Meadow Mountain (11,632) & Saint Vrain Mountain (12,175) by Brian Schultz Friday July 21, 2023

Roundtrip mileage: 10.2 miles from Saint Vrain trailhead
Elevation gain: 3,780'
Start to finish: 8 hours 10 minutes

After dinner in Estes Park I made the short drive on Hwy 7 to Allenspark. Except that the drive wasn't short because a heavy fog settled in so thickly that I couldn't see more than fifteen feet in front of the car. It got worse as it got dark but my auto gps and my handheld unit greatly helped to find the turns into town. I followed Ski Road hoping to find a dispersed camp area, but couldn't see anything and just drove to the St Vrain trailhead. I parked there for the night and slept in the truck, not sure if it was legal to do so.

I had no issue with the overnight at the trailhead. In the morning another vehicle pulled into the parking area and the female occupant readied her pack as I began at 6:30 AM. Within five minutes I saw a moose just 25 yards in front of me but it quickly scurried away when it sensed me. The excellent scenic trail enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the grade is gentle all the way to the peaks.

I departed the trail and headed up Meadow Mountain's slopes first, keeping a bearing to posts marking the National Park boundary. I reached the summit (photo 1, photo 2) at 9:30 and stayed for 15 minutes. Another fellow was ascending while I was descending and we talked for a few minutes. He would also be climbing Saint Vrain and with his fast pace, I knew he would pass me long before I got to that summit.

The main trail has cairns marking the trail up Saint Vrain and I took a short break there. One climber had overshot it before returning to get on the correct trail and several others had started up the trail ahead of me. The trail also closely follows the National Park posts although it fades in a few spots. I reached the summit (photo 1) at 11:20 and stayed for nearly a half hour. The weather was beautiful.

While on my descent (photo 1, photo 2) from Saint Vrain, several other parties were on their way up. Once back on the main trail I passed by even more hikers on their way up, some going to the peaks and some just out for a hike. I was back at my truck at 2:40 to a parking lot full of vehicles.