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Solitude up a busy 14er.


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Map Key

3.8

Miles

6.2

KM

61%

Runnable

14,191' 4,326 m

High

12,653' 3,857 m

Low

2,600' 792 m

Up

1,260' 384 m

Down

19%

Avg Grade (11°)

95%

Max Grade (43°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers

Keep an eye on the weather if you're planing a high alpine venture. In summer months, thunderstorms often roll in during the afternoon, making peak travel dangerous. Get up early so that you can summit and be back below treeline by the time the thunder comes in!

Runner Notes

This route is extremely strenuous and quite technical in most places. Use caution.

Description

Most people conquer the Grays and Torreys Peaks together from the popular Herman Gulch trailhead off of I-70. However, if you want some solitude along a beautiful ridgeline and some extra miles, then this is the route for you. Oh, and did I mention you'll climb a 13er, Grizzly Peak, on your way there and back?

Access this trail by first taking the Mt. Sniktau Trail located on south side of Loveland Pass. That trail starts climbing steeply right away. You'll top out on your first bump on the ridgeline after roughly .85 mile and about 900 ft of elevation gain. From this point, the trail breaks off to the southeast. I wasn't kidding when I say this route starts out quick!

Your next goal is to climb to the top of Grizzly Peak, a 13er. From that first bump on the ridge it is 2 miles to the top of Grizzly. The ski area you see below you and to the north is Arapahoe Basin, a really fun ski area that some years stays open until the 4th of July. Once you are done taking in the views, you have a scree-filled descent of the backside to a saddle between Grizzly and Torreys Peak.

The ascent of the backside of Torreys is a straightforward, but a slog and a half! According to google earth in 1.1 miles you'll gain 1600 feet of elevation!!! Just to remind you, that is not starting at sea level, you are starting at 12,500 and going up over 14,000 feet! Depending on when you started and your pace, Torreys is the probably the first time you'll see people. The Grays and Torreys Peaks is a very popular route for people to train and to get in their first fourteener experience.

Once you reach Torrey's Peak, you'll return the way that you came.

Contacts

Shared By:

aaron moore

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 6 votes

#11331

Overall
  4.0 from 6 votes
5 Star
17%
4 Star
67%
3 Star
17%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#982

in Colorado

#11,331

Overall
2 Views Last Month
2,457 Since Apr 19, 2016
Difficult Difficult

0%
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Photos

Approaching the low point. Torrey's peak looms ahead, Grizzly Peak D is behind.
Dec 27, 2017 near Keystone, CO
Torreys Peak and Grays Peak from Grizzly Peak
Apr 8, 2019 near Keystone, CO
Grizzly Peak with Cornice
Apr 8, 2019 near Keystone, CO
Loose rock and slushy snow.
Apr 8, 2019 near Keystone, CO
A mountain sunrise near Loveland Pass.
Apr 16, 2016 near Keystone, CO
Looking North with Loveland Pass road in the foreground.
Apr 16, 2016 near Keystone, CO

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