54. Mineral Mountain, 6500' (S)

Mineral Mountain, a moderate scramble, is difficult to do in a day because the Carbon River Road is washed out. This adds a 5.5-mile (one-way) road walk or bike portion at the beginning of the trip. With a bike, this peak could be a long one-day trip. Mineral Mountain’s name comes from prospectors working in the area prior to creation of the park.

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Driving

Drive to the Carbon River Entrance and park in the small parking area by the old ranger station. The road is closed here owing to massive flooding and washouts in 2006.

Route

Bike the approximately 5 miles (one-way with 600’ of gain) on the washed-out road (you will have to walk your bike at times) until you reach the Carbon River trailhead near the Ipsut Creek Camp-ground (closed because of the flooding in 2006). The one-way bike trip takes about 60 minutes to the trailhead. From the trailhead hike 0.3 miles to the Wonderland Trail. Continue straight heading to the Carbon Glacier. Follow signs to Dick Creek Campground and then signs toward Mystic Camp. At 0.8 mile before reaching Mystic Lake (at about 6100') there is a signpost pointing to Mystic Lake. Leave the trail here and follow an informal path heading southwest. Stay on the ridge for a couple of hundred yards and then head south into a basin. Head southward and then eastward toward a forested slope. Gain the broad saddle just south of Mineral and then head north to the peak. This is the preferred route, though many cross-country routes will work because the terrain is so open. Another route leaves the trail a little closer to Mineral and may require a bit more side-hilling. Contour south and then east, following easy terrain to a saddle just below the summit of Mineral. From the saddle, head north a very short distance to the broad summit.

Comments

There may be considerable snow on the trail through mid-July, which makes for challenging routefinding. The Wonderland Trail may not melt out until mid- to late July.

Vital Statistics: Mineral Mountain

• Skill: Moderate scramble

• Beauty: 8

• Effort: 8

• Round-trip distance: 15 miles, plus 11 miles on washed-out road

• Elevation gain: 5000'

• Total time: 16 hours

• Best season: Late July through mid-September or first snow

• Equipment: Scramble gear

Informal trail to Mineral Mountain

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