Background
On Sunday, July 10th, 2022 I hiked Mount Sneffels, a 14,157 foot class 3 mountain. The night before, I stayed at Basecamp 550, about 45 minutes from the lower trailhead. I stayed in a glamping tent and had access to a propane grill and showers. Closer campsites were full and I didn't want to park on the road near the trailhead.
I hiked the South Slopes route to get to the summit of Mount Sneffels, out and back. Starting at about 6:30AM, it took me 5 hours and 22 minutes to go the 5.6 miles up and back, with 2,779 feet of elevation gain. I started about 1.5 miles below the trailhead and hiked to it. The highest trailhead can be reached with a Jeep or similar high clearance 4WD, it is a challenging mountain road.
There are alternate routes and loops one could also take that are more difficult. The most challenging part of the South Slope route is the V-notch which leads you to the final ascent. It is helpful to have other people to help tell you where the foot and hand holds are located. The main part of the path has many loose rocks.
Overall, Mount Sneffels is prominent mountain in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. It is easily visible from the town of Ouray. Aside from the V-notch section, the hike is mostly loose rocks on the South Slope route. This route is considered an easy class 3 due. There are commanding views at the summit of the area.
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