From Leadville: Drive 20 miles south on U.S. 24 and turn right on the Chaffee County 390 road. From Buena Vista: Drive 14.5 miles north on U.S. 24 and turn left on the Chaffee County 390 road. On the 390 road, drive 7.5 miles to the Missouri Gulch trailhead and continue approx. 1.6 miles to reach the Sheep Gulch TH on the right.

Details:

Leave the trailhead (Photo #1) and hike north into Sheep Gulch on the Colorado Trail. Stay right at a trail junction (Photo #2) and continue to 11,300’ where the trail crosses to the east side of Sheep Gulch. Exit the trees near 12,200’ and continue toward the saddle between Mt. Hope and Quail Mountain - Photo #3, Photo #4 and Photo #5. From the saddle (also called Hope Pass), turn right (east) to see Quail’s rocky west ridge - Photo #6.

Follow trail segments up the ridge (Photo #7 and Photo #8) to reach a rocky point after nearly 800’ of elevation gain - Photo #9. Hike over the top or bypass on the right to gain the summit ridge - Photo #10. Continue southeast onto another point (Photo #11) and then up to the summit - Photo #12 and Photo #13.