Is Mt. Belford and Oxford easy to get to while hiking the CT?

imported
#1

I am just working on my planning tonight and would love to grab a couple 14ers while I thru hike the CT this summer. Last year my brother and I grabbed Missouri but he wasn’t feeling up to getting Belford and Oxford. Is there a trail coming off the CT leading to any of the peaks other than Massive and Elbert? I hike segment 10 last summer and went up them as well. Great Mountains. Less than two months to go and I am getting itchy for the air.

Pacemaker

#2

After going around Twin Lakes, stay on the Continental Divide Trail where it splits from the CT (Mile 13.7 of Segment 11) and go over Hope Pass. This will take you down to Clear Creek Road which you follow left for about 1.5 miles to the Missouri Creek Trailhead area. This is probably the same trailhead you used when you climbed Missouri before. Do Missouri again if you wish, then Oxford and Belford in a single traverse. When you return to the trail but go left and continue over Elkhead Pass. This will take you into the Pine Creek drainage where you turn left and follow a good trail back to the CT at mile 6.4 of Segment 12 at a bridge. (Turn right on the CT) This entire hike is really nice. If you want to do Harvard while you are at it, you can camp in Pine Creek where South Pine Creek trail splits off and follow it a mile and turn right up ridge then come back and follow Pine Creek down.

bearcreek

#3

Thanks for the info Bearcreek. You helped me out alot. I did not know about those trails. I have been studying the guide book and I seen the trail that goes over Elkhead pass. Previously we came up from the Missouri Gulch TH parking lot and camped at the old miners cabin. Missouri was a good hike. I don’t want to take too much time bagging peaks but would like to get a few in. Thanks again.

Pacemaker

#4

Bearcreek ~ or anyone that can help ~ about how many miles out of the way would this be to grab oxford, Belford and Harvard? If it’s too many I won’t mess with it.

Pacemaker

#5

Adds about 20 miles if you do all of them. When I did it we started up Missouri Creek in the early morning, did Missouri, Belford, and Oxford that day. We camped on Pine Creek and got Harvard the next morning. Back on the CT by noon.

bearcreek