Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Georgetown Length: 9 total miles Elevation Gain: 3,640 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: Generally well marked and easy to follow. Duration: 7 hours Season: Midsummer through mid-fall. The higher parts of the trail are usually covered with snow from November through mid-July Local Contacts: Mount Evans Wilderness Area, Arapaho National Forest Grays and Torreys Peaks are the two highest points on the Continental Divide. Torreys at 14,270 was named after John Torrey, an early nineteenth-century botanist who is best remembered for his work in classifying North American flora. Grays Peak at 14,270 was named in recognition of Asa Gray, also a well known botanist in the mid 1800s, whose research on variations in plant species provided important evidence in support of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. The Grays Peak Trail has recently been designated as a National Recreational Trail, and it is one of the best maintained of any of the fourteener trails. The trail approaches the peak through a gorgeous glacial valley. The valley ends at the foot of the Continental Divide below the saddle connecting Grays Peak with Torreys. We started with Grays which is to the left on your way up. I have seen people with different levels of hiking capability. Most people made it half way. It is a relentless uphill climb. In hindsight I would’ve done Torreys first although I was advised otherwise. Just because Torreys to me is definitely a bit more than its neighbor Grays. To be recognized as having submitted a peak you must do a 3000 climb or ascend. This climb puts you at 3,640 total ascend. A well maintained trail doesn’t mean a walk in the park. It is rocky. Steep and rocky is equals to a problem downhill. Not sure footed? Your friendly hiking pole should come with you. A few areas to stop and take pictures of these two is definitely a must. On the day we came we took our time. Check NOAA before you leave home. Its the best source for weather prediction. I knew a storm wouldn’t be coming in at all. The top is a different story. Howling wind and not much of a space when crowded with people pushed us to stay a few minutes only. Enough to get over to Torreys and down. At the bottom where the trail starts you will see a bathroom. Unfortunately I can say this is the worst bathroom I’ve seen. AND I have seen a lot in the wilderness. Parking. Early bird gets the worms. Figure it out. Happy trails and on to more 14ers for me!
Christopher B.
Classificação do local: 5 Denver, CO
This review is for both Grays and Torreys Peaks. I heard so many people talking about these 14ers and if it weren’t for the floods last fall then I would have already done these. Alas, I finally had the chance to try to conquer these. Last week, a park ranger told us there is no such thing as an easy 14er. It’s an accomplishment to ascend one in a day but two is really amazing to do! Unlike other reviews, I absolutely wouldn’t recommend this one for a first 14er. Go to Bierstadt for that. Several people were on their first ascent and getting their butt kicked. We were there on our way to the trail head at 6:30AM and it still took us nearly 45 minutes to get there because parking was taken and/or the road was only accessible by 4×4 beyond a certain point. We opted to hit Grays Peak first. The ascent was not too bad and the views were absolutely spectacular. I could see why some first timers would attempt this peak. The challenge came with Torreys Peak. It isn’t that is was super hard but I think that just getting to Grays Peak takes a lot of out you that you really start feeling it at some point. Again, the views were great but Grays takes the prize out of these two. This hike is 8.35 miles for both peaks and ascends 3,366 feet. It took us exactly 7 hours to the minute trailhead to trailhead. From our car, it was 8 hours 24 minutes. In my opinion, for a first timer, I would definitely do Bierstadt first. That is amazing hike with great views and I think it’s a bit easier than either of these and definitely easier than trying to do both of these in a single day.
Gee W.
Classificação do local: 3 Denver, CO
As plain vanilla 14er that is close to Denver, this gets A LOT of traffic. I’m going to try and not get on my soapbox too much here, but on some of these ‘easy’ 14ers, I’ve seen more than my share of people putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations. There are basically 2 main trail heads, a winter one that is right next to I-70, and then a summer one that is 3 miles up a dirt road. The summer trail head can get VERY crowded on the weekends, so my suggestion is to get there early. 6:30AM is good. 6 is even better. If you are getting there later than 7 or 8, well, have fun with parking. The trail is easy to spot and starts out as a fairly easy climb. As you go up, it gets steeper and rockier, but still manageable. Once you summit Grays, you can easily head down to a saddle and then climb towards Torreys Peak. Peak to peak your time should be under an hour, probably closer to 40 minutes. On my trek, weather was supposed to turn ugly in the mid afternoon. I was watching the sky the whole time, and by the time I got to Grays(I did Torreys first), some of the surrounding peaks were cloaked in storm clouds. Time to hustle down. By the time I was more than halfway down, both Grays and Torreys were completely obscured in dark storm clouds. Despite this, there were still TONS of people headed up. Interesting choice there. As you know, Gray’s is a relatively ‘easy’ 14er that is close to Denver. You get a lot of rookies on a trail like this, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but on the flip side, this isn’t just a regular hike in a regional park either. Leaving early in the morning gives you the best chance to avoid weather near the summit and the most daylight. Having the proper gear and being prepared for weather changes is something that everyone should have. But both of these seem to be the exception rather than the rule on this trail. Lots of jeans, no jackets, and no equipment. I’ve seen people carrying 12 month old babies on their backs, fully intending to make the summit. I saw more than one person in jeans, a t-shirt, and carrying a gallon jug of water. W. T. F? I don’t know how those people did coming down in the rain and the hail, but, by that time, I was down at the base loading my stuff back in my car. Common sense in society is amazingly uncommon. The same applies to some of these hikers. In the end, this is a nice 14er to cut your teeth on. Go early, take the proper gear, watch the weather, and enjoy!
Amanda G.
Classificação do local: 5 Denver, CO
Ok, so I’m being a little bit of a copy-cat here(gasp…I know!) and copying Dan W. in reviewing a 14er. But I had to. I just had to. Gray’s was my first fourteener of the summer and a fabulous way to start. I would recommend this mountain to anyone who is a 14er «virgin» and looking for their first mountain to climb. It has a wide and very well-worn trail much of the way to the top, so much so that E refers to it as the«I-70 of 14er trails.» It gains about 3000 feet of elevation in 3 and ½ miles, pretty standard for a 14er trail, and very doable even if you aren’t even remotely in shape(like I was) and do okay with the elevation. It was the second 14er out of three total that I’ve summitted — it was by far my favorite hike, although I have to say that the view from Yale has yet to be surpassed, even by Gray’s. Still, the view from the top is beyond words. It made me cry… no seriously, it made me cry. After hours of hiking(being out-of-shape, it took me longer than I would have liked) in bad weather, the rewarding view was enough to stir up my volatile woman hormones and open the flood gates. It made E a little uncomfortable… This is an awesome trail for doggies who are up to the task… both Champ and Aspen took part in this summit, and there were MANY other dogs on the trail, kind of like a nomadic dog park. Aspen delighted in sniffing and stalking pikas(little rodents that sound like squeaky toys so OBVIOUSLY he’s interested) and rolling in the snow fields that were hanging on even in August. He got lots of compliments on his dog booties too, which prevent him from rubbing his feet raw. A great hike. A beautiful view. And another 14er you can cross off your list. Isn’t life in Colorado grand?
