Grays Peak
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Grays Peak is the highest mountain in the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. State of Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners (mountains of over 14,000 feet (4,268 m) in elevation) in Colorado. Its nearest major city is Denver. The first man to ascend Grays Peak, botanist Charles C. Parry, named the peak for his botanist colleague Asa Gray. Gray actually did not see the peak until 1872, 11 years later. It is nearly always mentioned in conjunction with nearby Torreys Peak. Grays Peak is located on the Continental Divide, as well as the boundary between Clear Creek County and Summit County. Its summit is the highest point exactly on the Continental Divide. (There are higher summits, such as Mount Elbert, which are near the Divide.)
Like the other fourteeners nearby, Grays Peak is considered to be an easy hike by fourteener standards, and is very popular among weekend climbers. Usually a climb to the summit of Grays Peak is accompanied by continuing on to Torreys Peak, less than a mile away.
The main trail departs from Stevens Gulch, to the northeast. To get to the Stevens Gulch Trailhead, take I-70 west from Denver about 50 miles (80 km) to Bakerville. From there, take Stevens Gulch Road south about 2.5 miles (4 km) to the trailhead.
From the trailhead, it is a hike of about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) and a climb of 3,040 feet (927 m). The trail, well-marked and well-trodden, begins by following the gulch for a slow rise in elevation, before hitting the steeper slopes.
At the climber's option, the trail continues from the summit north to Torreys Peak. The trail descends the saddle down to 13,707 feet (4,178 m) before climbing back to the summit of Torreys Peak at 14,267 feet (4,349 m).
See also
- Colorado 4 km peaks
- Colorado fourteeners
- Colorado mountain peaks
- Colorado mountain ranges
- Mountain peaks of North America
- Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains
- Mountain peaks of the United States