neva trip

6 ways to see St. Petersburg by boat

1. Classic experience

There are a lot of companies that offer boat tours and while walking through the city center you will see many promoters offering “best of the best” and “the most interesting” routes. We recommend avoiding companies that use such street promoters and buy tickets at one of the official piers.

The Lions at the Dvortsovaya pier (Admiralteyskaya nab. 2) or the Faberge Museum pier (Fontanka nab. 21) offer regular water trips every hour along the Neva River, the Gulf of Finland, the city’s canals and even as far as the fountains of Peterhof.

Another great option is a hop-on hop-off cruise in the city. Their boats offer a frequent and regular service with 6 stops. The stops are located near the museums and tourist attractions. The first one is the Hermitage, then Peter-and-Paul's Fortress, The Summer Garden, The Anichkov Bridge (Nevsky Prospect), the Spit of Vasilievsky Island and St. Isaac's Cathedral).

The biggest boat companies in St. Petersburg are  Neva Trip  and  Astra Marine . You can always buy tickets in advance online and they are usually cheaper than at the pier. The price for the classic “Rivers and canals of St. Petersburg” tour starts from 700-750 rubles ($11-12), depending on the duration. A round trip to Peterhof costs 900 rubles ($14). A hop-on hop-off tour costs 950 rubles ($15) for one day. Before buying or booking a tour make sure they have an English (or your language of preference) audioguide.

3. Departing from Sevkabel

The  Sevkabel Port  on Vasilyevsky Island is a place not to miss. An abandoned former ship-cable factory which is now a creative public space, Sevkabel offers great sunsets that you can enjoy from their famous embankment, endless hip eateries, food, art and music festivals almost every weekend, and from now on –  the boat tours .

The boats depart from their own pier and go to the historical center. The boat makes a small stop at the Senatskaya nab. pier near the Bronze Horseman and at the Dvortsovaya nab. pier near the Winter Palace. You can step out there or stay on the boat that will bring you back to Sevkabel. The whole trip to the center and back lasts two hours and costs 700 rubles ($11). The one-way trip to the city center costs 450 roubles ($7). They depart twice a day at 13:00 and 15:15, but the schedule is subject to change, so better check online first. 

4. Fine dining on water

If you plan to go on a boat tour and want to combine it with a fine dining experience you can check the famous Ginza-group restaurant,  Volga-Volga . This is a unique first-class restaurant and ship in one.

They have an outdoor deck and daily cruises along the Neva river, providing breathtaking views and a literally dynamic atmosphere. You will sail under the most beautiful bridges of the city: Palace bridge, Birzhevoy, Tuchkov, Blagoveshchensky, Sampsonievsky; along magnificent embankments: Admiralteyskaya, Universitetskaya and Dvortsovaya.

The restaurant's menu combines culinary traditions of the finest world cuisines: Italian, European, Thai, Japanese and Russian. The menu mainly relies on seafood and fish specialties. The dinner will cost you 5,000-6,000 roubles ($76-92), which is quite expensive, but is definitely worth it. Don’t forget to book a table, as this place is extremely popular. The ship departs at 13:00, 15:00, 19:00, 22:00 and 01:00.

5. Night boat tours under the drawbridges

Almost all boat tour companies offer the famous “drawbridges boat tours”. This is something that should be on everyone's bucket list. This is what makes St. Petersburg a unique city. This tour gives a great opportunity to watch bridges raising their “wings” from up close. It is much more comfortable and overwhelming than watching them from the river bank, where it’s always overcrowded.

Hundreds of boats are racing together at night and it makes the atmosphere unbelievable. The best time to do this tour is of course in June and July, during the famous White Nights, but any other time from April till the end of October is also fine. Don’t forget to take a jacket, because even if it is a warm summer night on the water it can be chilly. The price for a night tour starts from 900 roubles ($14).

6. Party like a Russian

For partygoers there are also special party boats. There you can not only admire the city’s beauties, but also dance, drink cocktails and meet new friends. There are two good companies that organize fun party tours. The famous “ Purga ” boat departs every Friday and Saturday from the Fontanka 15 pier at 22:00. The party lasts four hours and costs 1,500 roubles ($23) if you buy a ticket online and 2,000 roubles ($31) if you buy a ticket right at the pier.

The second company is “ Gidrovoyage ”. To avoid queues before the departure they don’t give an exact location of their pier until you buy a ticket online, but it is known that the pier is often located not far away from Chernyshevskaya metro station. The boat departs at 23:50 every Friday and Saturday. The party lasts two hours and costs 1,300 roubles ($20). The ticket includes unlimited drinks and a professional photographer will be on board. 

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The Neva is the main waterway of Petersburg and the town is situated along its banks and across the islands of its broad delta. It is one of the largest rivers in Europe by volume of water and also one of the world's shortest major rivers at only 74 kilometers. The Neva connects Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe, to the Baltic Sea. For centuries, it was of great strategic importance for transport and so the interests of the Russians, Swedes, Finns, and Balts clashed on its banks. From the 8th-13th centuries, the Neva was part of the trade route from Scandinavia to Byzantium, the road "from the Varangians to the Greeks." In 1240, the Novgorod militia led by Prince Alexander Yaroslavich defeated the invading Swedish army on the banks of the Neva. Because of the victory, the prince was thereafter nicknamed Alexander Nevsky (of the Neva). But the main page in the history of this great river began to be written, of course, in 1703 when St. Petersburg was founded at the mouth of the Neva.

The first architects tasked with building the city correctly assessed the value of urban development along the Neva. The river became the main architectural axis of the new Russian capital. It began with the large-scale construction of embankments, when its banks were straightened and covered with earth. For three centuries the embankments edged further and further into the river, near the Summer Garden, for example, by 50 meters, at the Winter Palace by 90 meters, on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island about 120 meters, and on Pirogovskaya Embankment about 150-200 meters. The first embankments were made of wood, but from the 1760s they began to be replaced with granite cladding. Thus the famous granite embankments of the Neva were born, and quickly became an intrinsic feature of St. Petersburg's cityscape.

Petersburgers immediately began building not only on the banks of the Neva River, but also on the islands in the delta - Vasilievsky and Petersburgsky (now the Petrograd Side). Despite Peter the Great's initial desire that the residents of his new city use boats to navigate St. Petersburg's waterways, it soon became apparent there was an urgent need for bridges. The first temporary floating bridge to Vasilievsky Island appeared in 1727, but it wasn't until 1850 that the first permanent bridge - Blagoveschensky (Annunciation) - was opened. Now more than 20 bridges span the river and its armlets. Most of these bridges are bascule bridges and are opened at night during the navigational season for large vessels to pass through. Among the most beautiful are the Troitsky (Trinity), Dvortsovy (Palace), and Bolshoy Okhtinskiy Bridges. Watching the raising of the bridges, whether from the embankments or from a pleasure boats, is one of the great St. Petersburg experiences during the White Nights of June and July.

From the first years of its existence, St. Petersburg was vulnerable to the one certain danger of its main river: floods. In the autumn, strong winds drive water from the Gulf of Finland, and there were cases when flooding exceeded three or four meters above normal water levels. The worst flood in the history of St. Petersburg (described by Alexander Pushkin in his long narrative poem "The Bronze Horseman") took place in November 1824, when the water reached 421 centimeters above sea level. In 1978, construction began on a dam in the Gulf of Finland designed to protect against flooding. The dam is still not fully completed, but the risk is much less now and water only occasionally pours out over onto some embankments.

At the beginning of the 20th century, electric trams rode over the frozen Neva and the river was traditionally used for skating. Today, in some particularly warm winters the Neva does not completely freeze. In such weather, ships and pleasure boats are still able to sail on the river and its channels even in December. In summer, about five hundred boats are used for transporting tourists alone. Besides the usual excursions, it is possible to buy tickets for dinner cruises, a ride on a jazz boat, or take a night tour.

Almost all of the major attractions of St. Petersburg are either placed directly beside the water or can be easily seen from a boat. Among them are the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, the Cruiser Aurora, the Winter Palace, the Bronze Horseman, the Summer Garden, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Smolny Cathedral, the Marble Palace, the Admiralty, the Academy of Arts, the Kunstkamera, the grim Kresty Prsion, and many more. But the main attraction is, of course, the Neva itself, creating the unique atmosphere in the Venice of the North - a town between sky and water.

Accommodation near the Neva River

Hotel park krestovskiy, large conferencing hotel with aging but reasonable value accommodation, saint petersburg hotel, landmark soviet-era hotel with spectacular views across the neva river, okhtinskaya hotel, budget hotel with good facilities and great views across the neva river, apartment na naberezhnoy kutuzova, mid-price one-bedroom vacation apartment located next to the neva river, apartment na petrovskom, sleeping space for up to seven in modern apartment on petrovskiy island, hostel novaya gollandiya, cozy, family-friendly hostel with great location near the neva river, dining near the neva river, la marseillaise, provençal restaurant with friendly atmosphere and pretty riverside location, grad petrov, german brew pub serving tasty sausages with spectacular riverside terrace, karl and fridrich, brewery, beer garden and restaurant in parkland on krestovsky island.

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The Neva is the main river that shapes the overall layout of Saint Petersburg. Although it is one of the shortest rivers in Europe (its length is just 74 kilometers or 45 miles), it is a significant transportation route since it links Ladoga Lake and the Gulf of Finland. The river’s name comes from the Finnish word “neva,” which means “swamp.” Indeed, the bank of the Neva used to be primarily covered by swampy forests. However, with the foundation of Saint Petersburg, the swamps were drained and replaced by wide prospects and streets. The Neva is a deep and wide river. Its maximum depth is 24 meters (78 ft.), and the average width is measured around 400-600 meters (1312 – 1968 ft.), which makes the river suitable for navigation and port construction—the river forms about 100 islands.

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St. Petersburg Sightseeing and Neva River Cruise (4 hours)

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• 2-hour city sightseeing, including a walk down Nevsky Prospekt
• 2-hour Neva River sightseeing cruise in St Petersburg
• Hear tales of St. Petersburg’s history and its founder, St Peter the Great, from your guide
• Pass top St. Petersburg attractions like the Peter and Paul Fortress, Mariinsky Theatre Anichkov Palace and Summer Gardens
• Cruise past New Holland Island and gaze in awe at its Russian Classicist buildings
• Small-group tour with a maximum of six people ensures a more personalized experience

Your expert local guide will pick you up from your central city hotel and walk with you around the center of the city as well as down Nevsky Prospect – the city’s swanky main street that’s filled with chic boutiques and beautiful architecture. 

Then head to St. Petersburg’s boat station,  Built on the river, central St Petersburg consists of a network of waterways with countless canals and more than 300 bridges of varying sizes from different architectural periods. As you hop on board your luxury sightseeing boat, your guide will talk to you about the grandeur of the Neva River and its fascinating history. Hear tales of Peter the Great, one of Russia’s more famous tsars, who founded the city in the 18th century, intending it to be his ‘Venice of the north.’  As you cruise up and down the river, watch out for all the top St Petersburg attractions that line the Neva’s granite-clad embankments. See the Peter and Paul Fortress that was created by Peter the Great in the Northern War to protect his city from a feared Swedish attack, and pass numerous other castles and palaces, like St Michael’s Castle and the Imperial Anichkov Palace.  See the city’s oldest and most charming park – the Summer Gardens – that was built in a distinctive Dutch Baroque style, and admire the imposing Aurora Battle Ship -- once a battleship in the Russo-Japanese war but now a museum. Pass Mariinsky Theatre where classical ballet and opera performances have taken place since the 1800s, showcasing masterpieces by esteemed Russian composers like Tchaikovsky.  Glide past romantic New Holland Island, admiring its majestic arches and early Russian Classicist buildings, and pass St Nicholas Naval Cathedral and St Isaac’s Cathedral – two of the largest city cathedrals. After cruising up and down the Neva, your sightseeing boat returns to the boat station where your tour finishes.

Tour concludes in the city centre.

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Neva Travel

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Neva Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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• Neva River Cruise St Petersburg

Neva River Cruise St Petersburg Includes

Neva river cruise st petersburg overview.

In this Neva river cruise, you can gather a whole new experience of cruising in the water and looking at the historical city around. You will also get to know some interesting stories related to the history and tradition of Russia when you will Cruise into the water. The cruise trip will take you close to a number of scenic attractions as well as famous landmarks where you can marvel with your loved ones. 

What to expect from neva river cruise St Petersburg

Enjoy the cruise ride If you take up Neva River Cruise St Petersburg Russia, then you can enjoy to the fullest by watching 5 rivers which you will cross in your cruising and also the cool and calm atmosphere of the city.

Go to different Landmark places In your Neva river cruise St Petersburg, you can go to different major places around the city which are a must go for the people who are interested in sightseeing.

Go deep into the culture of Russia If you want to know the real culture of Russia then you must buy river Neva cruise tickets and set off to a journey through the waters. Because it is the best way by which you can go closest to the city.

Have an economical trip The Neva river cruise cost is quite reasonable for everyone. So even if you have a budget crunch then also you can afford this trip to Russia.

Know before you go: Timings: The Cambridge hop on hop off bus tour takes about 160 minutes to complete. The tour starts at 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM. Meet Up Location : Liteyny prospect, 53 How to reach : You can take help of public as well as private transport from your location to reach the meet up location for taking this trip. It would be better to take a taxi if at all you are new to the city.  You can follow the directions to reach the location without any issues. Child Age: Children with age in the range of 5 - 15 can take part in the activity but they need to book tickets. Infant Age: Infants with age in the range of 0 - 4 can take part in the activity without any charges. 

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• You need to present either a printed ticket voucher or a mobile voucher to begin this activity.
• This travel voucher is only valid for the date and time for which it has been booked.
• You should be present at the lobby at least 15 to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure timings as mentioned in the ticket voucher.
• You should follow all the guidelines as specified by the tour operator and tour guide to make sure that you don’t land up in any kind of problem.
• This tour is not at all recommended for Pregnant women, People with back problems, and People with heart problems.
• The minimum weight of the participants must be 30 kg and the maximum weight should not be more than 100 kg.
• You must carry Comfortable shoes for this experience.
• This is a group tour

Neva River Cruise St Petersburg: Cancellation Policy

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• If cancelled within 2 hours of the date of the activity: No Refund

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• The applicable refund amount will be processed within 15 business days

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• The customer receives a confirmation voucher via email within 24 hours of successful booking
• In case the preferred slots are unavailable, an alternate schedule of the customer’s preference will be arranged and a new confirmation voucher will be sent via email.
• Alternatively, the customer may choose to cancel their booking before confirmation and a full refund will be processed.

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Neva Embankments

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Neva Embankments - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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A trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, takes a Neva River cruise is a good choice. There are local singing and dancing performances on the boat, and you can enjoy the scenery of the Neva River and palaces, buildings, churches and other on both sides of the boat.

Neva River Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions

Explore near neva river: where to stay, eat, and visit, neva river reviews: insider insights and visitor experiences.

The Neva River is the mother river of St. Petersburg, the river is crisscrossing, the scenery is beautiful, and there are famous palaces, churches, colleges, bridges and other classic attractions along the Neva River. Walking on the Neva River near Peter and Paul Fortress, I met the colorful autumn colors, and the autumn scenery stained by the forest was like a beautiful picture, which was intoxicating in picturesque poetry.

The Neva River is located in northwestern Russia, 74 km long and 28 km in the city of St. Petersburg. The Neva River flows to the Gulf of Finland through many sea outlets in the downtown area of St. Petersburg. The river divides the city into many river islands. There are more than 300 bridges on the river. You can visit the Neva River by cruise ship. You can see the buildings on both sides of the river, the ships passing by and the bridges in various shapes.

Historic walk with Russian buildings

St. Petersburg is built on the Neva Delta, a series of islands connected by bridges. The river and its feeder canals define the city. Walk the banks, ride the waters - its the only way to get a true feel for Petersburg.

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St Petersburg Boat Tour

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We’ve picked St Petersburg’s 7 best river boat tours along the Neva river and the city’s picturesque canalways, each revealing a particular aspect of the city’s history and architecture.

When Peter the Great founded his new capital back in 1703, he tried to get all the citizens of St. Petersburg to travel round the city by boat. You surely wouldn’t like to break a good old tradition, would you?

St. Petersburg was built on 42 islands and is surrounded by a complex web of rivers, canals and channels that seem to bind the city together, while also marking the borders of its diverse districts and neighborhoods. St. Petersburg’s low-rise classical architecture means that great city views are often visible from the water, and therefore an essential part of the exploration of the city is to get on a boat and cruise the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg.

River cruises run from April to November.

*** The tours are run in spring, summer and autumn. 

1. The Golden Ring of the Northern Venice

This is the most popular itinerary of city boat tours in St Petersburg.

Start time:  any day, any time

Duration:  3 hours

Tour Highlights:

• Find out why St. Petersburg is often called the “Venice of the North”;
• Travel through the urban landscape of the aristocratic 18th and 19th centuries;
• See  the most beautiful palaces ( Shuvalov, Sheremetev,Yusupov Palaces);
• See plenty of stunning bridges, and the most impressive panoramas and classic vistas, such as the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island (The Spit of Basil’s Island).

Tour Landmarks:

• St. Nicholas Cathedral  
• Mariinsky Theatre
• Moika River Embankment
• New Holland island
• Stroganov and Mariinsky Palaces
• St. Isaac’s Cathedral
• General Staff Building 
• The widest bridge in the city – Blue Bridge (97.3m wide)
• Vasilyevsky and Aptekarsky Islands
• Peter and Paul Fortress
• Summer Garden

2. Drawbridges Boat Tour at night

There are many things you can not see during the day – an amazing illumination of the Palace Square, the night lights of the Admiralty, but most importantly – an unforgettable spectacular opening of drawbridges of St Petersburg.

Start time:  any day, 12.00 am

• Visit the embankments of the Neva river at magic night time;
• Watch the raising bridges – the nice old tradition of St Peterburg;
• See the city in the brilliant lights;
• Be a part of the fascinating caravan of ships in the night with hundreds of people taking pictures of the ships from the embankments;
• See all seven of St Petersburg’s major drawbridges;
• Most tours are accompanied with live music.
• Palace Bridge
• Troitsky Bridge
• Liteyny Bridge
• Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge
• Alexander Nevsky Bridge
• Sampsonievsky Bridge
• Blagoveschensky Bridge

3. Jazz evenings on the Neva River

The treasure of St Petersburg – beautiful cathedrals, magnificent monuments, unique fortifications, picturesque landscapes of the coastline – all add up to your authentic river cruise experience.

For complete stylistic authenticity the hall of the ship was decorated with carved oak elements. Everything here breathes with a noble antiquity: comfy sofas, a bar, covered with ornate carvings, wrought iron lamps, pictures of talented jazz bands of the past. The interior is complemented by the natural scenery of the old St. Petersburg, with its beautiful architecture and picturesque landscapes.

Start time:  any day except Monday, 6-7 pm

• Surround yourself with wonderful decorations of embankments of the Neva River;
• Discover St Petersburg on board of «City Blues» boat & restaurant, stylized as a steamer of the early 20th century;
• Indulge in the exquisite jazz improvisations of the best jazz musicians in the romantic atmosphere of the evening;
• Be delighted with tasty meal cooked during the trip;
• Candles, starched tablecloths, fine cuisine and impeccable service;
• Extensive sightseeing deck with fantastic panorama.
• Hermitage Museum
• Winter Palace
• Rostral Columns 
• Old Stock Exchange on Vasilyevsky Island
• Bronze Horseman

4. A visit to the night fortress

St Petersburg boat tour of the parade and the historic center of St. Petersburg, the canals and the fortress.

Start time:  11.00 pm, any day

Duration:  3 hours

• Arrow Vasilevsky Island
• Marble Palace
• Cruiser Aurora
• Summer Palace of Peter 1
• Mikhailovsky Castle
• Sheremetyevo Palace
• Anichkov Bridge
• Anichkov Palace
• Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace
• Lomonosov Bridge
• St. Nicholas Cathedral
• Arch of New Holland island
• Potseluev (Kissing bridge)
• Yusupov Palace
• Blue Bridge – the widest bridge of the city
• Mariinsky Palace
• Stroganov Palace
• Palace Square
• Winter Canal – the shortest canal of the city
• Rostral columns
• Kunstkamera

5. Return to Old Petersburg

Explore the Old City on this sightseeing boat trip across small rivers and canals of St Petersburg.

Griboyedov Canal is a great place for admiring the intricate architecture of the city, including the magnificent Church of the Resurrection.

Start time:   any time, any day

Duration:   3 hours

• Strelka on Vasilevsky Island  (The Spit of Basil’s Island).
• New Admiralty Canal
• Bank Bridge
• Kazan Cathedral
• Kazan bridge
• Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral
• Alexander Pushkin Apartment Museum

6. Disco Party on the Neva River

Night party on the Neva River. Famous world disco hits, tasty cocktails and all-night long dancing: all components to have fun!

Duration:   7 hours (Drawbridge trip from 1.00 till 3.00)

Restaurant on board.

7. Hop on Hop off River Cruise

If you are looking for more active tour with stops to hop on and hop off for more intense exploration, this is a unique water route for you with stops at the popular sights of St. Petersburg, such as:

• Nevsky Prospekt
• Spit of Vasilyevsky Island
• Isaac Cathedral

Departure:  daily every hour from 11:00 to 20:00.

Free umbrellas and wi-fi on board.

• Original audio guide offers 10 languages and ​​can tell you about the city’s history, its myths and legends. The languages available: Russian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish and Finnish.

What you get:

• + Meet a local and make a new friend in Saint Petersburg.
• + Exciting fun communication with a local, not just boring history lessons.
• + Ask your guide questions about any subject, get genuinely connected with your guide.
• + Private Saint Petersburg tour, customized itinerary, personalized experience.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit your individual preferences.
• + Your personal tour guide focuses solely on you and makes sure you get the most out of your experience.
• + Your personal travel consultant is at your service any time via email, facebook, skype or whatsapp. You will not feel alone with Friendly Local Guides.
• + Must do + off the beaten path of the city.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Local cosy cafes and restaurants with traditional cuisine and interior.
• + Lunch specials on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + Best coffee shops in the city.
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Saint Petersburg scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Special offers for taxi and hotels with good location and price.
• + Expert local advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in St Petersburg.

*This tour can be modified to meet your preferences

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Mount Neva (12,814') is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and accessed from the Fourth of July Trailhead.

For detailed route description: CMC Press Guidebook: Colorado Scrambles 

Mount Neva - North Ridge: 9 miles, 3,400 feet of elevation gain, Class 3/4 scramble

Approach via established trail, ridge scramble to peak, exit via gully. 

0.0: Start at the Buckingham Campground/Fourth of July Trailhead.  Ascend up the Arapaho Pass Trail through forest.

1.27: Junction: Continue NE (stay Right) ascending on Arapahoe Pass Trail, forest thins as you ascend above tree line.

2.11: Junction: Reach Boss Mine. Continue NW (stay Left) on Arapaho Pass Trail.  Trail to the Right is Arapaho Glacier Trail which leads to South Arapaho Peak.  This is a good spot to scout your exit route.

3.25: Junction: Reach Arapaho Pass. Go West (Left) on Caribou Pass Trail.  Continue ascending about .25 miles, see the start of Neva's North Ridge to your left.  Pick a place to gear up for your scramble.

3.5: Ascend to Ridge, scramble to peak.

4.5: Summit Mount Neva, exit down boulder/talus field SW along connecting ridge.

4.8: Reach gully.  Depending upon time of year you will descend via snow/dirt to a bench between two unnamed alpine lakes. 

5.1: Reach bench between unnamed lakes; the trail is faint here (boulder/talus.)  The goal is to head back towards ascent trails, re-joining at Boss Mine.  Avoid cliff bands, willows, and marshes ... don't drop all the way into the drainage (willows/marsh/wet.)  Scouting on your approach at the Boss Mine will help your exit route finding.

6.8: Re-join Arapaho Pass Trail, descend to Buckingham Campground/Fourth of July Trailhead.

9.0: Back at Trail head parking area.

• Suitable Activities: Scrambling, Hiking
• Climbing Category: Intermediate Alpine Climb
• Seasons: June, July, August, September
• Weather: View weather forecast
• Avalanche Terrain Rating Complex View avalanche forecast .
• High Point: 12,814 ft
• Land Manager: U.S. Forest Service Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, Boulder Ranger District (ARNF)
• Parking Permit Required: USFS Permits & Passes
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12

Upcoming Activities

Level 2: scramble field day – mount neva.

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

• Mount Neva - North Ridge
• Mount Neva Loop via Fourth of July TH
• Mount Neva - Juliet Couloir

There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

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• Trail Reviews
• Field Notes
• Photography

Scrambling Mount Neva, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado

February 12th, 2024

High Point: 12,820 feet

Total Ascent: ~3,250 feet

Difficulty: Difficult

Distance: ~9 miles roundtrip

Waypoints: 40.08262, -105.53981

Route Type: Lollipop Loop

Skyblue Overland may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article.

Mount Neva is a classic Class 4 scramble in Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness. It doesn’t draw the 13er & 14er crowds because its elevation is under 13,000 feet. An undulating scramble and a 30 ft Class 4 wall are required to reach the summit. The descent is off-trail though a long, heavily vegetated alpine marshy area.

The iconic and classic Mount Neva scramble is a tried and true Class 4 test piece for the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Sharing the trailhead with other popular destinations like North and South Arapaho Peaks, Diamond Lakes, and Lake Dorothy, Neva is generally overlooked by the hiking generalist. There are a few reasons for this: its elevation is under 13,000 feet, so it doesn’t draw the 13er & 14er crowds, the most expedient way up it requires an undulating scramble and a 30 ft. Class 4 wall, and unless you reverse your ascent route, the descent is off-trail through a long and heavily vegetated alpine marshy area. However, if you have experience scrambling on similar terrain like Navajo Peak , McHenrys Peak , or Lead Mountains East Ridge , Neva provides the same experience without a parking lot fee to access. Naturally, this makes the trailhead insanely popular, but with careful planning, a quick half-day ascent of Neva can rapidly increase your outlook on life.

• Neva North Ridge: Class 4
• Neva South Ridge (descent): Class 2+ w/ significant off-trail navigation

Looking northwest from the ridgeline. The Never Summer mountains make up the horizon running left from photo center. Keen eyes should also be able to discern the shapes of Mt. Ida and Mt. Julian on the horizon to the right of center.

Table of Contents:

Article Navigation: Click on any of the listed items in the table of contents below to jump to that section of the article. Similarly, clicking on any large, white section header will jump you back to the Table of Contents.

• Scales and Criteria
• Directions to Trailhead
• Places to Stay
• Final Thoughts

Mt. Neva (far left) and the gnarled ridge leading to the sub-summit before it.

Scales and Criteria:

This article utilizes three separate rating systems: Difficulty, Popularity, and a Scramble Rating indicating the hardest move or set of moves encountered. The scramble rating employs the Yosemite Decimal System . By the easiest technical route, Mt. Neva is a Class 2+ hike with plenty of frustrating off-trail navigation. The off-trail approach is most often used when combing Neva with its southern neighbor Pt. 12,923 (commonly referred to as Jasper Peak). For scintillating scrambling and superb alpine views, the Class 4 North Ridge is the standard way to tag Neva.

Difficulty Ratings:

• Easy: less than 5 miles, less than 500 ft. of elevation gain
• Moderate: 5-10 miles, 500-2000 ft of elevation gain
• Hard: 5-15 miles, more than 2000 ft. of elevation gain
• Very Hard: 10+ miles, more than 3,500 ft. of elevation gain

Popularity Ratings:

• Low: Large sections of trail all to yourself
• Moderate: Sizeable trail sections to yourself, crowding possible on busy summer weekends
• High: You’ll be seeing people, still a chance for solitude in spring/fall/winter.
• Very High: Almost always busy.

Scramble Rating:

• Class 1 : Established hiking trail the entire length of the adventure. Low chance for injury.
• Class 2 : Typically involves cross-country navigation, possibly using hands for balance but not required, steeper than Class 1.
• Class 3 : Hands and feet used to scale areas, must use hands to proceed (either for balance or to help pull you up a section), increased exposure, a fall could be fatal. Helmet recommended, along with grippy hikers.
• Class 4 : Climbing on very steep terrain just shy of vertical, falls could be fatal, hands employed for grip and balance continuously, ropes advisable but scalable without. Helmets are highly recommended, along with grippy hikers.
• Class 5-5.4 : Near vertical and vertical climbing that involves technical rock-climbing moves, exposed, falls likely to be serious or fatal, possible to scale without ropes but only for very experienced veterans. Helmets, grippy hikers, and/or rock-climbing shoes necessary.
• Class 5.5 and up : Not covered as scrambling, full-on rock climbing with ropes, helmets, etc.

The YDS system is widely used in North America but can be quite subjective, so it is not perfect. The biggest differences I’ve encountered between Class 3 and Class 4 sections have to do with slope angle, exposure, and putting weight and pressure on hand grips (4) instead of using hands and feet interchangeably as supporting points of contact (3). It is not possible to climb a Class 4 section without using your hands to pull up some or all of your body weight. Typically, a Class 4 section will also require some type of rock-climbing move, like stemming , where hands or feet are pressed in opposition as if climbing the inside of a chimney. If downclimbing, a key difference is that most people will descend a Class 4 section facing inward, i.e., your back faces the exposure.

The Gore Range, seen across North Park from the slopes of Neva.

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Directions to Trailhead:

As far as directions go, google maps is your best bet. Getting to the 4 th of July Trailhead is not difficult, likely contributing to its popularity. From Boulder, make your way up canyon boulevard into Boulder Canyon. From Denver, take US36 to Boulder; after the McCaslin Boulevard exit, you’ll crest a roll of land and have a great view of the Boulder Valley and the iconic flatirons. Descend past the next exit and stay on 36. The second exit (Baseline Road) is the one you want; exit and take a left on Baseline. Only a minute or two later, Baseline will intersect with Broadway, take a right onto Broadway and pass the bulk of the CU campus. The road will cross Boulder Creek and run into Canyon boulevard on the edge of downtown. Take a left on Canyon and drive up to Nederland.

Once you arrive in Nederland, take the roundabout and head south on the peak-to-peak highway (CO 119). Just south of town, and just before a large hairpin turn, you should see signs on the right-hand side for Eldora ski resort. Take a right on Eldora avenue.

The road stays paved for the first few miles, passing the entrance to the ski resort on the left. Continue into the small town of Eldora and SLOW DOWN. The speed limit is 25 mph here, and there are MANY signs asking you to slow your roll. Once you thread through town, the road will turn to dirt, and you’ll pass the uber-popular Hessie Trailhead on your left. Just beyond that, the road splits, take the right fork to the 4 th of July Trailhead (there will be signs). These last few miles are on a much rougher road, but a coherent driver can navigate up to near the trailhead with a 2WD vehicle. If you do have some lift, at the very end, you can head up a right spur that leads to an upper parking lot. Once you’ve parked, make your way to the upper lot and find the large trailhead sign.

• Total time from most areas of Boulder: ~55 min.
• Total time from Denver (downtown): 1 hour 35 min.
• Total time from Fort Collins (downtown): ~2 hours
• Total time from Colorado Springs (downtown): ~2 hours and 30 minutes.

*All times are calculated without traffic, which can significantly impact travel from Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and the southern or eastern Denver suburbs.

*Please keep in mind, 4 th of July Trailhead and Hessie Trailhead are free lots, which significantly increases their popularity. It is not uncommon on weekends in July to see cars parked miles down the dirt road because all parking lots are full. Once the road opens (usually by July 4), prepare to get there before 6 am to have a chance to park near the trailhead. Autumn (September through mid-October) is your best bet to secure an easier parking situation; but, it has been known to snow up high starting in September, so preparing for wildly variable conditions is a prerequisite.

The western sides of Apache and Navajo Peaks.

Places to Stay:

Because of its ease of access to most areas in the Front Range, your best bet is to wake up early and make this a day trip. If that’s not an option, there are a few places between Boulder and the trailhead that will support camping endeavors.

• Rainbow Lakes Campground ( click here for information ). The overall gist here is that the campsite is beautiful, but it’s first come-first served, so no reservations and no fee. The road to get to it is rough (AWD/4WD likely required), and there is zero cell service; plan accordingly. Check out the reviews on the Dyrt to see what recent visitors are saying.
• West Magnolia Campground ( click here for information ). There are shooting enclosures nearby, so don’t be alarmed if you hear shots fired. The campground is free, secluded and cell service may be spotty. To view recent reviews, visit the Dyrt by clicking here .
• Camping in the Indian Peaks Wilderness : This option gets you closest to Neva but requires a permit, with a finite number issued every year. If you want to secure one in advance, keep checking recreation.gov in March of the year in question, they usually open up the permit system then. When filling out the permit, you need to indicate your backcountry zone ( map ) and details from your party. The rules and regulations regarding the Indian Peaks Wilderness can be found on the USFS website here . If you can snag an opening, the cost is $11.
• If you’d rather stay close but stay inside, check out lodging options in Nederland and Rollinsville.
• Further afield, Boulder, Estes Park, Blackhawk, Lyons, and even Golden can provide some good lodging options. Make sure to adjust your driving expectations, depending on where you end up staying.
• Bonus option : Gross Reservoir also has first come-first served camping (click here for reviews). You cannot swim in the lake (though people have kayaked and used SUP’s before), and the location is much closer to Boulder, meaning you may share the campground with loud guests and some college kids. Noise and trash have been reported before.

Another thing to keep in mind if you are visiting multiple places in the region is that while Hessie and the 4 th of July trailhead are free, Rocky Mountain National Park and Brainard Recreation Area are not. It is incumbent upon each visitor to find out what fees are needed and when.

The summits of Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker are quite visible on clear days.

Field Notes:

This section will walk you through some additional pointers while reiterating what’s been included in previous sections.

• For camping options, see Places to Stay.
• For directions, see Directions to Trailhead.
• 4 th of July Trailhead is free to access, but not all regional trailheads are; research your destinations and what fees are required BEFORE showing up.
• The trailhead is exceptionally popular from July-Labor Day; plan accordingly.
• Neva is NOT the easiest mountain accessed from this trailhead. If you don’t have significant scrambling experience (see the Overview section for a few comparable scrambles), do not climb this route. Instead, enjoy South Arapaho Peak, Diamond Lakes, Lake Dorothy, or Arapahoe Pass, all of which are well-marked destinations with obvious paths to follow.
• Practice leave no trace, do not antagonize wildlife, and if you are camping in the wilderness, put all smelly items in a bear canister. CAMPFIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED AT ANY TIME IN THE EASTERN INDIAN PEAKS WILDERNESS. Campgrounds (like West Magnolia and Rainbow) have established fire rings and can support fires as long as there aren’t local fire restrictions in place. Colorado is dry and windy; it’s not the tinder box that California has been, but the wildfire threat is real almost every year. Be proactive and know what you’re doing; causing a wildfire has serious implications (both legal and financial).

Looking at the hardest sections of the scramble, the summit of Neva is not visible.

From the edge of the upper lot at the fourth of July trailhead, take the Arapaho Pass Trail (really the only option at first) west into the woods. The first part of the trail gains some moderate elevation and is a pleasant stroll through oscillating woods. Be aware of trail braids near the bottom and try your best to stay on ground that has been traveled on before to minimize crushing plants and vegetation.

Roughly a mile into your journey, you’ll pass the first major intersection. A left will lead you across the drainage and up to Diamond Lakes; for this scramble, you want to stay straight. Following the intersection, the trail will take a more dramatic step uphill as it approaches the treeline. If a break is in order, there are a few small outcroppings on trailside left that provide good views up the basin, including of Mt. Neva.

The entire scramble, which starts at the right edge of the picture and traverses left across the horizon, ending on Neva’s summit.

Once you get to the two-mile marker, you should start seeing some old mining equipment to your right. The Arapaho Glacier trail breaks off here, ascending north to a saddle between Old Baldy and South Arapaho Peak with views of the largest glacier left in Colorado. Continue on the main vein and ascend the wide trail above the trees as it heads for Arapaho Pass.

Arapaho Pass Trail from near Neva’s summit.

Once you arrive at the pass, follow the trail left as it continues ascending for a few more minutes. Ultimately, this trail will get you to Caribou Pass, but you want to keep an eye out for Lake Dorothy on your left. Not only is Lake Dorothy the highest lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness (~12,060 ft. above sea level), it’s also your best visual indicator of when to start scouting for the beginning of the route.

Lake Dorothy and Arapaho Pass from above.

There are a couple of different ways to begin the scramble; you can continue on the main trail until finding a small set of cairns to your left, or you can break early and follow the roll of land between the lake and the trail as it gets higher. Once you locate the initially gentle alpine slope, find a nice place to grab a break and prepare for the scramble ahead.

Lake Dorothy and the majority of Neva’s north ridge route.

There are six main components to the scramble, with a few smaller features you can use for navigation or extra scrambling. In order, the components are: Bump 1, Bump 2, Bump 3 (which has a practice crux area), the Crux Area, The Spine (last optional scrambling), and the final summit walk. Below is a marked-up image of the components as you see them from near Lake Dorothy.

Marked up picture of the challenges ahead.

For identification purposes, you can differentiate the Bumps fairly easily. Bump 1 has a total of three thin lighter rock striations that run vertically, starting just to the left of the highest point. Bump 2 has one light rock striation that descends from the summit until taking a sharp turn north and dissipating. Bump 3 has a thick green patch of vegetation below the crest, and leads into the Crux Area, which is just to the right of the darker wall of rock. There is a wide, permanent snowfield below the crux area.

Changing scenery as you ascend Bump 1.

Getting to the top of Bump 1 is off-trail but not difficult and can be done by most fit hikers in good conditions. It’s a great place to analyze coming obstacles or pause and take great photos. The slope starts with mostly alpine grasses before changing over to scree.

Farther up the ridge, only a few minutes from the crest.

When you hit the ridge crest, the terrain pops back to grass until you ascend the final dozen feet through larger talus to the top of Bump 1. For the hesitant, this is probably your best bail-out point. It is possible to retrace steps later on, but the effort required will double.

Ridge overview from the top of Bump 1

The descent off of Bump 1 gives you your first small Class 3 section. Descending along the ridge crest dramatically increases the difficulty. You want to stay on the crest until sighting a gully to your left. Descend on some grippy broken rocks (Class 3) until you can veer right to the saddle between the first two bumps.

Looking back at the first small Class 3 section.

The ascent up to the top of Bump 2 is relatively tame, never really getting harder than an occasional Class 2+ move by the easiest path.

Bump 2 general ascent path from Bump 1.

Once you top out on Bump 2, the scrambling increases once again. Multiple route options exist, with varying challenges. Opting to scramble along the ridge crest provides the most fun, with chunks of Class 3 scrambling thrown in.

An example of the terrain beyond the high point on Bump 2.

There’s even a mini-knife edge you can awkwardly scoot along or just take a step to the right and follow a slightly easier traverse (still Class 3) with a hand on the knife-edge for stability. Even though your pace will undoubtedly slow, this is a great section to force the scrambling mindset to take over.

Me, at the end of the short knife edge.

After the knife-edge, staying ridge direct pulls you into a sizeable Class 5 descent. This can be avoided. The path of least resistance will have you hunting for a shallow gully to the left (east) with Lake Dorothy below. Descend (Class 2-3) with steeper rocks to your right. Once able, veer right once more and traverse to the next saddle.

Down the gully.

Once you hit the saddle, you’re halfway to the crux. For reference, here’s a progress picture.

So far, so good.

An intriguing optional feature confronts you on the other side of the saddle. It is possible to get through with a few Class 3+ moves or stay closer to the ridge crest and climb a grippy slab with less obvious holds (light Class 4).

Practice crux area.

Before committing to the easiest path, see if you can flirt with tougher variations; this is a good way to steel yourself for the unavoidable Class 4 crux.

Beyond the practice Crux, the ridge mellows briefly before ascending up to the top of Bump 3. Scramble up a Class 3 section with a few variations and arrive at the top.

Looking back to Bump 2 from near the top of Bump 3.

Drop off of Bump 3 with some brief Class 3 downclimbing and continue. It will seem like, once again, ridge direct leads into Class 5 terrain, but stick with it, and you’ll reach the following saddle with few issues.

Looking back at the descent off of Bump 3.

This is the last low area before the crux climb. The leadup has some interesting elements to consider as well, including some Class 3 scrambling up a series of slanted blocks.

Interesting blocks to climb.

Beyond the blocks, you can stay on the ridgeline until connecting with the larger sub-summit that holds the crux.

Getting to the steepest areas.

Below, I’ve broken down some elements to keep in mind.

There are roughly 15-30 feet of unavoidable Class 4 scrambling on the crux wall, but the factors are stacked on your side, grippy rock, identifiable features, and no awkward downclimbing.

Good overview of the crux area from earlier in the scramble.

The path of least resistance is an angling traverse below the start of the optional dihedral. If inclined, climb up the dihedral, reengage the ridge crest and walk a spindly, exposed line to the notch next to the crux.

Eyeing the dihedral.

If you’re focused on the crux, instead of climbing the dihedral, traverse to an obvious rock fin that cuts diagonally across your path.

Approaching the Rock Fin.

Employ some Class 3 moves to scramble up and over the rib. The slope angle here is quite steep. On the other side, you’ll enter a pocket of grassy alpine vegetation, buffered by the crux wall.

Looking back after crossing the rock fin.

Ascend into the pocket, keeping an eye on the wall and formulating a route. It should be fairly obvious where the scramble begins because everything to the left of it is much harder.

Steep but manageable terrain to the start of the wall.

As you stand below the wall, locate a vegetation tuft below a large diagonal crack. The sun washed out some colors from the picture below, but I’ve marked the vegetation tuft and some rust-colored rock that you generally want to stay below. From a distance, the diagonal crack is obvious and can be used as a marker, but it’s virtually invisible when you’re standing at the foot of the wall.

The Class 4 wall.

Things to remember at the crux.

• It is shorter than you think it is.
• The rock is very grippy when dry.
• This will be the last mandatory Class 4 moment if you take the loop option back.

Rather than go through the minutiae of how you ascend the wall, I’m going to provide some pictures of the wall and one of my hiking partners scrambling up it. The variation shown is NOT the only way; find a line that suits you and have at it.

Clearer view of the start, with the vegetation tuft a little easier to see.

Getting ready to scramble.

At the end of the steepest part.

Topping out.

After the crux, ascend easier slopes (Class 2) while admiring the progress you’ve made. On clear days you’ll be able to see Longs Peak to the North, the high plains to the east, the Gore Range to the west, and Winter Park Ski Resort to the southwest.

Winter Park from above the crux.

You can maintain the ridgeline until arriving at the base of The Spine. Here, you can either traverse completely by on the right-hand side or take The Spine up for some extra scrambling.

Scramble up or pass around.

This section is loaded with some fun Class 3 on good rock and consists of two parts with a notch between them.

Scrambling out of the notch between the two parts of the Spine.

Enjoy it while you can because, on the other side, the rock quality changes for the worse.

Although brief, the rocks are not very stable here, watch your steps.

If you traversed around, or as you descend off the spine, you’ll notice a sand-colored rock taking over. This rock is fairly brittle and moves a lot, so take some extra time and make sure you’re stepping on something that won’t shift dramatically beneath you.

Looking down from the top of the sandy rocks.

A quick minute or two of careful Class 2+ scrambling will deposit you above the sand-colored rock. Stay true to the ridge crest and enjoy some more easy talus hopping until the rocks end and more pleasant alpine takes over.

Good perspective of all you’ve climbed so far. Lake Dorothy is visible to the lower right-hand side of the picture.

From here, the rest of the journey is a simple alpine stroll to the summit, with some brief talus near the top (Class 2).

Up to the highest point.

Because the hardest is now behind you, you may be tempted to pick up the pace. Do yourself a favor, and don’t let summit fever take over just yet. After all you’ve done, twisting an ankle this far into your adventure would be a shame; watch your footfalls and arrive safely at the top.

Summit view north.

Once you’ve properly basked in your achievement, descend south along the crest of the now very pleasant ridge. At the low point between you and the next summit south (the unofficially named Jasper Pk.), veer left into a loose gully leading down.

The first part of the descent from the summit.

There is a relatively well-defined social trail leading down, but because it’s a climber’s trail, erosion has stripped a lot of the grippy rock away, and the path leads through some loose scree. You can avoid this (for the most part) by hunting sturdier rocks to the left side of the path. At the bottom of the gully, you are clear of the major alpine challenges. There’s also a set of vibrant alpine lakes up here.

The unnamed lake closer to Jasper Peak.

Both lakes sport some nice, deeper spots, but as always, make sure you can see below before jumping into anything. Being above treeline and in a recessed basin, these lakes are always cold.

Passing along the shoreline of the northern lake, nearest to Neva’s summit.

Pass between the two lakes on your way out before hugging left. You’re going to want to follow the drainage down but veering too far to the right creates additional navigational challenges later. The goal is to cross the lake’s outlet stream before the talus gives way to a flatter, marshy area. It is not uncommon to see moose in the marshy areas, so pay attention and give them a wide berth.

General descent route with Arapaho Pass Trail marked in the distance.

The trailless portion of the loop takes over here, and you will be crossing multiple small hogbacks, marshy areas, and eventually a massive willow field. It is tempting to think that this section will go quickly since you can see the Arapaho Pass Trail across the drainage but go ahead and throw that thought out.

Crossing the outlet stream from the unnamed lakes. The summit of Neva is the highest visible pinnacle.

The goal is to reconnect with the Arapaho Pass Trail above treeline to limit visibility issues. Trying to find the driest path is difficult but not insurmountable, ultimately leading to the willow field.

Typical off-trail terrain as you head back to Arapaho Pass Trail.

When you reach the willow field, you don’t really have a choice except to hunt for the thinnest section of willows before bashing through them. The plants reach up to hip level, so it’s difficult to see where you are planting your feet; GO SLOW. This section is very reminiscent of the willows in Upper Glacier Gorge . There’s also another stream you need to cross in this part; make sure you’re watching those footfalls. It will be tempting to veer right to avoid the marshy area, but there are multiple additional challenges there, like crossing the stream before it hits a series of steep cascades or making sure you don’t descend back into the trees where orientation becomes more difficult.

The thick Willows. Mt. “Jasper” is visible in the background.

After the willows, continue north, following whatever line appears best, and reconnect with the Arapaho Pass Trail. Now that you’ve tied the loop: descend east on the trail for ~2.5 miles until you reach your car; nicely done!

Mt. Neva just before reconnecting to the Arapaho Pass Trail.

Final Thoughts:

Mt. Neva is an excellent scramble. However, like all alpine scrambling adventures, risks exist. On my first of multiple scrambles up the mountain, I sliced my knee down to the patella. While I was able to drag myself over the crux and down the other side, the three months of recovery effectively ended my hiking season. Enjoy the playground of stable, grippy rocks but do not forget to watch your step on any of the alpine portions. Despite the relatively tame overall mileage, you are still far from help.

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Terms of Use: As with each guide published on SKYBLUEOVERLAND.com, should you choose to this route, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road closures. While taking a trail, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow the #leavenotrace guidelines . The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this route, associated GPS track (GPX and maps), and all route guidelines were prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. SKYBLUE OVERLAND LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following this route.

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