Parkview Mountain Hike

Greetings all,

Twice during the past few weeks I’ve attempted to reach the top of Parkview Mountain (12,296’).  Located along Willow Creek Pass between Walden and Granby Colorado, Parkview is a majestic feature — a stark snow covered volcano-shaped peak during the winter and an enticing destination during the summer.  The Continental Divide crosses this range and its summit provides exceptional views of mountain ranges to the north, south, east and west (Medicine Bow, Rocky Mountain, Never Summer and Rabbit Ears).  Along the way you’re treated to an assortment of wildflowers, scat, and birds; atop Parkview is a small lookout shelter visible from the road and throughout the often-challenging four-mile trail to its summit.  Susan, Peggy, Ed and I first attempted the summit via the Southeast Ridge but turned back after loosing the trail across a scree-covered extremely steep cirque.  A few days later Ed I tried again and reached the summit via the Northeast Ridge along the Continental Divide Trail.  Wow!  Breathtaking views even when the sky is hazy.  I plan to return to Parkview again and again; this is a real gem of a hike.  Below are a few photos.   

More soon … Cheers!

Parkview Mountain (12,296′) in distance, Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Ed, Peggy and Susan hiking on the Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Eastern mountain ranges, Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Looking east from the Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Confronting the cirque on the Southeast Ridge trail (a lookout shelter is barely visible on the summit) – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Attempting to cross the scree, Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Crossing scree (loose rock), Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Back on the trail (view of the valley below), Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Eastern mountain ranges from the Southeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado- Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Ed, Peggy, Susan and Michael below the Southeast Ridge trail head – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Northeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Ed crossing the Northeast ridge – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Nearing the summit – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Lookout shelter – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Michael and Ed in front of the lookout shelter – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Moss Campion, Northeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Blue Grouse, Northeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Showy Daisies, Northeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Butterfly and Heartleaf Arnica, Northeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado

Enjoying the views, Northeast Ridge trail – Parkview Mountain, Colorado