Each time I visit the Lost Creek Wilderness, I marvel at the pristine and remote nature of the area, located only about 50 miles from Denver.

This week’s hike climbs to four 12,000-foot summits, unofficially named Peak X, Peak Y, Peak Z and Zephyr. In their guidebook to the area, “Colorado’s Lost Creek Wilderness” (Fulcrum Press), Gerry and Jennifer Roach refer to this combination of peaks as the “Alphabetizer.” With their usual thoroughness, they describe extensions and contractions of this outing.

With just a few access trails, including the Colorado Trail, which we will use to get close to the peaks, the area is essentially trailless. Good map and compass skills, and preferably a GPS, are prerequisites for this hike.

In addition to providing good exercise, the hike also rewards you with a long, pleasant ridge walk at elevation, the many rock outcroppings along the way offering as much (or as little) fun scrambling as you care for. If you’re looking for solitude in a beautiful high alpine environment, this is one hike you should definitely check out.

Hike description

The hike can be done in either direction but works well done counter-clockwise.

From the parking area, cross to the east side of the stream on a bridge consisting of two railroad ties, just beyond the information sign. Turn left and follow the trail northeast for just less than 0.2 miles to a signed trail junction with the Colorado Trail. The sign doesn’t indicate that if you continue straight ahead (east) you are on the old Hooper Trail. This is the trail we will use on our descent from Peak X.

For now, take a sharp right turn on the Colorado Trail and follow it initially southwest. Soon the trail turns back to the east and gently climbs on switchbacks, reaching a gate at the entrance to a large meadow, 1.9 miles from the parking area. Pass through the gate and follow the well-defined trail as it meanders along the left (north) edge of the meadow. Over the next 1.3 miles the trail gradually loses 200 feet, to 10,700 feet.

Off the beaten path

Where a small drainage crosses the trail, leave the trail and head up toward Zephyr (Unnamed 12,067). Be careful not to head up too soon or you will have to fight your way through endless willows. Instead, look for the point where an aspen grove almost meets the trail. Looking up from here you can see the saddle between Peak Z and Zephyr.

A reasonable way to proceed up Zephyr is to pick your way along the margin between the willows and the aspen, sometimes following game trails and staying just to the west of Zephyr’s southwest ridge.

At 11,500 feet you will reach tree line. Here you have a good view of your route up to the summit, boulder-hopping over the talus. Try to stay on the rocks as much as possible to minimize the impact to the delicate tundra. Heading around to the left side of the peak offers the easiest route. Try to decide which of three rocky outcroppings is the true summit, or climb all three, just to be sure.

From here it is a simple ridge walk northwest over the other summits, generally dropping down to close to the intervening saddles between the peaks. The next summit, Peak Z (Unnamed 12,244), has an interesting boulder at its very summit. Can you climb it?

From Z, drop down to the saddle between it and Peak Y (Unnamed 12,274) and repeat the process until you are on top of Peak X (Unnamed 12,429), the highest of the four summits. You may even find a faint climbers trail as you approach Peak X. As with all of the summits, you can look for an easy way up or challenge yourself with more of a scramble. No summit is more difficult than Class 2 by its easiest route, unless you are determined to clamber up the summit boulder on Peak Z.

The descent

To descend from Peak X, head down its southeast slopes, aiming for the obvious drainage between X and Y. Try to skirt around the willows as much as possible, again staying on the margin between the willows and trees. Join a well-defined trail as it crosses the drainage at 11,360 feet and follow the trail as it heads south down the east side of the drainage. Where the drainage turns to the west, you should pick up the Hooper Trail (10,700 feet), not named on the map. Follow the Hooper trail back down to the intersection with the Colorado Trail, then back down the last 0.2 miles to the parking area.

Dave Cooper is the author of “Colorado Scrambles: A Guide to 50 Select Climbs in Colorado’s Mountains.”

The details

Getting to the trailhead: From the intersection of U.S. 285 and Park County Road 56 (1.2 miles northeast of the town of Jefferson in South Park), turn east on Park County Road 56, also called the Lost Park Road. Drive 11 miles to the intersection with Forest Service Road 817, staying on 56 at each of several intervening intersections. Turn left on FSR 817 and drive 0.1 miles to the parking area. Park County Road 56 (gravel) is normally fine for passenger cars, though the washboard surface will test your suspension system. Hike statistics: The round trip gains a total of 3,670 feet of elevation in 9.6 miles.

Difficulty: A strenuous hike, both on and off trail over four summits, all above 12,000 feet. Good map and compass and preferably GPS skills are required. Especially in late autumn and winter, this can be a cold, exposed place, so be prepared.

USGS Quad: Topaz Mountain, Colo.