Trip Report: Mount Antero via Little Browns Creek [6/2/2026]

[14er 32/58]

[45th Total 14er Climb]

This was the longest and one of the most challenging hikes I have completed since I had my knees repaired 4x in four years (and in general). This 16-mile, class 2 route took me approximately 5.5 hours to ascend and 3.5 hours to descend (9 hours total). The route through the forest was beautiful, and the trail was in excellent condition – I saw a variety of beautiful trees, flowers, and foliage. There was no snow present in the forest. Above the treeline, the climb up to Antero’s ridge was a bit tough – it was either walking on a jeep road or going straight up some loose rocks. Once the ridge was gained, there was some class 2 fun ahead. I was gassed by this point and stopped to fuel up (which I don’t usually do until the summit, but the length of this route demanded fuel). The final push across the ridge and up to the summit was super fun, with many routes to choose from and some high-elevation boulder hopping. I hung out on the summit for about 30 minutes (less than normal due to clouds rising around me), then began my descent. There were some snow fields on the last mile near the summit, but nothing crazy, and it was all safely navigable without microspikes. Throughout my descent, I saw many marmots, a group of two ptarmigans, and some other cool birds. I encountered 2 other hikers climbing Antero that day. This was a beautiful, long, and demanding route that required endurance, conditioning, proper gear, and a strong mindset.

I have not hiked Antero via the standard route (the jeep road), but I am very glad that I chose Little Browns' Creek. I got a little taste of the jeep road towards the summit, and I would not have enjoyed spending an entire day walking on that type of terrain. This route was a blast!