Lone Eagle Peak is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, just west of the Continental Divide. It is a beautiful spire of granite thrust out into the center of the pristine Lone Eagle Cirque, surrounded by higher peaks yet dominating the entire area, its steep north face rises more than 1,000 vertical feet above Mirror and Crater Lakes. There are a few routes to the spectacular summit, with the classics being the North Face / Stettner Route (5.7) and Solo Flight (4th). Nate and I had discussed climbing the North Face route.

The Solo Flight route on Lone Eagle Peak had been on my radar as a good day out when I lacked a partner and felt the need for a long day of exercise in the mountains. At 4th class, this route is the easiest (and most popular) route to the summit. Plus, since Solo Flight is the standard descent route, it would be nice to scope it out before climbing the North Face route. Labor Day Monday 2021 looked like a splitter late summer day and I was feeling restless after a couple of weeks in school. So to Lone Eagle Peak it was!

The Solo Flight route is circuitous, first heading south under the peak's east face, then turning 180 degrees and heading northwards towards the summit. The final approach to the summit consists of exposed 3rd class traversing and an section of exposed 4th class downclimbing (the crux of the route). The summit of Lone Eagle Peak is not the highest point on the ridge, but the furthest north end of the ridge.

The long approach to Lone Eagle Peak ensures solitude. There are two methods of approach. Lone Eagle Cirque can be approached from the east over Pawnee Pass (~21 mile, 6500 ft gain/loss round trip starting from Long Lake TH) or from the west starting at the Monarch Lake trailhead (~18 mile, 3800 ft gain/loss round trip). It is a hump either way but the route from the west is shorter with less elevation gain and loss. But I live on the east side of the Indian Peaks, Nate and I had discussed approaching from the west on our future climb of Lone Eagle, plus preferred to burn the calories myself rather than the hours of driving, so I came in the longer way over Pawnee Pass.

Also, as of 2021, there is a timed entry reservation system for being able to park at the trailhead on the east side (I don't think this applies to the west side yet). I was unaware of this new reservation system, so I was turned around at the entrance gate and had to walk an additional 3 miles of road to the trailhead, potentially turning my day into a 27 mile round trip. Fortunately, as I was hiking up/down the road at the beginning/end of the day, both times a friendly family of hikers offered me a ride, so I only added about 1.5 miles of road hiking to my day, making it a 22.5 mile round trip.

The following page gives a trip report for my day out. Big day of exercise to an incredible summit!

I hiked in from the east over Pawnee Pass (~21 mile, 6500 ft gain/loss round trip starting from Long Lake TH). An easier way to approach would be from the west (Monarch Lakes TH), but this requires more drive time for those living on the east side.

Also, due to the fact I did not get a reservation for parking at the Long Lake TH, I had to hike 3 miles of the road to get from my car to the trailhead. Fortunately, as I was hiking up/down the road at the beginning/end of the day, both times a friendly family of hikers offered me a ride, so I only added about 1.5 miles of road hiking to my day, making it a 22.5 mile round trip.

I climbed Lone Eagle Peak via Solo Flight, which at 4th class is the easiest (and most popular) route to the summit. It is also the standard descent route. This route is circuitous, first heading south under the peak's east face, then turning 180 degrees and heading northwards towards the summit. The final approach to the summit consists of exposed 3rd class traversing and an section of exposed 4th class downclimbing (the crux of the route). The summit of Lone Eagle Peak is not the highest point on the ridge, but the furthest north end of the ridge.

My round trip time from Mirror Lake to summit and back was about 3 hours, which included a short lunch break.

Done with the climb, but still a fair bit to go.....gotta hike 9.25 miles and hoof back up over Pawnee Pass (~2,500 ft gain from Crater Lake trail junction on west side of the pass)....