Diamond Peaks North (11,857), Diamond Peaks South (11,710), Owl Mtn (10,956), & Owl Mtn Lookout (10,949) by Brian Schultz Thursday July 18, 2024

Diamond Peaks North & Diamond Peaks South:
Roundtrip mileage: 3.0 miles from Cameron Pass
Elevation gain: 1,835'
Start to finish: 2 hours 30 minutes

I drove from my usual overnight in Nebraska straight to Colorado and to the picnic area at Cameron Pass. Surprisingly, the traffic on Highway 14 was minimal with no slowdowns and I was ready to go at 12:00 noon. The weather forecast called for 50% chance of showers/storms in the afternoon but skies were sunny and clear as I began on the two track old road/trail. When the trail disappeared I continued through the trees and upon emerging from the woods, an excellent trail that I wasn't expecting led toward the north peak.

This handy trail may normally lead to the ridge but a wide snowbank covered the area and required contouring below it until I could get to the ridge. Then it was a short jaunt to the summit where I arrived at 1:00 pm. Dark clouds were brewing and I didn't stay long before descending to the saddle and up to the unranked south peak. I stepped on top at 1:30 pm and quickly departed. I shortcutted the grass and scree slopes, steep but manageable, and met up with the trail again. It started sprinkling just before getting back to my truck at 2:30 and then it rained steadily. Good timing considering the late start.

Owl Mountain:
Roundtrip mileage: 0.75 miles
Elevation gain: 200'
Start to finish: 40 minutes

From Cameron Pass I continued on Hwy 14 to the town of Gould and followed CR 21 (also FR 740) south to CR 21 C (also FR 791). CR 21 is a good gravel road but CR 21 C is extremely slow driving. It actually took longer to drive this road than to climb Owl Mountain. I parked west of the peak at a pullout on the road and began at 4:00 PM under clearing skies. I chose a mostly direct bearing to the summit over lots of downed trees, which was a pain. The western highpoint is deemed to be the summit highpoint according to LiDAR but I went to the eastern highpoint as well. The summit register (photo 1, photo 2) is located at the east highpoint; perhaps it should be moved. The mosquitoes were voracious so I didn't stay long. On my descent I took a slightly different route back, just north of my ascent route, and it was much easier regarding the downfall. I was back at the truck at 4:40.

Owl Mountain Lookout:
Roundtrip mileage: 265 feet
Elevation gain: 10 feet
Start to finish: 3 minutes

Owl Mountain Lookout is reached by continuing on FR 791 from Owl Mountain a short distance. The unranked peak is a drive up but I didn't drive the last few feet because it's quite steep to the top. The views are nice and there's a tower on the summit (photo 1, photo 2).