Follow the trail along the right side of Maroon Lake and enter the forest on the Crater Lake trail -
1. As you ascend into Maroon Creek, you'll get a preview of the lower route on Pyramid -
2. Before reaching Crater Lake, turn left onto the Pyramid trail
, just below 10,200' -
3. There are two entry points to the Pyramid trail and both are cairned. Hike southeast across a flat, rocky area to reach a small talus field at the base of a 1,000-foot slope. In 2006, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) constructed a sustainable trail up this slope. Follow the trail and eventually switchback out of the trees -
4. Near 11,400', reach the entrance to the amphitheater
.
Without a maintained trail, continue south into the amphitheater along the right side of a rock glacier -
5 and
6. Hike less than 1/2 mile toward Pyramid's north face before turning left (east) toward the center of the amphitheater -
7. Hop across talus toward the steep slope below Pyramid's northeast ridge and locate a trail at the base of the slope
-
8 and
9. You must now climb 1,000' to reach 13,000' on the northeast ridge and portions of the slope are loose and scree-covered -
10 and
11. Reach the 13,000-foot saddle
on Pyramid's northeast ridge where much of the remaining climb is now visible -
12. Turn right (southwest) and follow a small trail along the right side of a gendarme (
13) and to a small saddle, near 13,100' -
14.
The remaining 1,000' requires Class 3 and 4 climbing and careful route-finding. Briefly follow cairns along the right side of the ridge until the terrain becomes more difficult. Climb left onto the ridge and over to the south side -
15 and
16. Below the ridge crest, follow cairns over a couple of small rock ribs and a small gap (
17) to reach a narrow ledge ("cliff traverse") which crosses above some steep terrain -
18,
19 and
20.
21 is a broad look at the area from a bit higher on the route. It's an easy ledge but care must be taken while crossing a narrow section in the middle. After the ledge, follow cairns along the slope, across a gully (
22), and left to another rock rib. Climb around this rock to reach a steep wall of greenish, light-colored rock -
23 and
24. Climb a few hundred feet up the greenish rock (
25) and before reaching the ridge crest, look for cairns to the left.
26 and
27 show some of the steep terrain above the greenish rock.
The remaining 500' to the summit is complex, but usually well-cairned. Continue left of the ridge crest and zigzag up loose, red rock. You will likely encounter a couple of short, Class 4 pitches on the last few hundred feet below the summit.
28,
29 and
30 show some of the terrain. Near 13,900', if you've followed the most direct route, the slope eases near the top -
31. Gain the summit
-
32 and
33.
SUMMER/FALL
PARKING RESERVATION REQUIRED
