• COVID-19 Park and Trail Closures
  • Learn about the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge
  • Shop
  •  

SoCal Hiker

  • Find a Hiking Trail
    • All Areas
    • Arizona
    • Colorado
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
    • Oregon
    • San Francisco Bay
    • Washington
  • Trail Guides
  • Six-Pack of Peaks
    • Colorado Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Bergen Peak
      • Rocky Mountain
      • Birthday Peak
      • Horseshoe Mountain
      • Grays Peak
    • New England Six-Pack of Peaks
    • NorCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mount Umunhum
      • Mount Saint Helena
      • Mount Tamalpais
      • Mount Diablo
      • Mount Sizer
      • Rose Peak
    • Oregon Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Tumalo Mountain
      • Black Butte
      • Black Crater
      • Maiden Peak
      • Mount Bachelor
      • South Sister
    • SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mt. Wilson
      • Cucamonga Peak
      • Mt. San Antonio (Mt Baldy)
      • San Bernardino Peak
      • San Jacinto Peak
      • San Gorgonio
  • Backpacking
    • High Sierra Trail
    • John Muir Trail
      • Overview of the John Muir Trail
      • Training
      • Day-by-Day Itinerary
      • Resupply Addresses
      • JMT Discussion Forum
    • Lost Coast Trail
    • North/South Lake Loop
    • Rae Lakes Loop
    • Red Peak Pass Loop
    • Theodore Solomons Trail
    • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
  • Forums
    • Latest Topics
    • Ask a Question
    • Campfire
    • Trails
    • Trail Reports
    • Gear Wisdom
    • Classifieds
  • Login

Hiking Birthday Peak

August 19, 2017 By Jeff H Leave a Comment

Birthday Peak is in the 12er family. At 12,730 feet, it sees less foot traffic than its taller cousins, which means you’ll have more solitude but still have epic views of the surrounding mountains in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. This hike requires some additional navigation skills and includes a fun boulder scramble to the summit. If you’re lucky, you might enjoy the company of a mountain goat or two.

img
Trail Details
Summit: 12,730′
Distance: 10.3 miles
Time: 5-6 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,827 ft
Dogs: Yes
When to go: Mid-June to early October
Download GPX
Sitting on the Continental Divide, Birthday Peak really has spectacular views of the surrounding 14ers–and with names like Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and Yale, you might think you’ve made the Ivy League.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike begins at the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead, about 8.5 miles west of the rustic town of Buena Vista. Much of the road is gravel and dirt, but easily passable in a sedan during normal summer conditions. Get turn-by-turn driving directions using Google Maps. Parking is free and no permit is required.

Parking at the North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead
North Cottonwood Creek Trailhead
Crossing Cottonwood Creek

Hiking to Birthday Peak

There is only one trail from the trailhead, and it begins with a gentle climb that parallels and occasionally crosses Cottonwood Creek, heading towards Kroenke Lake and Browns Pass.

At 2.7 miles in, an improvised log crossing of Horn Fork Creek was the sole challenge along the Kroenke Lake Trail. There was still a lot of snow melt, so the water was running strong and I was grateful to have brought my trekking poles.

Improvised creek crossing

At about the 4 mile mark, I reached the unnamed creek that led up towards Birthday Peak.

Unnamed Creek where I turned off trail towards Birthday Peak

Rather than follow the Kroenke Trail as it continues across this tributary and continues alongside Cottonwood Creek, we tu, ned right to follow this unnamed creek up to the cirque below Birthday Peak. Some guide books describe the trail here as “intermittent”, but there was hardly a trace in late June. This off-trail section requires good map reading skills, but as long as you follow the little creek, you will do pretty well. Having the route and maps downloaded on GaiaGPS helped tremendously.

Climbing above the tree-line, the creek grew smaller and smaller, replaced by the occasional snow field.

Birthday Peak in the distance

Soon the saddle to the south of Birthday Peak was in clear view. There were some footpaths through the snow and rock that made provided a good target as I aimed for that saddle.

Making my way to the saddle below Birthday Peak

At the top of the saddle, straddling the Continental Divide, looking back on what I had just climbed.

Looking back down from the saddle below Birthday Peak

From the saddle, make your way north along the ridge to Birthday Peak. The final 0.25 miles required boulder scrambling to reach the summit. It looks more intimidating than it really is. Take your time and test each rock before putting your full weight on it.

Looking up the boulder scramble to the summit of Birthday Peak

The summit of Birthday Peak itself has a grassy knoll spotted with wildflowers. The summit register is protected by a small rock cairn.

Summit Register at Birthday Peak
Cairn atop Birthday Peak

The views from Birthday Peak are sublime.

Heading back down was easier, and I knew where I had to aim. Picking your route is much simpler when you have your GPS track to follow, and can see the area from above.

Heading back down to Cottonwood Creek

Once you reconnect with the Kroenke Lake Trail, follow it downhill back to the trailhead.

Alternate Route

A longer, but easier route to navigate that some people prefer is to follow the Kroenke Lake Trail all the way to Browns Pass. From there, veer north and pick your way along the ridge-line, eventually reaching Birthday Peak. This adds some mileage but eliminates any bushwhacking.

Birthday Peak Trail Map & Elevation Profile

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: CO-six-pack-birthday-peak.gpx

Birthday Peak Tips & Resources

  • Birthday Peak is a Colorado Mountain Club Classic. For more details, check out Colorado Summit Hikes for Everyone (affiliate link).
  • At the time of writing, no permits were required.
  • Bring plenty of water and sun protection.
  • Dogs are allowed, on leash.
  • After the hike, grab lunch in downtown Buena Vista and stop in at The Trailhead–a great local outdoor store.

Buena Vista Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

The Colorado Rockies Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge

Colorado Six-Pack of Peaks ChallengeBirthday Peak is part of the Colorado Rockies Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, a self-paced hiking challenge that takes you up six, iconic peaks–each one a bit higher and tougher.

It’s a challenge in itself, or great training for still bigger adventures. Learn more and sign-up here.

Originally hiked on June 29, 2017.

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 8-10 miles, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, Colorado, Continental Divide, dog-friendly, out of bounds, Six-Pack of Peaks, strenuous

Like what you found here at SoCal Hiker? This site is a labor of love. Share your support for the site and help us development of new trail guides and expanded coverage -- make your next outdoor equipment purchase through our advertisers.

You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeff H

About Jeff H

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About SoCal Hiker

Jeff on Mount Rainier

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking and backpacking trails with enough detail to make it an enjoyable experience for you. And while I started with trails in Southern California, I’ve expanded across the west. We hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more…

Connect with SoCal Hiker

  • 22,757 Fans
  • 11,938 Followers
  • Followers
  • 1,718 Followers
  • 5,281 Subscribers
  • 341 Subscribers
SoCalHiker was selected one of USA TODAY's 10 Best Hiking and Outdoor Blogs
Get our day-by-day guide to thru-hiking the John Muir Trail
Get up-to-day wildfire status throughout California

Products

  • Cucamonga Peak T-Shirt $23.00 – $27.50
  • 2017 Six-Pack of Peaks Patch 2017 Six-Pack of Peaks Patch
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $6.00
  • Mount Wilson T-Shirt $23.00 – $27.00
  • Mount Wilson Benchmark Mount Wilson Benchmark $39.95

Sponsors

Sponsor SoCalHiker and see your banner here

Featured Posts

Backpacking the Grand Canyon of Tuolumne Loop in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National P ark, and in particular Yosemite Valley, is home to some of the … [Read More...]

Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness

Hiking this out-and-back route up Belknap Crater you'll traverse an other-worldly … [Read More...]

Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail

The Oregon Coast is rugged, beautiful and often uncrowded. This bluff-top … [Read More...]

Lastest Comments

  • Amy Courtney on Ridgeline Trail
  • Jay Eleanor on Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail
  • Charles Krim on Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail
  • 11 Best California Bikepacking Routes | Wild Lumens on Inside Crystal Cove State Park
  • Ted Thed on Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign
Get your SoCalHiker stickers now

Get your SoCalHiker stickers!

Latest Posts

  • Backpacking the Grand Canyon of Tuolumne Loop in Yosemite National Park March 24, 2023
  • Hiking Belknap Crater in the Mountain Washington Wilderness October 20, 2022
  • Hiking to the Simpson Reef Overlook on the Oregon Coast Trail August 25, 2022
  • Join Team SoCalHiker at the Climb for Heroes August 23, 2022
  • Hiking the Welch-Dickey Loop in the White Mountain National Forest August 18, 2022

Recent Forum Topics

  • Lost Coast Trail
  • How to deal with accidents while hiking in the winter?
  • Warm Tips for your hiking in winter
  • Some tips for hiking.
  • Keep your body warm in the winter hiking

The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series

Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge SeriesThe Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge Series gives you an opportunity to explore your world while supporting a great cause. There are eleven challenges around the country. Hike or run them at your own schedule.

Flex your adventure muscles!

Learn more here.

 

Search

Tags

3-6 miles 6-8 miles 8-10 miles 11+ miles Arizona Backpacking coastal dog-friendly easy family-friendly High Sierra Trail hiking Hiking The John Muir Trail hipster inspiration JMT John Muir John Muir Trail Kings Canyon National Park LA County moderate Mount Rainier National Park Muir Monday National Park Orange County Oregon out of bounds Pacific Crest Trail peak peakbagging quote scenic Sequoia National Park Sierra Nevada Six-Pack of Peaks State Park strenuous Thru-hiking Utah vista Washington waterfall wilderness Wonderland Trail Yosemite

Copyright © 2023 SoCalHiker.net · Metro Theme on Genesis Framework with WPEngine Hosting · Contact SoCal Hiker · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

 

Loading Comments...