The most popular approach to the summit of Missouri Mountain is from the Missouri Gulch trailhead. The Clohesy Lake approach is shorter but requires a 4×4 to get to the trailhead. Missouri Mountain is connected by ridges to nearby 14ers Mt. Oxford and Mt. Belford.
- Trailhead: Missouri Gulch
- Round trip: 10.5 miles / 16.9 km
- Elevation: 9,650′-14,067′ (+4,417) / 2,941m-4,288m (+1,346m)
The first 3.5 miles is strenuous, with an elevation gain of 3,740 feet. The next 3.3 miles has an elevation loss of 1,670 feet. Follow the Missouri Gulch Trail into upper Missouri Gulch (approx. 2.5 miles). As the trail ascends to 12,600 feet, it turns abruptly east to climb up to Elkhead Pass. A cairn marks the turn off here for the ascent of Missouri Mountain. Turn west and climb the grassy slopes and a loose talus slope toward the low point on Missouri’s northwest ridge. From the ridge, hike southeast to Missouri’s summit.
Take left at the stream crossing
GPX
Tour
Pictures
Early morning on the Missouri Gulch trail Wrong turn at the creek lead to a boulderfield…ooops 
Missouri Gulch Sunrise on Missouri Mountain After a hard climb into the gulch, easier hiking for a while Missouri Mountain Mt Belford Scrambling to the ridge View of Huron Peak from the ridge Mountain goat From left – Mt Columbia (14,073′) over the ridge, Mt Yale (14,196′) middle front, Mt Princeton (14,197′) further back just left of Mt Yale, Mt Antero in the distance, Mt Shavano and Tabeguache Peak towards the right Missouri Mountain summit view Huron Peak in the center Looking back down the trail 
The crux of the route near the summit Mountain goat on the ridge View west from the trail Rain moving in quickly Rainy Mt Belford Trail junction in Missouri Gulch
