Name: Mestaa'ėhehe Mountain
Rating: 4.2

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Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly This is an easy and short outing. The fire tower at top is fun for kids, and there are great views and big sense of accomplishment of at the summit.

Overview

Beginning at the first major switchback, this hike is a great route that combines easy to navigate (though strenuous) terrain with a manageable distance to create an excellent outing with big time rewards at the end.

Need to Know

Formerly Squaw Mountain

Description

This route will lead you up a fire road, which starts near the Forest Service outdoor shooting range. Due to the proximity of the range, you'll likely hear shots fired at the beginning of this outing.

Follow the road up to the antennas and fire tower. Though you'll be navigating a road, this journey can still pack a punch. The grades are moderate and consistent from the parking area to the summit. There are amazing views of the Mt Blue Sky area and the Indian peaks once you've reached the top.

For the second year (as of 2016) the Forest Service appears to be renting the fire tower for overnight stays, if you'd like to extend your stay.

Flora & Fauna

Wildflowers are abundant at various times, and mushrooms can be found in the fall. This can be Nordic skied and snowshoed in the winter.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Arapaho National Forests - Clear Creek Ranger District

Shared By:

Rick Blair

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.2 from 26 votes

#1

in Idaho Springs

#695

Overall

4.2 from 26 votes

5 Star		35%
4 Star		46%
3 Star		19%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Idaho Springs

#142

in Colorado

#695

Overall

56 Views Last Month

8,791 Since Jun 29, 2016

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Photos

Jun 10, 2019 near Idaho S…, CO

Picnic table behind the lookout tower. Mt. Evans on the horizon.

Jun 10, 2019 near Idaho S…, CO

Squaw Mountain summit offers a great view of Evans, with Chief Mountain to the west.

Feb 17, 2017 near Idaho S…, CO

Jun 10, 2019 near Idaho S…, CO

Traveling up to Squaw Mountain can be beautiful at any time of the year.

Mar 30, 2017 near Idaho S…, CO

1 Comment

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 78 days ago

Update Conditions See History

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Check-Ins

Oct 14, 2023

Will Victoria

Sep 18, 2023

Nick da Luz

Sep 26, 2022

Garrett S

2.2mi

Oct 7, 2020

Private User

Oct 4, 2020

Shireen B

Jul 13, 2020

Matt Culpepper

No rain, no guns, no guests! Eerie look down on Three Sisters Fire 2.5mi — 1h 30m

Jul 5, 2020

Colleen Thomas

Jul 4, 2020

Marilyn Stasinopoulos

May 16, 2020

Mark Andersen

including forest service road 3.6mi — 1h 16m

May 16, 2020

Erin Andersen

3.6mi — 1h 27m

May 1, 2020

Josh B

Dec 8, 2019

Morgan Reynolds

Sbow packed road to the trailhead, had to snowshoe in from the main highway making the hike a 3 mile round trip. 3mi

Oct 26, 2019

Rachel Solorio

4mi

Oct 11, 2019

Livia Abuls

Aug 17, 2019

Mike Kruger

with Edwards. so fun# 2.2mi — 2h 15m

Jun 27, 2019

Michael Bell

Jun 6, 2019

Toby Broyles

Nov 10, 2018

Ryan Berger

2.2mi

Sep 22, 2018

Matt Culpepper

Negative marks for being a FS road, positive marks for the Fire Tower (2.5/600) 2.5mi

Sep 7, 2018

Maggie Hoomanawanui

2.2mi

Aug 30, 2018

Carolyn Jungels

Aug 3, 2018

Maddy S

Jul 29, 2018

Colton Lock

Easy hike up & down the fire road. GREAT views. Very family friendly for younger kids. 2.1mi — 1h 10m

Jul 20, 2018

Brian Rempel

Hike with Jen and Grace 2.2mi

Jun 2, 2018

Ann Becker-Schutte

Our first hike above 11,000 feet! Beautiful, except for the range noise.

Mar 25, 2018

Patrick Csongei

beautiful day today. got up to the trail around 9:30 and drove up to the shooting range area to park. road was kinda rough but the Subaru made it.… 2.6mi

Dec 30, 2017

David Miller

Dec 10, 2017

David Orner

4.4mi

Oct 13, 2017

Shelby W

Aug 25, 2017

Brian Rempel

Hike with Steve and Simba 2.2mi

Jul 9, 2017

Dave Dalton

2.2mi

Jun 2, 2017

Violet Tiedtke

Mar 14, 2017

Elvis Riggs

Feb 11, 2017

Nick Murray

Jun 13, 2014

Kenzie Ratterree

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Mestaa'ėhehe Mountain

“A classic, easy-to-moderate road to an old fire tower above treeline, peak can be seen from Denver. ”

2.2

3.5

Out and Back

11,465' 3,495 m

10,895' 3,321 m

570' 174 m

569' 173 m

10%

27%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly This is an easy and short outing. The fire tower at top is fun for kids, and there are great views and big sense of accomplishment of at the summit.

Overview

Need to Know

Description

Flora & Fauna

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#695

#1

#142

#695

Photos

1 Comment

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Hells Hole Trail #53

Elk Meadow Loop

Centennial Cone Loop

Chavez and Beaver Brook Trail Loop

Mount Blue Sky Loop (formerly Mt Evans Loop)

Mount Blue Sky Out-and-Back

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