Every Mountain & Cooper Creek Peak

The trail follows the creek as it winds into the basin, eventually crossing over and leading partway up toward Cooper Lake. Curious about the lake’s condition, I launched my drone and quickly discovered it was still mostly frozen and covered in snow. With that in mind, I decided to turn around and follow a faint trail leading up to the ridge. After gaining the ridge, I reached a false summit before continuing along a steep half-mile ridge walk to the true summit. The route was a straightforward Class 2 hike with no real obstacles—just an enjoyable trek with great views. From there, I continued toward Cooper Creek Peak, following another gentle Class 2 ridge. The terrain remained easy to navigate, with a faint trail appearing at times. 

Directions:

From Lake City, drive past Lake San Cristobal on CR30. Follow the shelf road 1 mile past the Grizzly Gulch/Silver Creek Trailhead. There is a small parking area next to the Cooper Creek Trailhead.