De Anza Peak

Route: East Ridge to Gibbs from Rainbow trail
Posted On: 2/22/2025, By: Will_E
Info: DeAnza and Gibbs today from the Gibson TH. The Rainbow Trail was packed the first 1.5 miles, I put on snowshoes there, snow was intermittent, parts of the Rainbow Trail were deep enough to need them. After branching off the Texas Creek trail I was in and out of snow shoes 3 or 4 times, the bush whack in the first half of the trees was tough too. The second half of treeline had an easier bushwhack, but much deeper snow, took me 4.5 hours to reach treeline today. Once out of the trees it was easy walking to both peaks, no traction needed today. Hard rewarding day. 

Route: From Gibbs Peak
Posted On: 9/1/2021, By: supranihilest
Info: The route from Gibbs to De Anza A is obvious. Descend down tundra, talus, and small outcrops towards the saddle, up and over a small Class 2 tower, and then up tundra, dirt, and scree to De Anza's summit. 

Route: Cotton creek
Posted On: 6/16/2021, By: 9patrickmurphy
Info: The Cotton Creek trail is in rough shape. Really great, cruiser trail until about 4 miles in at the 4th creek crossing: the logs are in a very precarious position so take your time. Immediately after the 4th corssing there is an impressive amount of fallen trees making the trail difficult to find. Once you find the trail, there are still tons of downed trees rather continusly for a few miles. I camped just after the 5th and final creek crossing at 10,200. More (lots more) deadfall to the Horsethief trail junction. The junction itself is blocked by about six massive downed trees, and the trail marker is very easy to miss, especially in the dark. Once on the horsethief trail (just bushwhack around the trees) there are a few more downed trees. Most maps don't accurately portray the amount of switchbacks and might make you skeptical you are going the right way, check out the most recent Forest Service topo, it is accurate (though it doesn't show the spur that heads East near some campsites near 10,900; don't take this). The horsethief trail is phenomenally well-built. I'm not sure of its history, but it seems the current trail replaced an older, steeper trail with less switchbacks. You'll find this trail from time to time and can take it if you like. Getting to DeAnza from the top of the horsethief trail is trivial. I continued on to Gibbs, Marcy, and "Silver", snow is either all gone or inconsequential in trail runners, all class 1 or 2. From the pass between Cotton and RitoAlto creeks, there is a good amount of snow on the Cotton Creek trail above the lake, then the trail is super wet for a while, then it's just very long. I saw fresh bear poop on the trail near the lake. I encountered more deadfall starting on the switchbacks below the lake, and then progressively more until I got to camp. I had planned on attacking the Mount Owen group from the same camp, but this day took so much out of me that I decided against it. The deadfall is obnoxious and this heat wave we're in makes for very fatiguing travel up high on a ridge. A bear spooked me around 7pm near camp, so I decided to pack out since I was really startled. Saw more bear poop on the trail on the way out. 

Route: From Gibbs Peak
Posted On: 5/28/2021, By: WildWanderer
Info: Snowshoes needed from summit of Gibbs to De Anza and back. Could not have done today without snowshoes: crampons, spikes, and ice axe not needed. 

Route: Cotton Creek trail
Posted On: 8/16/2017, By: SnowAlien
Info: Cotton Creek trail has 5-6 creek crossings with water still running high. In several cases logs for crossings were washed downstream. On the way up I couldn't keep shoes dry, on the way out I just hiked in Crocs, so wet feet no matter what. Trail is fairly easy to follow. Many down trees, and still muddy in spots. Higher up in the basin, all the way to the pass, very long, numerous switchbacks, apparently built for cattle. 

Route: Texas Creek Trail
Posted On: 7/9/2017, By: JasonKline
Info: Snow free. Lots of downed trees on Texas Creek Trail, which makes for slow going. Water is very high, and there's no good way to cross Texas Creek other than simply walking through it. Count on lots of water and mud.