch your step and be careful! The perspective down below provides more colorful views for photos and honestly just to enjoy it – I couldn’t believe how much it reminded me of Peru. The early morning was a also bit cloudy and extremely windy which also offered a lot of different views of Red Mountain due to lighting.
Hiking back up to Red Mountain 3 summit so we can hike out and back to Ouray for my favorite hot chocolate and cookie.
Shop My Gear to Hike Red Mountain 3
- Small day pack – ultralight stuff pack makes for easy traveling
- Rechargeable Headlamp
- Lululemon long sleeve hiking shirt
- Lululemon leggings
- Altra trail hiking shoes
- Down vest
- Down jacket
Other Colorado Hikes You Might Like:
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DEN Reserve is a new program at DIA that allows general travelers to skip the long TSA lines by reserving a designated time slot at security. If you’re traveling out of Colorado from your Rocky Mountain adventures, this travel hack will save you a lot of time at the airport. - Mount Bierstadt: Guide to Hiking an Easy Colorado 14er
Mount Bierstadt is considered one of the easiest 14ers in Colorado and but the West Slope still gains about 2400 ft in 3.6 miles one way. There’s also cool mountain goast on this trail! - Hike to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Dream Lake hike in Rocky Mountain National Park is a picturesque one mile hike. An extra half a mile will lead you to Emerald Lake. - Things to Do in Manitou Springs, Colorado in a Day
Manitou Springs is a charming little town near Colorado Springs. It’s known for the Manitou Incline, Sunwater Spa, and Garden of the Gods. Learn more about how to soak in the mineral hot tubs, reservations and parking for the incline, and hiking trails in Garden of the Gods.
Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comment section below 🙂
Please don’t forget to practice LEAVE NO TRACE.
So dang pretty! Looks even more vivid than your pictures from Peru!
Red Mountain is so colorful!! Must go back to visit Red Mountain 2 next year…