Please click on the mountain images at the top or bottom of the page to navigate this site. Sorry for this temporary inconvenience.

Kelso Mountain

August 21, 1999

Arapaho National Forest

Starting Elevation:

11,2XX feet ?

Highest Elevation:

13,164 feet

Distance (round trip):

~ 4 miles ???

click on each photo to view a larger image

Even though Kelso Mountain is right in the backyard of Denver, not many people seem to ever climb it. This is probably because it lies in the shadow of both Grays Peak and Torreys Peak - in fact, the hike starts from the very same trailhead! Needless to say, although there were tons of people on the trail (in the valley) to Grays and Torreys Peaks, once I got up on the flank of Kelso Mountain, the only being I encountered was a goat with whom I had to share the summit.

Kelso Mountain (left) and Torreys Peak (right) as seen from the I-70/Bakerville exit (looking south).

Kelso Mountain as seen from the all-weather road to the trailhead (looking south).

Multitudes of cars and people as seen while looking back towards the parking lot and trailhead for Grays and Torreys Peak (and Kelso Mountain).

People on the trail to Grays (left) and Torreys (right) Peaks.

Mouseover this image to see my trip up the left ridge to the summit highlighted in yellow.

I had to walk around this goat to get to the summit. Grays Peak and Torreys Peak provide the backdrop.

My backpack on the summit. You can still see the goat on the left hand side of the larger (click-through) version of this image.

Torreys Peak (left) and Grizzly Peak (right distant).

I had to share the summit (ridge) with this goat the entire time I was on top of Kelso Peak.

Ganley Mountain (el. 12,902 feet) as seen while looking (basically) East.

The view of the Continental Divide as seen while looking south across the valley (Stevens Gulch).

Baker Mountain (12,488 feet) looks like a ridge when seen in front of Mount Sniktau (13,234 feet). Visible beyond that (from right to left) is Mount Parnassus, Woods Mountain (12,940 feet), Mount Bethel, Pettingell Peak, Hag Peak (13,294 ft. - Citadel Peak?), and Hager Mountain.

A better view of Mount Parnassus (left) and Bard Peak (right) as seen while looking almost directly north. Note the I-70 Bakerville interchange in the valley below.

Clouds threaten the summit of Grays and Torreys Peaks with the trail to Grays and Torreys clearly visible in the center of the photo.

I had to get at least one wild flower photo - plus this image shows the slope I had to climb to get to the summit of Kelso Mountain.

Along on this hike with me: no one.