W0C/FR-155
Deer Mountain
3052 m / 10013 ft
30 Sep 2013
11 Jan 2014

By KX0R

Deer Mountain is a popular, accessible SOTA peak near Estes Park in Rocky Mountain National Park. A maintained trail leads all the way to the summit. The one-way distance is about 2.8 miles, and the vertical gain is about 1100 vertical feet.

To reach the trail-head, get up early, drive to Estes Park, continue to the Beaver Meadows Entrance of the National Park, and either pay the fee, or show your pass. Deer Mountain is the prominent feature north of the Entrance Station. Drive west on Highway 36, beneath the massive, rocky south side of Deer Mountain, and ascend to Deer Ridge Junction just west of the Mountain. Park east of the Junction along the highway.

The Deer Mountain Trail starts out easy as it heads up the northwest slope of the Mountain. At 9200 feet it switches back north and then climbs up the slope with a series of switchbacks. There are nice views from the trail. At about 9800 feet the grade eases, and the trail climbs southeast up to a gentle saddle. The route continues southeast and descends slightly across the broad mountain. Then the trail climbs gradually, generally south to the rocky summit. The peak is a natural overlook with impressive views.

The Deer Mountain Trail is popular, and there are often hikers on the trail near the summit. It may be practical to set up and activate near the top, but the activation zone extends into the woods to the north, so it’s easy to set up a short distance away from the busy overlook. The forest offers shelter from the strong winds that often sweep across the mountain.

There are plenty of trees available for an antenna – or bring a pole. Deer Mountain is an excellent HF site, but VHF/UHF coverage is somewhat limited by higher peaks.

The trailhead is accessible all year, so a winter activation of Deer Mountain is practical. This is a good snowshoe trip. Don’t be fooled by easy trail conditions near the highway. There usually is much more snow on the upper parts of the trail, as well as the broad plateau above, where much snow falls and accumulates.

An activation of Deer Mountain may be combined with one of several SOTA summits nearby, for a dual activation. Deer Mountain offers a fine SOTA experience for a visiting activator not familiar with the Estes Park area. The hike is a good introduction to local conditions, without the additional challenges of climbing an alpine summit.

73

George Carey Fuller
KX0R

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!! WARNING !! There are old mountaineers, and bold mountaineers... there are no old-bold mountaineers. Hiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required - enjoy!