Mountaineering · YDS Class 3

Northwest Gully

Distance RT
8.3 mi
Gain
3,501 ft
High Point
14,042 ft
Permit Required

Mount Lindsey sits on the private Trinchera Blanca Ranch, which closed public access for roughly four years over liability concerns before reopening it under a new electronic waiver system. Hikers must sign the waiver, and access is strictly limited to the Gully Route and Ridge Route from the primary trailhead — entering from any other point is trespassing. Overnight camping, hunting, motorized or mechanized/wheeled equipment, and drone operation are all prohibited on the property. This location has a history of repeated closures and reopenings; confirm current access status before a trip.

Route Description

A Sangre de Cristo fourteener on private ranch land that was closed to the public for roughly four years before reopening under a signed-waiver system restricted to two specific routes.

Approach

Access is from the primary Mount Lindsey trailhead off the Huerfano River drainage. Only two routes are permitted under the current access agreement — the Gully Route and the Ridge Route — both starting from this same trailhead; leaving this corridor is considered trespassing on the surrounding ranch land. The Northwest Gully route climbs through a gully into Lindsey's upper basin. A sign partway up notifies hikers that they must sign the access waiver to continue toward the summit. The final roughly 1,000 feet climbs the northwest gully itself, a deceptively awkward mix of head-sized loose rock sitting on top of fine scree — harder footing than the modest elevation gain suggests.

Descent

Reverse the gully with extra care on the loose rock underfoot; this section is more tiring and precarious descending than ascending.

Weather Forecast
7-Day Forecast
Today
❄️
Snow
32° / 30°
45%
0.1"
💨10
Tomorrow
❄️
Snow
36° / 27°
68%
0.9"
💨25
Sat, Sep 26
☁️
Overcast
46° / 23°
19%
💨7
Sun, Sep 27
🌧️
Drizzle
47° / 28°
3%
💨13
Mon, Sep 28
☁️
Overcast
39° / 26°
61%
💨13
Tue, Sep 29
🌧️
Drizzle
32° / 19°
68%
💧0.18"
💨11
Wed, Sep 30
☀️
Clear
44° / 16°
35%
💨9
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