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North Eolus

 South Ridge
Difficulty Class 3 
Risk FactorsExposure: Considerable
Rockfall Potential: Moderate  
Route-Finding: Moderate  
Commitment: Moderate  
 
TrailheadNeedleton
Start13,850 feet
Summit14,042 feet
Total Gain250 feet additional when climbing with Mt.Eolus
3,000 feet starting at Chicago Basin
6,000 feet starting at Needleton
RT Length0.20 miles additional when climbing with Mt. Eolus
17.75 miles as a single peak
AuthorBillMiddlebrook
Last UpdatedOct 2022
DownloadsgpxGPX Track
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Trailhead

Drive to Durango and follow signs to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It's near McDonald's and has a large parking area nearby. Buy a ticket for the train that stops at Needleton and ride the train 2.5 hours (~30 miles) to the Needleton stop. From here, it's a 6 mile hike to reach Chicago Basin.

Route

Taken from Windom Peak, 1 shows the standard routes up Mt. Eolus and North Eolus. To reach North Eolus, follow the Mt. Eolus - Northeast Ridge Route to the connecting ridge between Eolus and North Eolus - 2. Scramble up to the ridge . If you're climbing Eolus first, cross the Catwalk, summit Eolus and return to the notch in the connecting ridge - 3 and 4.

Scramble up the North Eolus' south ridge on grippy rock - 5 and 6. This is a very short scramble. As you approach the summit, the pitch increases but the difficulty does not exceed Class 3. In fact, it's pretty easy Class 3. Once on the summit you'll have excellent views of Eolus, Sunlight and Windom - 8 and 9.

Notes

IMPORTANT: This route enters the Weminuche Wilderness area. Wilderness areas have special regulations and restrictions for party size, dispersed camping, campfires, etc. Also, dog owners should read the wilderness information carefully because some wilderness areas prohibit dogs to be off-leash and/or limit how close dogs can be to lakes and streams. If you have questions about the wilderness area, please contact a U.S. Forest Service office for the National Forest(s) listed above.
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