Grays Peak

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 2/22/2026, By: Dan+Max
Info: Parked at the winter trailhead and walked the road up to the summer trailhead. Road is well packed down from local snowmobile/ATV traffic. With a capable 4X4 and good snow tires you might be able to drive 70% of the way to the summer trailhead. There was indication that a few vehicles attempted to drive all the way but couldn't make it up a steep slippery section. There are a couple 20-30ft sections of iced over road, and it looks like the locals created 3-4 snow berm obstacles to cross over along the road, adding to the difficulty.

Flotation was required immediately after the bridge at the start of the trail. I used snowshoes. Probably 6-12 inches on most of the trail with some drifts that were much deeper. Someone had snowshoed ahead of me to about 11,600' and turned around, so I put in tracks to about 12,300' before turning around myself. The snow on Kelso didn't look too concerning at 11,600', so I stayed on the summer trail until around 12,000', where I dropped lower to avoid the very obvious avalanche chute. Quickly found myself in some deep snow covered willows, but eventually found some more solid snow.

Wind was calm until 12,000', after that it was sustained 15-20mph, with gusts around 30mph and blowing a lot of snow. Goggles would have been helpful had I continued. Had my dog Max with me, he did well in the snow most of the trail, but eventually his paws & feet started accumulating too much ice so I thought it best to turn around. Might try again in a couple days without the dog. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 1/12/2026, By: Piotr
Info: Road to trailhead is packed snow, with a single section of ice about a mile up. I was able to drive my Rubicon within 1/4 mile of summer trailhead. The road is covered beyond that point with 3-4" of snow, could have made it all the way with better tires, decided to play it safe and park 1/2 mile lower.
Trail is 80% packed snow, 10% postholing and 10% dirt. There is a nice trench that has been packed down since last storm. Spikes would have been helpful on upper part of Grays trail which was icy/windblown, but I was able to make it up and down without them.
There are two snowfields on Torreys connector trail which look questionable. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 1/1/2026, By: hamburglar
Info: Parked at lower TH, did Torreys and then Grays. Snow is packed down everywhere on trail. Some totally dry sections. Flotation not needed. A few slick spots, especially at lower elevation (first mile or so of 4WD road) and above where the trail splits to the two peaks. I got away with only wearing spikes for the descent down the Grays switchbacks, and that was only because I took a few steps, slipped, fell, and figured that since I was sitting on the ground anyways, I might as well put them on. Clouds started rolling in around the peaks near 11 am. I know that snow was forecasted, but it had still not started when I left the Grays summit (noon-ish) and I made it back to the car without experiencing any snowfall. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 11/12/2025, By: Alpine_Exchange_36
Info: Trail is still in great shape. Some hard pack snow up to Grays. Torreys is dry, some snow but nothing to think twice about.

The road up to the trailhead is getting worse. More exposed rocks, ruts are getting larger.

Be sure to watch out for black ice as well. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 11/9/2025, By: Bonesaw
Info: I didn't do the route because I was on Mt Edwards, but here's a couple pics of them 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 10/26/2025, By: AF0XS
Info: After the snow on the 23rd and 24th the 4x4 road had patches of snow and ice intermittently on the way in. The way out was slightly better but now with some mud. Anything with all wheel drive and decent ground clearance and tires should be fine. I left my 2wd pickup at the winter trail head and feel like that was the right call.

The main trail from the winter trailhead to the junction at 13,300’ was decent with light snow and some icy spots on the way in. On the way out this became muddy with isolated ice patches below 11,900’.

The upper trail to the summit was well traveled 4-8” of snow. The switchbacks to the summit felt safe but turned into a slog.

The way down I took the ridge connecting toward Torrey’s back to the junction of Torrey’s trail and down to the main trail. This steeper descent lead to unsure footing with microspikes sliding over the 4-12” of walked on powder that would initially hold then give way. People without spikes or poles were making the descent by sitting down and inching/sliding on the steeper sections.

Would suggest spikes as the freeze thaw leads to more ice. Poles helped me catch myself when my footing gave way. First 14er. People with more experience were definitely moving faster, but I would plan extra time and energy getting up and back down. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/17/2025, By: AlejandraOutside
Info: Fine up until just over a mile from the summit. From then on, including the rocky stairs leading up to Grays which are north facing, the trail is mostly packed snow and/or ice. Micro spikes recommended/ likely necessary. Very windy and bitterly cold. Winter hiking is here. Road to trailhead poor as always but no snow or ice accumulating yet.

Also, I'll avoid a rant, but the ice, snow, and cold was enough to cause a dog on the trail to have a bloody paw from over a mile from the trailhead, to Torreys, and back. Posting as a condition note for our furry friends who can't take their own precautions and their caretakers who will hopefully prioritize their pets over peakbagging. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 10/14/2025, By: Gilead
Info: Blizzardish conditions at the top of both peaks. Strong winds, got pretty chilly but with the right gear it wasn’t too uncomfortable. Definitely needed microspikes—few sketchy patches of nearly unavoidable ice. In places the snow was 4~ inches but that was above 13k feet. Visibility was poor. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 10/13/2025, By: Nosimplehighway
Info: Summited Grays Peak this morning via Kelso Ridge and Torreys Peak. The day started out sunny and dry and ended on a snowy note. The upper reaches of Grays Peak are covered in several inches of well-packed snow, but the middle portion of the standard route had a layer of solid ice underneath a coating of fresh snow. Spikes are strongly advised, especially between 12K-13K feet, where the freeze-thaw cycle has led to solid ice hidden underneath a fresh coating of snow. The lowest reaches of the trail are still mostly snow and ice free, while the summit and upper portion of the standard route is currently colder and less slippery than the middle reaches. Many people without spikes were slipping and falling today, though a heavier snowfall and colder weather may reduce how slippery this trail is. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 10/5/2025, By: GUTstring
Info: Snow covering trail, which was melting pretty decently by return. Microspikes would be handy for slick rocks and steps in the shade. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 9/28/2025, By: sivanatri
Info: Did Grays and Torreys on the 27th. Got to the summer trailhead at 5:15 am and found parking. Weather was great. Trail was nice, with some rocky steps covered with patches of ice and snow. There were a couple of inches of snow throughout the switchbacks, but the peaks were completely clear at the top. I used microspikes while coming down from Grays to the saddle toward Torreys. Loved the hike, though doing both peaks was definitely strenuous. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 9/16/2025, By: feldyinstilly
Info: Almost shorts and t-shirt weather. Any snow has melted out and it's almost bone dry, save for a little bit of mud and damp rock on the ridge between Grays and Torreys. Perfect conditions. Parking lot was overflowing at 9am in true Front Range fashion. 

Route: Grays and Torreys
Posted On: 9/13/2025, By: Sekwof
Info: Both Peaks had an easily maintained/visible trail to follow, with no real degradation to the trail to the peak. Frost in the morning is making some rocky steps slippery, and light to moderate snow this afternoon covered both peaks. Torrey's Peak trail had a few sections of loose gravel on steep areas that made sliding a little easier when climbing. Both trails were soft/wet below 13kft and frozen above 13kft during the morning, just after sunrise. A fresh, wet snow from thunderstorms during the day today made things particularly wet and frozen at the peaks. Overall, still very traversable and accessible to most hikers, with a couple of spots to pay attention to depending on remaining ice/frost/snow/loose gravel as of 2 pm on 9/13/2025. 

Route: North Slopes
Posted On: 9/2/2025, By: Sneezingdragon
Info: Conditions were excellent. A little bit of ice part way up, but nothing we couldn't easily avoid. Clear air, clear path, beautiful day for a hike. 

Route: South Ridge
Posted On: 9/1/2025, By: knova
Info: Great conditions, creek crossings (if you can even call them that) are so easy and there is no reason you will be getting your shoes wet.