Mount Oxford (14,158 ft) rises in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of the Sawatch Range, 1.2 miles east-northeast of Mount Belford. Named for the University of Oxford, it belongs to a cluster of summits in this range honoring elite universities. The mountain presents the broad, rounded character typical of the Sawatch: massive in scale but relatively gentle in contour, with no technical climbing required. From the summit, views extend across the central Sawatch, taking in Missouri Mountain, Harvard, and Columbia, with the distant San Juan Range visible on clear days.
Nearly all parties combine Oxford with Belford in a single outing via the Missouri Gulch Trail. The standard approach climbs Belford's west slopes first, then drops to the connecting saddle and ascends Oxford's smooth southwest ridge to the top. This loop covers roughly 10.8 miles with about 5,900 feet of gain and is rated Class 2 throughout. Climbers willing to tackle Oxford alone face a shorter day of approximately 8 miles and 4,600 feet.
The Belford-Oxford combination is among the more accessible double-fourteener days in Colorado, though the sustained gain and high altitude are never trivial. The climbing season typically runs late June through early September; afternoon thunderstorms build quickly over the exposed ridge, making an early start essential.
