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A mix of trails and roads leading to an off-trail scramble to two nice summits.


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Map Key

9.7

Miles

15.7

KM

70%

Runnable

13,709' 4,178 m

High

10,373' 3,162 m

Low

3,371' 1,028 m

Up

3,371' 1,027 m

Down

13%

Avg Grade (7°)

110%

Max Grade (48°)

Dogs Leashed

Overview

From the trailhead at the base of Spruce Creek Road #800, follow the road up to the junction with Aqueduct Road, and head towards Francies Cabin. Turn left on Crystal Lakes Road #803, and follow the road up to Lower Crystal Lake.

Just before you reach the lake, leave the road, and use the faint trail to the left and your routefinding abilities to ascend to the ridge below Father Dyer Peak. Scramble from Father Dyer Peak to Crystal Peak, then to the saddle between Crystal Peak and Peak 10. At the saddle, descend to Crystal Lakes Trail #44, and then to Crystal Lakes Road #803 which will take you back to the trailhead.

Check out the photos for this run for some additional info on what to expect and how to navigate the unmarked sections.

Description

This trail includes both possible approaches from the Spruce Creek Road #800 winter trailhead to the area near Francies Cabin. I took Spruce Creek Road #800 on the way up and Crystal Lakes Road #803 on the way down. Spruce Creek Road is a bit longer, but not as steep as Crystal Lakes Road. In the summer, it is possible to park farther up Spruce Creek Road, which would take about 2.0 miles off the total run, but you probably want a 4WD vehicle to get up to the upper lot.

From near Francies Cabin, continue up Crystal Lakes Road #803 towards Lower Crystal Lake. Just before the lake, you can head left on an unmarked trail to continue up this route or head right on Crystal Lakes Trail #44 to run up to Upper Crystal Lake. From this point, you have a very good view of Father Dyer Peak to your left.

To continue on this route, head left up the trail a short ways and then cut off to the right towards some steep grassy ledges to reach the ridge. Scramble and run steeply up the ridge to the summit of Father Dyer Peak. I stayed fairly close to the ridgeline other than a couple places where I traversed down and around larger features. There are some 3rd class moves but nothing too exposed. Try to stay on the ridge as much as possible. The route finding is not very tricky. At times, there is a faint trail.

From the summit of Father Dyer, traverse the ridge on relatively flat but somewhat loose ground. Stay on the ridge all the way to the summit of Crystal Peak. Take in the views and head down the ridge line in the other direction with a clear view of Upper Crystal Lake until you reach the saddle between Crystal Peak and Peak 10. Head down steep grassy and rocky terrain until meeting up with Crystal Lakes Trail #44 just to the east of Upper Crystal Lake. Take this trail back to Lower Crystal Lake to meet back up with the approach.

Contacts

Shared By:

Rigggs24

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#2

in Breckenridge

#1525

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
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Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Breckenridge

#276

in Colorado

#1,525

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16 Views Last Month
3,658 Since Jul 26, 2018
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Photos

Nearing the summit of Father Dyer Peak looking down at lower crystal lake and the 3rd class ridge
Jul 26, 2018 near Brecken…, CO
Father Dyer Peak and the 3rd class ridge is in the center and left of the photo. Crystal Peak is in the sun just in view to the right of Father Dyer Peak.
Jul 26, 2018 near Brecken…, CO
From the summit of Crystal Peak.  Looking down at upper Crystal lake and the descent ridge towards Peak 10
Jul 26, 2018 near Copper…, CO
Looking at Crystal Peak from the ridge line of Father Dyer.  The Descent heads down the ridge to the right to the saddle and down steep grassy ledges to the trail you can see just above the upper Crystal lake
Jul 26, 2018 near Brecken…, CO

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