Mt. Oxford

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 4/11/2026, By: ryansappleid
Info: It snowed a fair bit today so there is a lot of snow on the trail. It’s still doable but makes it more difficult. Spikes are a must and gaiters would be great too. If its windy (like it was today!) bring mittens and goggles. I put down some tracks in the snow but it was so windy they’re probably gone by now. So route finding might be challenging, ensure you have the route downloaded.

Anyways, this route is really tough, especially the climb back up Belford (the last uphill). I vouched to go back the way I came instead of going into the valley and I’m glad I did. It is more direct and shorter mileage. Bring lots of water, I drank like 4-5L. There are water opportunities at the log bridge and another before you reach the missouri/belford junction.

If you want to have some fun you could try glisading down the Belford ridge on the way down its pretty great. There’s several opportunities for that. Also, Missouri Mountain is buried in snow. Two people skiied it today. For some reason it is much more snowy over there than Belford/Oxford.

Saw ptarmigan and pika. Road was in good shape, any car can get up there. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 3/30/2026, By: mattalbritton
Info: Ridge from Belford to Oxford is clear of snow. Trail is in great condition! 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 3/1/2026, By: zSquirreL
Info: Got up Belford pretty easily (see my update there if you want), but the downclimb to the Oxford saddle was too sketchy for me with too much powdery snow and not enough to hold on to to feel confident I wouldn't slide off the mountain. I ended up calling it and turning around ~1/3 of the way down. It might be doable, but I wouldn't recommend it until (if, with how this winter's going) the snow stabilizes a bit better. The traverse looks deceivingly clear from Belford, but you can't really see all the snow on the downclimb from there. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 2/18/2026, By: Jonathan Deffenbaugh
Info: Climbed it on 7 Feb, however was in the vicinity when climbing Misssouri Mtn. If you can get over Belford, Oxford should be pretty straightforward with only needing microspikes and trekking poles. Here’s how it looked from Missouri vs conditions a week prior. May need snowshoes for the approach after this week’s rounds of snowstorms. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 2/8/2026, By: paigemoney
Info: Mount Belford Northwest Ridge
Mount Oxford via Mount Belford
Out and back

From the trailhead to the first opening in the trees, there is spotty snow and ice, which posed no issues with traction on the way up. I slipped a few times on the way down, but did not put on spikes. The trail has consolidated snow in the first open area. Past the cabin, there was consolidated snow leading to the trail split.

On the Belford switchbacks, since the condition update about this area was written 2/1, there had either been a lot of wind-blown snow or some new accumulation. This morning, most steps from the start of the switchbacks were slick with some icy frost or snow.

Above 13,000 feet, we encountered multiple sections of hard-packed snow. Kicking steps provided little benefit, but our mountaineering boots provided enough traction to proceed without spikes. Around 13.6k’, there was a larger snowfield that a switchback traversed with hard, steep packed snow and ice. A small gully ran through the snowfield. While a slide was unlikely due to the amount of snow present, the consequences of a fall felt high. We bypassed the switchback and went directly up, doing our best to rock hop, before reconnecting with the remaining switchbacks. We made it to the summit of Belford without spikes.

Descending Belford going toward the saddle to Oxford, there was one section of sketchy snow around 13,900 feet. The snow was tracked out, making it seem like that was the correct route. Stay left of the rock rib here, a dry trail is visible. After descending the steep section into the saddle, it was mostly dry over to Oxford.

We put our spikes on when we resummited Belford and descended the same way, including avoiding the area we had bypassed in the morning. There were still areas of hard snow above 13,000 feet, so traction was helpful here. Below that, the snow was much softer on the way down, and some melting had occurred. The sun on the switchbacks made a significant difference.

We felt like there was no avalanche danger today on the route we chose.

There is nowhere on the route to wear snowshoes.

There were no mountain lion sightings today, but there were very obvious cat tracks under the first bridge near the parking lot.

Note: I took some photos looking over at Missouri. I couldn’t tell exactly where the trail is, but there are certainly loaded slopes in the area of the standard route. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 2/7/2026, By: MMAfightingClimber
Info: Missouri Gulch -> Pecks -> Belford -> Oxford -> Waverly -> CDT trail. See Belford conditions updates for more. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 2/2/2026, By: d_baker
Info: Nothing to add about the ease of getting to Missouri Gulch TH -- most vehicles with good tires shouldn't have a problem.

Nothing to add about the lack of snow getting into the basin either. Did not bring snowshoes for our route. Trail well packed and didn't use traction going in.

5 of us went up the W slopes of Pecks Peak. Turned upslope shortly after the cabin where it seemed feasible.
Bottom portion of slope on tundra, most of middle and towards upper slope mixed bag of open soils, grass tufts, and scree. Heavily used by sheep (we saw 9 - 11).
Final portion of slope leading to summit was more consistent tundra.
Took us about 2hrs to ascend the slope from basin trail.

From Pecks, madmattd and I continued to Belford, ascending the N ridge without traction and little snow. Near summit block of Belford, the NW side wrap-around seemed the most effecient to avoid steeper hardpacked snow.

From Belford, we continued to Oxford, again without traction and it went fine.
About 1hr and 5-10 minutes later, we were on Oxford.

The return from Oxford to Belford took us similar time.

Descending the "standard" NW ridge of Belford is where we use microspikes. The summer trail is mostly drifted over with snow, sometimes hardpacked, and it felt safer and more efficient to have traction.

Overall, fall conditions but it was agreat day out with Matt, Steph, Jordan "Sparkles" and "Shazzy" Shannon!

My watch had our day at 9hrs 41min of moving time, roughly.
6178' gain / 11.5 miles
Started at about 6:15am, and Matt and I returned to our vehicles at about 4:30pm. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 12/30/2025, By: EthanBeltramo
Info: Climbed all three Missouri, Oxford, and Belford in one long day. Monday 12-29. 8:30 am start and finished 11 hours later in the dark. Spikes were nice to have but left snowshoes in the car. The whole approach is shallow and boot packed.
Missouri was our first peak of the day. From there we went south to Iowa before gaining the east ridge to Elkhead pass. From Elkhead up to Belford is dry. The standard route up Belford is dry and packed down. We were able to easily follow the summer trail in the dark after sunset on Belfords summit. From Belford to Oxford is very dry. No need for floatation or an axe on Belford/ Oxford until more snow falls. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 12/24/2025, By: the_hare
Info: Now an established boot-path of very shallow unconsolidated sugar/faceted snow & solidified post holes in deeper wind-drifted areas. Brought extra gaiters for deeper sections but ended up not needing them. Def no flotation needed still either.

Wind gusts were unpleasant high on Belford but dialed back later in the afternoon today, barely felt much wind on the traverse to Oxford except for the summit & just beneath it. Descended Belford north ridge towards 13er Pecks Peak to avoid switchbacks, tagged Pecks & went down the wide grassy gully S/SW of Pecks summit back to the Missouri gulch trail. Wore spikes from car to car, helped a bit in the snow & for sure on loose/steep dirt & grass. Looked like a few other folks went up Missouri today as well. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 12/22/2025, By: shapovalovm
Info: TL;DR: ridiculously dry, no floatation needed, any car can make it to the TH.

Went as a group of 4: 3 went for Missouri (successfully) and I went for BelOx. No need for snowshoes or probably even spikes although I used them on the way back just to be faster. Overall that day 4 people did Missouri, 1 did Belford and I did Belford and Oxford.

Abysmal winds near Belford summit. On the way back had to crawl 5 last yards to the summit and wait for maybe 30 sec until the gust is gone. I expected the saddle to be the windiest part and even though it was windy it was not horrible.

TH to creek crossing - maybe an inch of snow, very dry.
Creek crossing to Belford-Missouri intersection - a bit deeper, maybe up to a foot. We did not use snowshoes, but I think 1 person that day did, at least I saw some marks.
Ridge up Belford - very dry; the trail itself has a couple of inches of packed snow/ice, but mostly avoidable.
Belford-Oxford traverse - some avoidable snow going down Belford, completely dry otherwise.

You can drive to the trailhead in a 2WD sedan. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 11/10/2025, By: elliebeauchamp
Info: Extremely windy at both summits (Oxford and Belford), not too much snow we didn’t use our spikes but they might’ve made us quicker on the descent. Strava said 11 miles & 5,901 ft elevation gain including both summits. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/28/2025, By: logo
Info: Windy and chilly, snow dusting on trail in places but did not need spikes. Aspens in full flame! 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/26/2025, By: medleyjosh
Info: the hike to belford is mostly clear, with a few muddy spots. The hike from belford to oxford is likewise mostly clear with a few muddy spots and maybe 20 linear feet of trail is covered with a foot of snow (with trail broken through it). Very easy to walk through today. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 9/20/2025, By: blessed13
Info: No need for Yaktracks........barely any snow....only 1 inch or two deep in maybe 3 spots for maybe 20 ft of trail. Very windy and cold on tops, but great weather other wise. 

Route: Via Mt. Belford
Posted On: 8/10/2025, By: Punchy_Blonde
Info: Started early around 4am. Arrived in parking lot about 1am. We took the last spot. Prepare for lots of switchbacks and water. Wind on the saddle between Belford and Oxford, colder temps so pack layers. No snow yet. No ice. A lot of areas on the trail are a slog---saddle especially. Descended slow asf down the back route(Missouri Gulch past Missouri Mtn) nice change of pace. Logged 13.16 miles. 2wd road was rough in some spots but fine. Met a guy on Belford peak who wanted a picture with a mascot head on. Go get em bud 😅