Trip
Hiking – Sheep Mountain
Hike out and back from Horseshoe Campground outside of Fairplay by trail and then bushwhack on steep tundra and talus to the summit at 12,818’, great views of surrounding peaks, moderately challenging, 6.4 miles, 2300' gain, 1.0-1.5 pace on the ascent and a 2 mph on the descent, 5-to-6.5-hour hike duration.
Contacts
- Sat, Sep 12, 2026
- El Pueblo
- Hiking
- Adults
- Challenging
- Mileage: 6.4 mi
- Elevation Gain: 2,300 ft
- High Point Elevation: 12,818 ft
- Pace: 1-1.5 mph on ascent, 2 mph on descent
- 2 (6 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Sheep Mountain Summit via Sheep Mtn Trail #691 in Horseshoe Campground near Fairplay. Although the Sheep Mountain summit hike is a somewhat short distance of 6.4 miles, the starting elevation at the campground is 10,600’ and the hike is steep with all of the 2300’ gain realized in the 3.2 mile ascent to the summit.
Summiting Sheep Mountain is well worth it as there is an incredible 360-degree view from the summit of surrounding mountains such as Pennsylvania Mtn, Buffalos Peaks, Horseshoe & Peerless Mtns, and Mt Sheridan & Mt Sherman.
Four Mile Creek Road (Park CR 18) to Horseshoe Campground can be a rough dirt road. At least an AWD such as a RAV4 or Subaru Outback is recommended.
This is a "leader permission required" hike for those of you who I have not routinely hiked with. If I have not had the pleasure of hiking with you before or on a regular basis, I would like to communicate with you to know what medical conditions you might have (diabetes, heart condition, asthma/COPD/emphysema, or orthopedic condition that may limit your ability to hike) and what hikes you have done within the last 2 months of at least equal length and gain that would prepare you for summiting a high 12er. Preference for registration will be given to Pueblo and Colorado Springs group members. I will email everyone registered for the hike on Friday afternoon on September 11th to confirm travel arrangements and provide an update on the weather forecast.
Pueblo participants meet at the Southeast corner of Albertson's Parking lot at 1601 Hwy 50, Pueblo, 81008 at 5:30am or at the West McCulloch Blvd dirt lot at 5:45am to carpool; Colorado Springs hikers meet at a large dirt parking lot west of Highline Cafe and Saloon (restaurant address 12779 US-24) in Hartsell, 80449 for a 7:15am departure; or meet at the dirt parking lot before the gate at the entrance of Horseshoe Campground at 7:45am with a plan for an 8:00 am hike departure. Google Horseshoe Campground in Fairplay, CO 80440 for driving directions. As always, the hike starts at the trailhead.
Required Equipment
Wear layers to acclimate to the cooler morning temps that can be shed as you climb steeper terrain, sun protection, and hiking boots with good ankle support and traction. Bring a hat/gloves, rain/wind jacket/pants, trekking poles for the ascent/descent on the talus, 2 liters of water or the amount you are accustomed to drinking on this type of hike, snacks to eat on the trail, and a lunch to be eaten on the summit weather permitting. Bring a camp chair and libation for a post-hike celebration. In the event of inclement weather at the parking lot, the post-hike celebration can be held at a restaurant in Fairplay if the group is interested.