14er Hiking: Climbing Grays & Torreys peaks

Be prepared to climb a 14er like Grays & Torreys Peaks, by Deb Stanley

Colorado has more than 50 peaks that are considered 14ers, meaning they are more than 14,000 feet high.

While climbing a 14er is never easy, Grays and Torreys Peaks are considered among the "easier" of the 14ers. The trail to the peaks is fairly short and the peaks are close to the Denver metro area so hikers should not expect solitude on this hike. Even on a Friday, the trailhead parking lot was full by 6:45 a.m.

To get to the trailhead, exit I-70 at the Bakerville exit and turn south. There are two roads, look for the road with the brown sign that says "Grays Peak." It's 3 miles from the highway to the trailhead. Hikers need a high-clearance vehicle to get up this forest road. Many hikers who come unprepared find themselves parking on the dirt road and hiking the extra distance to the trailhead. A friend with a Subaru lost an oil pan in one of the deep ruts on this road.

That road is actually part of the Continental Divide Trail. Not to be confused with the Colorado Trail that stretches from Denver to Durango, the Continental Divide Trail stretches from the U.S. border with Canada to the U.S. border with Mexico. The highest spot on the trail is Grays Peak. 

At the Grays Peak parking lot, the trail crosses a bridge and quickly begins to climb up. Hikers climb just 600 feet in the first mile. Then the trail becomes more level as it approaches a sign for the Grays Peak National Recreation Area at 1.5 miles from the trailhead. During the first mile and a half hikers can enjoy the wildflower show along the trail and the occasionally glimpses of the peaks up ahead.

The Grays Peak National Recreation Area sign tells hikers from that spot it's 2 miles to the top of Grays and about 2,145 feet in elevation. Torreys is slightly shorter than Grays, by 3 feet. Grays elevation is 14,270 feet, Torreys is 14,267 feet.

After the sign, hikers get a good view of both peaks. Look carefully to see hikers on the switchbacks near the top. The path here winds through thick willows, but the path is wide enough that the willows are not a problem.

At 1.7 miles, hikers enter a field of rocks with a stream flowing through it. Watch closely on your right at about 1.8 mile for the remnants on a mile north of the trail. There is a single track trail leading to the mine, but it's probably best to climb the peaks first.

The next major trail marker appears to come at about 2.75 miles, but those two small wooden signs just tell hikers "restoration in progress." The actual trail marker is at 2.86 miles where the trail splits to Grays or Torreys. At the split, hikers are at 13,250 feet with about another 1,000 feet to go. The trail to Grays has one more long stretch to a rock tower that overlooks Stevens Gulch, then it's switchbacks to the top. (The trail, section by section with photos, on 14ers.org.)

At the top, take lots of photos and congratulate yourself on climbing Colorado's 9th highest peak.

From here, you can descend a short way to the trail to Torrey's or return the way you came. The trail to Torrey's drops about 500 feet, meaning hikers have to climb that 500 feet again to summit Torrey's.

As with any hike in Colorado, be prepared for any kind of weather. We found ice 1.8 miles in and 6 inch deep sections of snow on Torrey's the first weekend in August  in 2009.

For more info: Gear list for climbing a 14er. Peak information.

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