Grays Peak Trailhead

Posted On: 8/7/2026 By: rvdolson
Info: Arrived 9:30pm'ish on Thursday, 8/6. Upper lot was mostly full but there were still spots in the lower lot and above the bathrooms, which steadily filled up over night. At 4:30 Friday people were still arriving and finding places to park.

Road in was okay. High clearance recommended but suppose you could make it with 2WD right now. Some major ruts/holes but you can navigate around most. Passed a Tesla Y on the drive out.

Only one of two bathrooms is available right now. Plenty of TP.

Posted On: 7/29/2026 By: jmkk
Info: Got there around 4:10am on a Tuesday and only a couple spots left on the side lot, however if it was full you’d be able to park on the road behind the vault toilet, on our way back from the summit there were only two cars parked there with lots of room all around. Unsure if these are legal parking spots though.

Posted On: 7/25/2026 By: MaryinColorado
Info: Stephens Gulch Rd is in THE best condition I've ever seen it. Ever. Full stop. Saw a couple sedans at the trailhead, and honestly, yeah, I'd say driving super carefully that is within reasonable. However, the road tends to deteriorate drastically as the season wears on, so take heed.

Upper lot was full by 10 p.m. on Friday night. Side lot was full by 5 a.m. Saturday. Plenty of spots remained in the area farther back past the vault toilet. When I left at 10 a.m., there were 81 vehicles parked along the road, and what was most was the multiple sections narrow enough an ambulance would possibly not be able to make it through. This is why Clear Creek has been cracking down on the roadside parking up here. I wish that at least folks with bigger rigs or inability to park well would reconsider their choices because this truly is an issue if emergency or SAR vehicles need to get up there in a hurry.

Posted On: 7/20/2026 By: jeromeaigner
Info: People are still parking along the road before the trailhead in spite of the signs. Better options: 1) There are a few campsites about 3/4 mile before the TH, and they are on USFS land. 2) Drive past the trailhead, past the few campsites and then lots of areas open up to park- that road continues on. Road is rough but Subarus can make it no problem.

Posted On: 7/20/2026 By: JuoZux
Info: Got to the parking lot 7:30pm Saturday . Still had around 5 spots open. Parking lot was full by 9pm. The 3mile dirt road was pretty rough, drove Toyota rav4.
Despite sheriffs warnings bunch of people still parking on the road…

Posted On: 7/18/2026 By: CookinwithCoop
Info: Would say it’s almost at the upper level for being “subaruable”. A week from now I wouldn’t do it. Currently you can do it, but you and your car will not be happy.

Posted On: 7/18/2026 By: blonde_dinosaur
Info: Lot was full Friday night for a Saturday morning summit. The road is in the best condition I've seen it in 6 years. Still fairly bumpy in spots, but nothing crazy.

Posted On: 6/29/2026 By: walks_a_lot
Info: The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has issued a Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Order for all unincorporated areas of the county. The temporary Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are effective at Noon today (12:00pm on Monday, June 29, 2026), and will remain in effect until further notice. Weather and fuel conditions, nearby fire activity, and resource limitations have prompted the transition to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions from the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions that were issued on March 26, 2026.

The signed Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Order, with full details of restrictions, is on our website at https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/1607/Fire-Ban-Information. In short, during Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, the following is prohibited:

- No igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using any Open Fire, including charcoal grills and barbeques, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves. (See the Fire Restrictions Order for a definition of “Open Fire.”) Propane or natural gas barbeque or liquid fuel stoves are allowed if attended at all times and in a fully enclosed, covered barbeque grill or contained within a liquid fuel stove.
- No fireworks, including sparklers.
- No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building.
- No possessing or operating motor vehicles off-roads, including off-highway vehicles (OHV), regardless of whether the OHV is classified as a motor vehicle. The only exceptions are:
- Vehicles may be parked in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of a roadway or a driveway serving private property.
- Overnight parking is permitted in Forest Service-developed campgrounds and trailheads.
- All other outdoor spark- or flame-producing activities.
- No shooting, except while hunting pursuant to a valid hunting license, or target shooting within the Clear Creek County Sport Shooting Park.
- For details related to chainsaw, welding, and cutting torch use, see the Fire Restrictions Order.

Posted On: 6/19/2026 By: The_Ramp
Info: Arrived Thursday night (6/18) at ~09:30PM to a 2/3 full lot. Grabbed a parking spot and slept in the back of my car. When I left to hike at 04:30AM on Friday (6/19), main lot was mostly full. When I returned around 09:30AM, cars were parked in every conceivable spot, including beyond the TH as well as on the shoulder of the road a few hundred yards before the TH. No parking tickets observed.

Posted On: 6/18/2026 By: CollinGibb
Info: Got there at like 7:30 and the lot was long full so decided to risk parking along the side of the road at the trailhead with around 15 other cars. Didn't end up with a ticket or anything at the end of the day but did see a tow truck driving up the road on the way out. Wouldn't recommend parking along the road but seems like lots of people still doing it. Super easy drive up the road in a Subaru Crosstreck.

Posted On: 6/28/2026 By: Nickborrego
Info: Summited!

Posted On: 6/8/2026 By: rmarria
Info: I made it up to the summer trailhead in my Outback with no drama. The way down was a little dicey in a couple of spots but not bad overall. Arrived at 5am and the lot was filling up quickly

Posted On: 5/29/2026 By: JaylenKorth
Info: The road was definitely dry up to the trailhead, and it did seem to be in good condition overall. However, I would still not take any low clearance or 2WD vehicle up it. We parked at the winter trailhead and got a ride up, and the driver did need to use 4WD at a few spots and the road was still pretty rocky.

Posted On: 5/25/2026 By: daway8
Info: No snow worth mentioning - road is almost dry all the way to the 4WD trailhead. Can confirm what others have noted that the road is drastically improved over previous years - I would almost not even bother to list it as a 4WD road at this point - at least until it degrades again.
One oddity to note - there is a sign now at the upper trailhead saying: Employee Parking Only, Weekends Included. At first it appeared this was saying the entire lot was now off limits to the public but on the way out I found a ranger and he clarified it simply meant no parking in front of the outhouse because the cleaning trucks need to park there.

Posted On: 5/17/2026 By: mjlucarelli
Info: Road to the summer trailhead is dry. Just take it slow and any vehicle can make it.