Sunshine Peak

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 5/31/2026, By: katarinaa452
Info: Started from Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch at 5:00 a.m. Conditions are largely early-summer dry. The trail is dry through most of the route, though we encountered a small amount of snow while climbing out of the basin toward the saddle around 12,700–12,900 feet. Snow becomes more noticeable again around 13,900 feet on Redcloud. The summit of Redcloud is still holding some snow on its northeast-facing side.

The traverse to Sunshine has more lingering snow, with a few snowfields requiring crossings just below the ridge on the ascent to Sunshine. Most snow can be avoided, and no traction was needed today. Poles were helpful.

The climb up Redcloud from roughly 13,000 to 13,600 feet consists of loose dirt and rock as usual, but otherwise the route is in excellent shape. We re-ascended Redcloud on the return and found conditions unchanged.

Creeks are flowing, wildflowers are just beginning to emerge, and overall hiking conditions are excellent. Aside from a few remaining snowfields near the summits and on the traverse, this route is already feeling very much like summer. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 5/27/2026, By: Maddyleane
Info: Ascended the NW route and came down the standard. A few snow fields on the whole route but I never broke out my spikes. I was post holing to my hips by about 1pm though.

My two cents on the NW route: I decided to give ascending this a shot based on other trip reports and because if I went early enough the rock could still be frozen. There was plenty of snow to keep things interesting, but that was the easy part. When I started using the rock to climb the gully, large chunks of rocks would move and slip beneath my feet. After traversing from Sunshine over to Red Cloud, all I could think was how nice and straight forward and relatively easy the ridge between the two is. Comparatively, coming up the NW route was mentally taxing.
TLDR: the NW route could be worth it if you like unstable rock, can't stand the thought of going back over Red Cloud, and can basically guarantee you'll be the only person on that route 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 5/23/2026, By: kelseyd
Info: Ascended the standard route via Redcloud and descended NW face of Sunshine. Standard route mostly dry with a few small snow patches but we didn't even break out spikes. For the descent - the gulley is holding snow. Barely firm enough to kick steps in the early afternoon, but rapidly becoming mashed potatoes. We had axes and glissaded the bottom half. Would not recommend attempting the NW route without an axe. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 5/8/2026, By: colingoodman
Info: Quite snowy above 13k. Microspikes were very necessary. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 2/9/2026, By: Alpine_Iris
Info: lower part of the route is completely dry. One section of boot packed snow near treeline. Upper route is mostly dry with some patchy snow near 12.5k and on the final ridge. 

Route: East Ridge
Posted On: 1/19/2026, By: Jschramm87
Info: Toughest/slowest 3 miles I’ve done in a long time! Road to the campground was clear/dry.
First .7 miles or so are dry. A little hard to stay on-trail, but there are some carins to look out for. Boot pack started a little more than a mile in. Needed snow shoes for one section right after you leave the trees. Thigh/waist deep post holing without them. Could’ve ditched them after, didn’t need them the rest of the day. Rock-hopped most of the way up the final stretch to the summit. Planned on Redcloud but we were wiped! The route over looked clear and straightforward.
Underestimated this one a bit! Very difficult first mile. Didn’t use my microspikes all day. Excited to do more snow shoeing! That was my first experience and was bummed I didn’t need them for very long.
Shoutout to the dude from Golden that flew past us at treeline. He was making his way to Redcloud when we were summiting. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 11/3/2025, By: notidealbutfine
Info: Camped at the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch TH Saturday evening and got started on trail about 4:30AM Sunday morning. Trail was dry below tree line. The climb to Redcloud's saddle was packed with unconsolidated snow: I was punching through even at 6:30AM, but only about to my ankle or so. The climb up Redcloud's NE ridge was mostly dry as was the traverse to Sunshine. Made it back down to the saddle by 9:30AM so I decided to tack on the two unnamed Centennials close by, as it would only add 5 miles and 3k gain round trip. The traverse to both unnamed peaks was completely dry due to a mostly southern aspect. Made it back down to the saddle before noon and took a more easterly descent down the saddle since it was completely dry. My up route would have been a wet, mashed potato mess if I had decided to descend it. I risked it with my kit today: running shoes, micro spikes, poles, no snowshoes. Luckily, conditions were mostly spot on for summer gear still with the exception of climbing to the saddle. Didn't see a soul on trail or at the trailhead.17.27 miles / 6,913' gain / 9 hours, 45 minutes 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 7/30/2025, By: Cdog123456789
Info: Finding the turn off for this path was difficult and we passed it on the way up and had to go back down. The caryn to mark the river crossing was gone (probably washed away). If anyone is heading up this way I would definitely use either your maps or an altimeter to try and locate the turn, right at 11,200.

Also just after the turn there was a giant log that blocked the trail. Originally we saw a trail leading up above the log but after further examination the trail continued under the log right along the creek bed.

Wildflowers were amazing this way up.

Scree field just before the ridgeline was intense and would definitely follow the recommendations to not try and descend this way. We did a loop over to Redcloud and had an amazing day. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 7/5/2025, By: AurumSun13
Info: Full summer conditions on both Redcloud and Sunshine peaks. All the snow remainin can easy be bypassed. Just be careful of the mid-summer afternoon storms. I was able to bag both peaks and return to Redcloud by 8AM (started @ 4AM), but in the distance a very scary wall of dark clouds was already rolling in. Thankfully, it dissipated by noon, although it caused many people on the day to turn around and forego Sunshine. For reference, the traverse between the peaks took me almost 2hrs on the dot. 

Route: Northwest Face
Posted On: 7/3/2025, By: Rkwootten
Info: Summer conditions all the way up. A few snowfields that you can walk around with no issue. Rock between the gendarmes is incredibly loose - bring a helmet in case people are above you. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/29/2025, By: Bonesaw
Info: I believe there was one patch of snow on the ridge, otherwise the trail was completely clear 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/18/2025, By: pcsongei
Info: Summited Redcloud and Sunshine this morning from Grizzly Gulch. Trail is in great shape overall. The upper basin still has some decent sized snowfields but they are either avoidable or solid enough to walk across early in the day. They were still pretty solid on my descent around 10am. The ridge to Sunshine is also mostly clear, a few snow patches that can be avoided by going above them 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/6/2025, By: tbonesaredelicious
Info: Initially tried for ski descent of NW Couloirs of sunshine on 6/5, but bailed because I wasn’t feeling particularly strong and also was sketched out by extensive wet slab activity in the region from earlier in the week. The night of 6/4-6/5 saw a trace of snow down to 11000, and maybe 2-3 inches above 13k? Storms moved in by 9:30 or so, and it was lightly raining beneath 13k if I had to guesstimate. Probably would have been good if I’d actually gotten up early since it was beautiful early—— On 6/6, ascended east slopes route of Redcloud, traversed over to sunshine and came back the same way. 34 or 36 at trailhead at 7 or so, but I didn’t get going until 8 🙀🤦🏻‍♂️. Postholing trenches are becoming pretty well established for the 4 or 5 significant crossings beneath 13k. Between Redcloud and sunshine, there are a few unavoidable snow crossings that weren’t as bad. No traction or flotation, but could be helpful if there was a really solid freeze? 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/1/2025, By: butlerer
Info: See longer TR from Redcloud post.

Would bring spikes for a few sections between Redcloud and Sunshine until the snow is melted. It's icy and steep in a few spots. Otherwise, be prepared for some waist-deep post-holing in spots on Sunshine, and you'll be good. Floatation didn't make a difference--except it meant pulling a bigger and heavier object out of 3-4' of snow when you break through. 

Route: Via Redcloud Peak
Posted On: 6/1/2025, By: Youngan
Info: No snow on the lower trail, and only a few small snow crossing until reaching the north facing basin before the saddle. The basin was mostly full of snow, unfortunately the 5:45 AM start was not early enough to avoid postholing. After the basin any snow crossings are minimal and shallow to the Redcloud summit. More postholing after the saddle between Redcloud and Sunshine on the way up to Sunshine Peak. The final bit on sunshine has snow, but it’s somewhat avoidable and shallow. As expected, significantly more postholing on the way out as the temperature increased.