Mt. Harvard

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/26/2026, By: coflosmo
Info: Downed tree on the road around 9,400' before the Colorado Trail. Deep snow starting at the trailhead. 3 parties went up on Sunday, all turned around at 12k or earlier. Easily a foot of snow or more, but trenched to 12k now and it was melting quick on our way out. My third failed Harvard attempt lol. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/25/2026, By: kalligraceholabird
Info: When we hiked there was no snow until 12,500 ft, but then a snowstorm came and dumped another 6-8 inches while we were hiking. At least a foot or so of snow after 1300, we post-holed a lot which wasn't super fun. Its doable in the snow, but takes a lot longer and harder of a workout. Also harder to find the trail right now, you can kind of make your own trail in the snow.

Beautiful basin! 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/17/2026, By: owen_farkas
Info: Snow covers much of the route, especially above treeline. I did not use microspikes but they may be useful when the trail re-freezes. Poles are necessary right now, though the snow is melting quick. Always stunning to see the snow-capped peaks in good weather.

Counted 4 other climbers today, plus a very large (~15 person) group backpacking into the basin in the afternoon. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/10/2026, By: karinahean
Info: Clear of nearly all snow, small avoidable patches only. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/10/2026, By: karinahean
Info: Clear of nearly all snow, small avoidable patches only. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 10/10/2026, By: karinahean
Info: Clear of nearly all snow, small avoidable patches only. 

Route: Harvard and Columbia Traverse
Posted On: 10/4/2026, By: Tcash
Info: Several inches of snow on October 3rd. Started at 4am, finished at 6pm.
Grippy ice packed snow turned slushy and slippery around 930am, definitely recommend bringing microspikes, gaiters and sunscreen as long as snow is present.

The traverse was pretty awful when covered in snow, and we would NOT recommend this combo route is there is any snow at all as the route finding was already very hard to follow. Even though it is "class II", it is the shitty, slow grind kind of class II, where the mile at the bottom of traverse is a bunch of fridge/car sized rocks that require careful scrambling and would be very very difficult to bring a dog along to.

These were our 41st/42nd peaks and the most physically difficult single day hike we've done to date, the snow contributing to a lot of the extra effort.

In short, unless you are in savvy enough shape for 15 miles and 6,000 feet of gain, don't even consider this combo in a day. Summit Harvard on day 1, camp at Horn Fork Basin and summit Columbia on day 2. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 9/27/2026, By: georgiaccarr
Info: Beautiful day on Harvard. A light dusting of snow starting at approx 14,000’. We did not need traction but could have possibly used it for a very short section of slippery mud. Some slightly wet rocks at the summit. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 9/27/2026, By: Browndw22
Info: Beautiful day on Harvard. Water was high on the final creek crossing making the rocks very slippery with black ice early in the morning, but this melted off later on with the sun. Snow on the trail for the last mile or so from the day prior, including the final summit push. Didn’t need traction, but could have been helpful. Everything was melting off on the way down resulting in a wet and muddy trail in some spots. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 9/21/2026, By: matt9094
Info: Clear, sunny day. The cold, constant wind above tree line was annoying. There was no snow. 

Route: Harvard and Columbia Traverse
Posted On: 9/13/2026, By: spen_c_boy
Info: Tagged Harvard & Columbia on 9/12, first by ascending Harvard's South Slopes, hiking the Traverse, and descending Columbia's West Slopes; standard route.

I left the car at the trailhead at 3:10, summit Harvard at 6:30, summit Columbia at 9:40, back to car at 12:30; total time of 9 hr 20 min.

Primarily came here to say that the traverse took longer than anticipated, and I was moving as swiftly as I could. I probably descended from the ridge too soon instead of making my way east as far as possible, so that didn't help. There were some super fun class 3 sections I downclimbed, which is why I believe I got off route a little bit because the beta photos don't look like the sections I came across.

The talus fields included in the traverse are of course tedious, albeit not too difficult to navigate.

Biggest thing I took away was give yourself plenty of time to hike the traverse. Smooth sailing the whole day otherwise. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 8/24/2026, By: John619
Info: Great day on Harvard. Camped in the Horn Fork basin at about 11,500. It's a beautiful area and I had it all to myself. That last few feet at the top block felt more like class 3 than class 2 but at 70 everything seems harder... 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 6/28/2026, By: nohandz
Info: There was snow right below the summit, but I didn’t have to cross it, unless I went off route. It got down to only 52F last night near the TH, though was windy AF, particularly the last 500-1000’. Somewhat hazardous at times. 7hr RT. 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 6/20/2026, By: IHikeLikeAGirl
Info: Happy Juneteenth!
Summer conditions...and hot. One, not-worth-mentioning, snowfield to cross before final steep ascent to the summit. The snowfield, on the crux, mentioned from 6/12 is not an issue (see pic). Not even sure if it still covers the trail, we ascended climber's left of it. Surprisingly busy for a Friday, parking was nearly full lots of backpackers. Maybe others had off Juneteenth?

Just a note. We car camped at the, CT, Segment 13: (Silver Creek Trailhead). The vault toilet did not smell...it was exquisite. :) 

Route: South Slopes
Posted On: 6/12/2026, By: Alpine_Exchange_36
Info: Trail is in good condition. No snow on the lower basin and only one stretch where there is some and thats right before the crux of the trail. Spikes would be helpful, but its a long way to carry them for such a short stretch. Its not more then like 15yds. You can avoid this bit of snow by going around it but for the time being, if you want to stay on the standard trail you do have to go through it.

With any luck it'll be gone soon and Harvard wll be effectively snow free