Matterhorn Creek Trailhead

RT Length: 8.22 miles

Elevation Gain: 2924’

I parked near the lower Matterhorn Creek Trailhead at a nice dispersed camping spot, and was on the trail at 6am the next morning. The trail is an obvious 4WD road, and if your vehicle has made it this far, it will make it to the upper trailhead.

I followed the dirt road alongside Matterhorn Creek to the upper trailhead. There are several dispersed campsites near the upper trailhead as well.

Once at the upper trailhead I continued following the dirt road north

The dirt road is closed at this point, and becomes more of a trail.

I came to a well marked junction and turned right.

From this junction, to the right you can see the ‘road’ you want to take. It’s grown over, and doesn’t look much like a road, but it’s Ridge Stock Trail 233. This is where you’re headed.

I followed this road all the way to just before treeline. It was difficult to follow at times because it was so grown over and there were quite a few downed trees blocking the trail. The higher up I got, the more difficult the road became to follow, as it looks like elk live permanently in the area. The game trails parallel and cross the road, making route finding interesting.

At around 12000’, the road curves around the mountain and I left the road to head northeast along the ridge. I quickly came to treeline.

From treeline, this became a class 2 ridge hike. I followed the ridge northeast.

Here’s the route I took to get to the summit of Broken Hill

This is a ridge hike on tundra all the way to the base of Broken Hill

There’s a summit block at the end of the tundra.

My first thought was to go up one of the class 4 chimneys, but I felt there must be a better way. I scouted around, and found if I headed to the right and around the corner, I could keep this a class 2 hike to the summit. I aimed for here:

I skirted the mountainside, then headed north on class 2 terrain to the summit

I summited Broken Hill at 8:25am

Broken Hill:

This was an out and back hike for me, so I returned the way I came, down the slope and around the rocks, back to the ridge

Then it was back down the ridge to treeline

At treeline I continued heading southwest until I came back to the ‘road’

Then I followed the road back to the trail

And took the trail back to the trailhead

I made it back to my truck at 10am, making this an 8.22 mile hike with 2924’ of elevation gain in 4 hours.

On to the next trailhead!

RT Length: 11.06 miles

Elevation Gain: 4041’

I parked just after the Matterhorn Creek Trailhead because there was a good dispersed camping spot there and it was a good place to stage for the weekend of hikes I had planned. This road requires 4WD. I was up and on the trail at 6am. I followed 4WD dirt road 24 west for .75 miles.

At the very first spur road I came to on the right I took it, and it took me a short ways to the actual trailhead, the Wetterhorn Basin Trail 226. There are plenty of places to disperse camp here as well.

I followed the road to the right if given the option (all the other areas are camping spots).

By continuing to follow the road I eventually came to the trailhead sign

While the sign looks new (and indeed, all signs I followed looked new), the trail was overgrown. It looks like at one time it was a road, but it hasn’t been for decades. I went through downed trees, brush, and willows as I followed the trail.

I crossed Mary Alice Creek, and would now stay on the right side of the creek to treeline.

At 11700’, the ‘road’ started switchbacking the opposite direction, and I started bushwhacking through the willows. There were game trails through the willows. The main goal is to stay to the right of the creek. I was headed here:

Now above treeline, I continued heading northwest, sticking to the right side of the creek. This was my next goal:

I could see a pole in the distance, and headed towards it

Once at the pole, I could see a trail sign straight ahead of me, and headed towards the sign

The sign indicated there were trails going several different directions, but the trails were very faint. I continued following the Wetterhorn Basin Trail to the right, as it headed northeast.

I quickly came to another sign, that directed me to descend into Wetterhorn Basin. Initially I did, but as soon as I could turn left onto the tundra I did and followed tundra to the ridge, heading northwest.

I stayed below the ridge, aiming for this low point, staying on the tundra and below the rocks. This was all class 2.

I stayed to the right of this rock formation, aiming for the ridge

Once on the ridge I followed it north. The actual summit is hidden here. This is a class 2 ridge hike, mostly on tundra, with a few false summits along the way.

Here are some pictures of the ridge

The actual summit was quite flat, but there was a cairn indicating the summit. I walked all around, just to be sure that was the actual highpoint, and it seemed to be. There was a summit register.

I summited PT 13313 at 8:45am

PT 13313:

I made my way back the way I’d come, taking a few minutes to ‘summit’ this point along the way because it looked like fun

Here’s an overall view of my route back to the junction. I descended the same way I ascended.

I made my way back to the trail, and followed it back to the junction

This time, instead of taking the Wetterhorn Trail back down to the trailhead, I followed the Saddle Trail south. This was a much better trail, and took me to the saddle of PT 13207 and 12979.

Once at the saddle, I turned right and headed northwest on tundra, towards this rock formation

Getting around the rocks was class 2+. It looks more difficult than it is, but it’s full of loose rocks and scree. Here’s the overall route I took:

This is choose your own adventure, but if you feel you’re in class 3 terrain you’re making it too hard. I skirted the rock to the right, but hugged the side of the rock as well.

It’s obvious when it’s time to ascend. I then followed the ridge to the summit, with a couple of false summits along the way. All class 2

I summited PR 13207 at 11am

PT 13207:

For the descent, I made my way back down the ridge, but wasn’t interested in downclimbing the rocky section.

Just before the rocky section, I turned left, and descended back to the Saddle Trail down talus and tundra. This was class2, and I could clearly see the trail below.