Telescope Mountain, 12,201', Rico Mountains

Essence: Telescope Mountain is located in the Rico Mountains, east of the Dolores River and north of Blackhawk Mountain, highpoint of the range. Presumably the name of the peak references its sweeping full-circle view over a vast swath of the San Juan Mountains. The visual splendor can't be overstated. This hike description begins from Silver Creek east of the town of Rico and south of the mountain. The standard approach is from the northeast, summarized briefly below. Both approaches are on public land managed by the San Juan National Forest. LiDAR has increased Telescope's elevation to 12,220' with a rise of 767 feet.
Travel: From the headframe of the Atlantic Cable Mine toward the north end of Rico on CO 145, turn east on E. Hinkley Drive and measure distance from there. The road parallels the highway going north for a block and then swings east. Stay on the main road through a residential neighborhood. Switchback to the right at 0.25 mile. At 0.6 mile, stay straight. The road transitions to County Road N. 2WD vehicles should park at 1.5 miles by the Rico-Argentine Mine on Silver Creek. 4WD with high clearance may proceed up the road to a pullout on the right at 2.7 miles.
Distance and Elevation Gain: From parking at Rico-Argentine Mine, 8 miles; 3,240 feet
Total Time: 5:30 to 7:00
Difficulty: Trail, off-trail; navigation moderate; Class 2 with no exposure
Maps: Rico; Hermosa Peak, Colorado 7.5' USGS Quads
Date Hiked: September 20, 2024
Quote: The Eye with which I see God is the same Eye with which God sees me. Meister Eckhart

 

As seen from Dolores Mountain, the summit sphere of Telescope Mountain rises above timberline creating a sterling vantage point overlooking the San Miguel Mountains. The standard route traverses the northeast ridge, tagging Peak 11,881', image-right. (Thomas Holt Ward, photo)

 

Standard Route

The standard route begins at a higher elevation than the Silver Creek approach. Plus, it mounts two legal summits. From CO 145, turn east on Barlow Creek Road, FSR 578 (to Bolam Pass). It is a good dirt road for the first 2.6 miles where FSR 496 branches right. In a 4WD, high clearance vehicle switchback up FSR 496 and park at the junction with FSR 501, elevation 10,640 feet. Hike up the road to about 11,200 feet and locate a faint social trail going roughly west over Peak 11,881' (LiDAR 11,888', rise 358 feet). The use trail avoids most of the downed timber. Hike southwest over Point 11,727' and merge with the Silver Creek approach. Drop into the saddle and free climb to the summit. You may flank Peak 11,888' on your return. 

 

Silver Creek Route: We are grateful to locals Bridget Frederick and Sherry Areen for pioneering and perfecting this route over several climbs, and sharing it with us. From parking, bear northeast on the in-coming road to the junction with the Circle Trail. Ascend on the trail for just 0.1 mile and then hike north off-trail to the northeast ridge of Point 11,727'. Merge with the standard route. Descend southwest into the saddle and then mount the northeast ridge to the summit.

Park before a hairpin in the road near the Rico-Argentine Mine, elevation 9,360 feet. The mine is on private property cordoned off by a butch fence with metal posts. Zinc, lead, and silver were the primary commodities processed at the mine.

 

The road makes a sharp hook to the west before tracking consistently northeast. The north slope of Harts Peak is littered with boreholes and tailings.

 

In the third week of September the woods were transitioning to autumn. The aspen and leaf platters of thimbleberry enlivened the landscape.

 

We walked past a watershed protection sign that had seen better days. "The area behind this sign provides water for the town of Rico. To protect the water supply, camping within 500 feet of Silver Creek is prohibited."

The last reasonable opportunity to park is a pullout on the right at 1.2 miles, just before an avalanche path that ripped down the north slope of Harts Peak.

At 1.8 miles, 10,000 feet, leave the road and transition onto the well-signed Circle Trail. The historic single track, identified on the Hermosa Peak quad, is currently used primarily by mountain bikers. The ride begins near Section Point on the Colorado Trail and drops over 1,800 feet in 2.5 miles. 

As tempting as the Circle Trail may be, this route utilizes it for only 0.1 mile. Leave the trail just before the first creek crossing and hike due north, keeping a north tributary of Silver Creek to your east. Deadfall was mitigated by a helpful cut path of mysterious origin.

 

At 2.5 miles, 10,760 feet, leave the wildcat trail as it descends into the drainage. Swing northwest and hold that bearing for 200 feet. You will be at the toe of a talus runout, material eroded from the pinnacle identified on the map above. For me, the stone buttress was the highlight of this southern route. (THW, photo)

 

Amble up the open swale to the right of the talus zone. (THW, photo) 

Exit the swale on the left and alight on top of the pinnacle at 11,240 feet. Be sure to walk out the airy ridge to take in the view of the Blackhawk Mountain massif. (THW, photo) 

Ascend north-northwest to gain the northeast ridge of Point 12,727'. Meet the standard route and faint trail there at 3.1 miles 11,600 feet. Turn southwest and ascend to the top of the rise for the first glimpse of the summit dome of Telescope. Descend 100 feet into the saddle at 11,620 feet.

 

The view corridor to the north opens in the saddle with a quickening.

The social trail exits the saddle but disappears entirely as trees reach their upper limit. From there, the way to the summit is limitless.

We strolled up the summit sphere to the left of the krummholz band. It's a rare mountain that grants such a pleasant finish. (THW, photo) 

Arrive on the broad crown of Telescope Mountain at 4.0 miles. The purpose of a telescope is to magnify images of distant objects. We were fortunate to be present on a day with excellent visibility, the aperture set to infinity.

 

Turning full-circle in images, due east is Hermosa Peak (image-left) accessed from Bolam Pass Road. Humble in height, Graysill Mountain and Grayrock Peak make up for it by going on forever. On the horizon are the tangled heights of the Needle Mountains in the Weminuche Wilderness. (Bridget Frederick, photo)

South is the impressive east block of the Rico Mountains. Starting from the left, Blackhawk East, Harts Peak, and Blackhawk Mountain can be climbed as a triplet. Whitecap Mountain is an exercise in mindfulness for experienced mountaineers. Dolores Mountain has a delightful summit ridge and a view of Rico 3,300 feet directly below. Notice the stacked red stone summit cairn, image-lower-right. It is built from rock that predominates throughout the area. The Rico Mountains are composed of Cutler Formation, over 1,000 vertical feet of sandstone, siltstone, and conglomerate beds. (THW, photo) 

Telescope presides over the town of Rico, the Dolores River Valley and CO 145. The La Plata Mountains are on the celestial horizon. (THW, photo)

Elliott Mountain is the highest peak in the Rico Mountains west of the Dolores River. To its right is Groundhog Mountain and Lone Cone, the westernmost peak in the San Juan Mountains. Dunn, Middle, and Dolores peaks in the San Miguel Mountains are traversed in a continuous arc with a mile of sustained exposure.

North is the main bulk of the San Miguel Mountains, beginning with Boskoff Peak whose superlative climbing ridge is composed of thick, stable slabs. The three fourteeners: El Diente Peak, Mount Wilson, and Wilson Peak, are followed by the monolith Lizard Head and Black Face.

 

Completing the circuit is Flattop Mountain, just a walk northwest of the Bolam Pass Road. On the skyline are much taller peaks--Sheep Mountain east of Lizard Head Pass, Lake Point, the sky stone San Miguel Peak, Point 13,113' (the blade in front of V10), and Grizzly Peak, the kaleidoscope summit. 

 

It was hard to say farewell to the eyepiece of the Telescope. The mystical quote at the opening of this post could be transposed to read, "The eye with which I see the mountains is the same eye with which the mountains see me." All of us who scale mountains, for whatever reason, sense that there is a deep communion even companionship between ourselves and the mountain. (THW, photo)

We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. John Muir