Humboldt Peak

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 6/15/2026, By: Doomhammer
Info: Summer conditions, absolutely no snow whatsoever on or near the route. Road is rough, but not too bad. There was a RAV4 at the upper trailhead, although I would not recommend this road with that vehicle. Any stock 4x4 with decent ground clearance will be sufficient. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/31/2026, By: le732943
Info: Summer conditions, which makes the hike a little wet/ muddy at times. Started at the 2WD lot at 5:50am, got to the lakes a little before 9 and was at the summit at 10:40am. Was back to my car by 2:20 as I got a ride from the 4wd lot. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/26/2026, By: ceebs_here
Info: Summer conditions. Camped the night prior at Lower South Colony Lake - lots of great sites. Left South Colony lake at 4:00am, summited by 6:00am. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/21/2026, By: katarinaa452
Info: Started hiking around 6:00 a.m. after the recent storm cycle over the last couple days. The trail had fresh snowfall throughout much of the route, generally around 2–3 inches in most areas with occasional wind-scoured sections and some lightly trenched spots.

Below tree line, the trail was lightly icy early in the morning with running water underneath the fresh snow in places. Snow was already melting quickly by late morning and early afternoon. By the time we returned, nearly all snow below tree line had melted out, leaving wet and muddy trail conditions. Expect overnight refreezing if temperatures drop again.

Above treeline and up to just above the saddle going to the ridge line had a couple inches of snow. Along the ridge line, snow coverage was minimal overall. Most of the upper mountain had only small patches of snow between rocks, generally an inch or less, with much of the terrain blown clear by strong winds.

I wore microspikes for a little extra traction on some of the steeper snowy sections, but I would not consider them necessary at this time. They may provide some peace of mind early in the morning, though I would expect remaining snow to continue melting quickly over the next few days.

Weather changed much quicker than forecasted. Originally expected lighter winds until later in the afternoon, but sustained winds around 30–35 mph moved in by roughly 9:00 a.m. with gusts estimated around 40–50 mph. Winds significantly slowed travel after leaving the summit. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/18/2026, By: Sphenna
Info: Trail is in summer conditions, one tiny patch of snow in the trees but otherwise completely snow free. Parked about .5 miles below the trailhead, started at 4:30, summitted at 8:30, back to the car around noon. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/17/2026, By: Mswift19
Info: Summer conditions the entire route. Trail is 99.9% snow free and dry nearly the whole way. No need for spikes and hiked in trail runners. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/12/2026, By: MasonAndersen
Info: Road completely dry, trail 95% dry, I've hiked snowier 14ers in July. Some very minor snowfields to cross but no spikes needed, almost summer conditions 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/10/2026, By: piper14er
Info: Started at the trailhead, would not have wanted to start at the two-wheel drive parking, that is a haul. The road was dry to there, probably dry all the way but don't know for sure.

Take the trail across the bridge and then up to the ridge. Some treefall across the trail but nothing like the Marble trail.

Followed a faint but generally discernable trail for a while until I lost it and decided to follow the ridge proper. The trail is on the south/left side of the ridge going up.

Broke out of the trees where there was some snow in the last of the trees/brush. No snow to speak of from the trailhead to tree line.

Some snow from tree line up the broad slope, which can be mostly avoided. Once at the first bump you can see the narrower ridge of rock/grass and snow. Did not use traction on any of the route but took the last stretch slower on the almost slushy snow.

Not too much wind, a few gusts maybe 25-30 mph.

There is a route posted on the site if you want a gpx. I did not use one. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 5/4/2026, By: elliebeauchamp
Info: Started from 2WD, about 17.5 miles roundtrip! No snow until the basin, and even then there wasn't too much. We brought spikes but didn't use them. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 4/18/2026, By: mtoensing
Info: Started from the 2wd TH at 6:45am. My car said it was 18 degrees but it felt much warmer than that. The 4wd road is dry and clear.

Once on the main trail, it was super icy in the morning. Not much snow and the snow is avoidable but copious amounts of ice. Once you depart the main trail to head to the lakes, there is some lingering snow in the trees but now much. The switchbacks above the lakes had some snow as well as the scree on the ridge. But overall I’d say it’s in late spring/early summer conditions you expect typically 6 weeks from now rather than mid April.

I wore trail runners and brought spikes. I did not use the spikes but I’d recommend bringing them. No flotation needed and the snow is pretty packed in. My dog and I had the whole place to ourselves today! My dogs 17th 14er. Great weather besides the wind on the ridge. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 4/16/2026, By: asmith9118
Info: Started at 4:00AM from upper trailhead, summitted around 7:40AM-ish, finished in 6 hours 9 minutes, 11.56 miles with 5713ft total ascent (Garmin). I have a stock Jeep Grand Cherokee (4LOW, Rock) and have made it up and down to the upper trailhead for this trip and last year when I completed the Crestones Traverse. I have scraped each time, and I would say my lines are generally on point. I'm not sure its avoidable at stock clearance at this one section maybe 1/2-3/4ths of the way up.

Very windy today. Many long sections of snow (up to maybe 6 inches depth in some sections but generally very thin cover, firm) below and around South Colony Lakes. Humboldt visually appears free of snow, but this is deceptive - snow is present in between rocks and boulders on the ridge as you approach summit making route finding tricky and foot placement perilous at times. I used microspikes on the way up intermittently, and I should have used them more on the way down as I fell several times. The rocks are slick - do not trust them at this time. Further, streams are frozen over on the trail adding an annoying layer of uncertainty to each step for extended lengths.

High winds and low temperatures combined with difficult mixed conditions on the mountain made the trip hard to enjoy despite exceptional beauty of the area, especially right now with the snow. 

Route: West Ridge Ascent/East Ridge Descent
Posted On: 3/25/2026, By: scfauth
Info: 2WD TH easily accessible, road to 4WD pretty gnarly with alternating mud and partially covered with snow/ice- if you have a really high clearance vehicle you can work around it. I ascended via the west ridge (standard) route. The trail was still mostly covered with snow which proved deceiving as most of the shaded areas were actually covered in a thin sheet of ice… until it wasn’t and you punched straight through. Although snowshoes helped, some of the drifts as you approached 11700’-12200’ proved to be quite deep. For reference I am 5’5” and I found it hip deep frequently enough. After reaching the upper lake I contemplating returning though that mess and opted to descend via East Ridge. I recalled seeing another post about ditching snowshoes at the lake for a West Ridge ascent/descent but recommend keeping them a bit longer as there is another significant snowfield just past the lake before the switchbacks. Gaia was good about assisting with route finding once in the treeline in east ridge, however there is plenty of bushwhacking regardless. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 3/24/2026, By: evanc
Info: Backpacked in from the South Colony Lakes 2wd TH. Started at 10:40am and reached the middle lake at 3:30pm. Dumped gear and left to climb Humboldt at 4pm. Summited at 6pm and returned to camp close to 8pm. What was initially a calm night became very windy in the morning. Due to many factors, I ended up getting 3hrs of sleep out of 9 attempted. Was planning to go over broken hand pass the next day and throw an attempt at the Crestones, but the ascent up to BHP had way more snow that anticipated. Combined with my restless night, I decided to hike out in the morning, leaving camp at 7am and reaching the 2wd trailhead at 10:30am. The snow between the highest marked trailhead and the lakes was pretty rotten and still postholed in a few spots in the morning. Humboldt from the lakes was basically in summer conditions barring a few snowfields in the willows and at the bottom of the switchbacks. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 3/1/2026, By: andy_schlichting
Info: Conditions obviously haven't changed since Dan+Max's post the day before, but we put in a snowshoe trench to treeline and two groups behind us helped solidify it. Above treeline, it's bone dry. You can easily avoid all snow if you want, or cross a couple very short snowfields that don't require any traction to stay more direct.

Snowshoes are a must right now, although if our track keeps getting punched down, they may not even be needed based on the lack of snow in the forecast. Didn't use or bring traction and it wasn't needed, though the road is getting pretty slick up to the turnoff for the trail. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2/28/2026, By: Tcms22
Info: Lots of downed trees. Gaiters and spikes were enough until around 10.8k. Snowshoes very helpful after until treeline. Nice trench set up now. Stashed at treeline. Mainly dry on ridge.