A moderate ridge climb on a peak overshadowed by its own dramatic Villard Spires and the more famous neighbors Granite and Glacier Peak.
From the Aero Lakes Trailhead near Cooke City, the approach follows the same trail system used for Glacier Peak and the West Granite/Granite Peak traverse, reaching Upper Aero Lake at roughly 8.7 miles and 1,500 feet of net gain. A recommended camp sits at a small tarn about 200 feet above the lake. From this high camp, hike up grass and talus toward the broad saddle just south of the Villard Spires, then continue north past the spires toward the saddle north of Mount Villard itself, from which the Northeast Ridge climbs to the summit on moderate snow and talus. An alternate approach via Sky Top Creek and the Sky Top Lakes basin is also used by parties combining Villard with Granite Peak or Glacier Peak in a single trip.