Mount Adams rises on the crest of the Crestone group in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, a few miles east of the town of Crestone.
The west ridge route starts at the Willow Creek trailhead above Crestone and follows the trail to Willow Lake, where a waterfall spills into the lake and campsites sit nearby. Above the lake, the way turns cross-country: a steep climb past big boulders into the upper basin, some brushy route-finding, then talus to a saddle and grassy slopes along the ridge. The summit block goes by a short gully just southeast of the crest, an easy Class 3 scramble when dry, followed by a bit of exposed ridge. Expect about 11.5 miles round trip and 5,300 feet of gain. From the east, the ESE face route climbs from the Horn Creek side past Horn Lakes on steep, ledgy tundra and scree, roughly 12.8 miles and 4,810 feet.
From the top, Kit Carson Peak, Challenger Point and Columbia Point stand close to the south. Wilderness regulations apply. The upper basin can be confusing, so note landmarks on the way up and plan to be off the ridge before afternoon storms build.
