A social trail led past a bunch of cool rock hoodoos on the side of the ridge, then kept to the left of a couple of pesky rock outcroppings situated along the ridge crest. Once at the northern saddle of North Baldy Mountain, the character of the hike would change for a short time. The tundra slope from Middle Baldy all the way to North Baldy Mountain and then down the north side of North Baldy was gorgeous and easy tundra strolling, though otherwise unremarkable. A social trail led along a narrow section of tundra-filled trail lined with cool hoodoo formations, and the views in all directions were really stunning.

A false summit a half mile or so before Middle Baldy tricked me into thinking I made it, but the short section of ridge from this false summit to Middle Baldy might be my favorite part of the ridgeline. The base of this peak is unpleasant due to some bushwhacking and then Class 2 small talus, but afterward the route became nice tundra. Instead of taking the Beaver Creek Trail I ascended the south side of Middle Baldy in order to reach the ridgeline I'd be following for the duration of the hike. I headed along its tundra-filled northeast slope and met back up with the Beaver Creek Trail, though only for a split second. I located a decent social trail which brought me along the meadowy ridge with some very minor brush around the halfway point and made it to the summit of South Baldy Mountain. I took a right onto this trail and ascended to the south ridge of South Baldy Mountain. I started along the Rainbow Lake Trail, which led through the forest before emerging into a meadow and reaching a junction with the Beaver Creek Trail.

I parked at the Rainbow Lake Trailhead, situated a half mile or so north of the actual lake.

I chose this route because it spends more time along the ridgeline rather than in a canyon, maximizing views and adding on a few little peaks to the day. The summit is reached either via the Mill Castle Trail coming in from the east, or more commonly via this route from the south. West Elk Peak is a prominent 13er separated from all of its 13er friends, positioned atop the West Elk Mountains.

Black elk peak trail length