Hike Mount Hatten and Crater Peak Grand Mesa National Forest, CO

Jul 27, 2023 — After spending the last many months at lower elevations, I decided sub-13ers would be a good way to start my Colorado peakbagging bender. The result was a remote summit on the Grand Mesa called Crater Peak, plus its only slightly shorter companion Mount Hatten. Grand Mesa is most known for the lake-dotted volcanic landscape that includes hikes like the Crag Crest Loop farther west, but I was interested in the high point of the area today in the lesser-visited eastern region. Any car can make it to where I started the hike, and Crossover vehicles could likely even reach the 4WD parking lot at Goodenough Reservoir at the end of the road here (39.03809, -107.68034). However, I didn't want to risk car damage on day one, so I was content to enjoy the more extended hike by starting the day with a road walk.

My long drive the day before with an embarrassing number of pitstops got me to bed too late, which led me to wake up late. Groggy, I emerged from my car to a swarm of mosquitoes. The anticipated summer heatwave was clearly in full swing as well, but lightweight body armor was my only option to avoid getting eaten alive on this hike. I started along the rocky road, already sweating before taking my first steps, swatting my face regularly to ward off mosquitoes. At least the wildflowers were blooming gloriously.

The first few miles were uneventful road walking that meandered past a cabin (possibly occupied?) and through pretty meadows. I passed a couple of locals who had hiked to Crater Peak before and informed me there's sort of a trail leading up through the forest and to the ridgeline. Apparently difficult to locate, I decided to make Mount Hatten my first objective since once I was along the ridge crest it would be easier to locate the elusive trail. The issue here is that the southern base of Crater Peak and Mount Hatten is riddled with bogs and reservoirs, so I thought it best to use a pre-established route to get as close to the peaks as I could. Fortunately, I reached an old junction with a now-closed road and decided this would be a suitable route for reaching the base of Mount Hatten, which was now very much in view ahead. I passed the small Pine Cone Reservoir on its west side, noting a social trail that wrapped around its north side. I'd later use that social trail on my way back, but for now I continued off-trail up a steep and grassy slope to the west ridge of Mount Hatten. Despite the steepness, the bushwhacking was nearly nonexistent and there was even an animal trail leading along the ridge to the summit.

Mount Hatten had some nice views toward the reservoirs below, but the mosquitos managed to find me up here too, so I was forced onward. A short spurt of Class 2 on loose volcanic terrain brought me down Mount Hatten's east ridge, and then I was walking easily along the forested ridgeline. I stumbled on a narrow trail, which I realized was the trail the couple had mentioned earlier. I took note of where it bent off the ridge for my way back, and continued along it toward Crater Peak. The now-trailed ridge walk went quickly and was easy to follow until reaching a small talus field. Past here I chose to keep to the crest to gain Crater Peak since the ridge was colorful and eroded and looked very cool. There were some tree obstacles along the crest, so you may want to keep just below and to the right to avoid it. Class 2 talus led me to the summit, where I tried to brave the annoying insects, but opted to skip hiking to nearby unranked Mount Darlene.

I backtracked along the social trail and followed it down off the ridge. While in the forest, this trail is very easy to follow, but once I emerged into the meadows surrounding the reservoirs I quickly lost it. I did my best to stick to higher ground to avoid the boggy mess, ultimately finding my way back to the Pine Cone Reservoir where I located another social trail that took me to the old abandoned road/trail that I had come in on and then back to the approach road.