14ers.com • Trailhead Info and Status (Grays Peak Trailhead)

Grays Peak Trailhead

Location

Front Range
39.66087° N, -105.78462° W
14ers: Grays Peak, Torreys Peak

Road Difficulty

2 (0=Paved, 6=Very Difficult 4WD)
Normally it's Rough 2WD to the TH but some years it gets rough and might require 4WD. It always requires good-clearance.

Driving Directions

Take I-70 to the Bakerville exit (#221). Leave the highway and drive south over to the dirt parking area near the start of Forest Road 189. This is the winter trailhead and even if the upper road is open, low-clearance passenger cars should park here. It's almost 3 miles to the summer trailhead. Continue up the Grays Peak (189) road. After 1 mile, stay straight at a junction. Continue another 2 miles to the trailhead, at 11,280'. There are restrooms and a few dispersed camping spots near the parking area.

Winter Access

Closed at the start of the 189 road, near I-70.

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Status Updates
2020-02-20 Posted By: crossfitter Info: As expected road is snowpacked and impassable starting at I-70		1
2019-11-24 Posted By: Corey17 Info: It’s gonna change tonight for sure, but posting the update anyway. We were able to drive a stock Toyota Rav4 with snow tires all the way to the upper trailhead Sunday, 11/24. The road was all well packed snow with established tire tracks, and the drive was never problematic. There were about 5 other similar and stronger vehicles at the TH when we returned.
2019-11-19 Posted By: CaptCO Info: Parked my F150 .2 miles up the road, saw two 4x4 vehicles make it up	4
2019-11-18 Posted By: Donimarselies Info: Friday, 15th 2019. Steven Gulch Rd was icy. I saw 1 4WD Jeep got stuck just few hundred yards from Winter parking off I-70 exit, 1 4WD Truck made it to upper TH area (Parked around private cabin), and 1 Subaru Hatchback also made it to upper TH (Parked at summer TH). I can not verify if those 2 cars made it to upper TH area with traction device or not but I would assume so or probably winter tires. Sunday, 17th 2019. Steven Gulch Rd was icy and added about 2-3 inches of fresh snow. 2 cars made it to upper TH (Summer TH).	1
2019-11-17 Posted By: thurs Info: Upper TH was accessible with 4WD, road is mostly snow-covered. Nothing too crazy, but not a walk in the park -- some drifts and plenty of glare ice. Ascent and descent was exciting in a couple spots. Upper TH had a Toyota Highlander and two Toyota Forerunners.
2019-11-14 Posted By: Kitten Info: Made it to 1 mile up in our Suzuki SX4. After that, snow coverage gets deeper, although some vehicles with higher clearance would be able to make it.
2019-11-09 Posted By: clairekm Info: Road is almost entirely covered in snow. It seems like people (including me) parked at the bottom of the road. A few made it to the 4WD trailhead, though one 4Runner ended up in a ditch. The worst part is the first few hills.
2019-11-06 Posted By: hikecolorado1 Info: Access to the upper lot is snow packed and icey. Was unable to get my AWD up more than .3 miles. Parked at the lower winter lot and hiked in. I did see tracks but they looked like they had chains attached.
2019-10-13 Posted By: Free2hike Info: FYI Grays/Torreys road to summer trailhead covered in ice. Recommend parking in lower 2wd/winter lot. As of 5am 10/13/19
2019-10-13 Posted By: Free2hike Info: FYI Grays/Torreys road to summer trailhead covered in ice. Recommend parking in lower 2wd/winter lot. As of 5am 10/13/19		1
2019-10-12 Posted By: dmchesser Info: Road from the Bakerville exit is snow packed for the first quarter mile then mostly clear the rest of the way to the summer trailhead. We made it easily in a Jeep Grand Cherokee. There were about ten cars in the summer trailhead parking lot at 7:30 am - mostly high clearance SUVs but also a Honda Accord. Navigating the road was generally pretty easy ... just a few softball-sized rocks and deeper holes to avoid. A seasoned 4WD driver can make it without issue.
2019-09-25 Posted By: Fairwind Info: Heavy summer traffic has left the road in very rough shape..While a skilled, determined driver can coax almost any vehicle up to the upper trailhead, there are several badly eroded spots that will challenge them with large stones and deep pot-holes to maneuver around.. 2WD passenger cars will be at their limits.. In most situations, uphill traffic has the right-of-way...
2019-09-21 Posted By: RickyDavis Info: No issues in a Subaru Outback. The road is dry the whole way up, though very very crowded.
2019-09-14 Posted By: paigie_42 Info: Made it up to the trailhead in a 15 passenger van, no problem.
2019-09-08 Posted By: Hershel Info: My Forester had no problems, but I’m not sure anything with lower clearance can legitimately make it without sustaining damage. I’m pretty sure all vehicles at the TH or even below had higher clearance. Please be forewarned, as the road has really been degraded the past few years it seems. I always remember, from past years, thinking any good driver could get their accord up to the top, but no longer.
2019-09-08 Posted By: jweber1400 Info: No lie, this road is rough. I rented a Kia SUV 2W and had no problem - just took it slow. 4WD would be a blast. Someone took a mini Cooper in and somehow made it about a quarter of the way in and then parked off to the side. That made for a long walk to the TH. We hiked on 9/5 (Thur) and arrived around 7:30am. Plenty of parking.
2019-08-25 Posted By: tom5280 Info: Super windy this morning at the summit, but the trail is clear all the way to the top. A little snow in the saddle, but otherwise summer conditions are present! The road up to the trailhead is not for the faint of heartthe condition of the road has deteriorated significantly in the last few years. Two wheel drive is ok, but you MUST have ground clearance. Attempting that drive in a normal sedan is suicide. My Subaru Forester was a champ, so drive something similar and you will have no worries.		1
2019-08-18 Posted By: ZNixon Info: Stevens Gulch was clear the entire way, made it just fine in a stock 2WD GMC Terrain. Arrived at trailhead @ 3:00AM. Both lots were full, but there was plenty of parking above the lots toward the camping spots. Several cars had private driveways blocked, and the sheriffs were on it.		1
2019-07-18 Posted By: ether Info: Road is fine, made it up in a Honda Accord, would not recommend as it was very slow going and we probably would have saved time renting a car or catching a ride.
2019-07-18 Posted By: Fairwind Info: Careful driving is the key... The only problem now is finding a place to park !
2019-07-17 Posted By: kellycarter Info: Was able to drive a relatively low-ground-clearance 2014 Mazda 6 all the way to the trailhead parking lot by carefully picking my route over rocks and holes. Never bottomed out once, going up or down.		1
2019-07-12 Posted By: rob runkle Info: Road is open. Easy in a Wrangler. Doable in high clearance.	5	3
2019-07-10 Posted By: CoHi591 Info: Avy debris is cleared and road is open to TH.
2019-07-08 Posted By: Fairwind Info: MONDAY MORNING, JULY 8, 2019.. The C.C.C. Road & Bridge Department will begin clearing the avalanche and snow slide debris off Stevens Gulch Road today. The road may be closed to ALL TRAFFIC, including foot traffic, while heavy equipment is working to clear the slide debris off the road. They hope to have the job completed and road open by Thursday, July 11.. AT noon on July 9th the road was opened to the upper trailhead.	2	4
2019-07-06 Posted By: fmv093042 Info: Still significant debris and snow from the Avalanche. If you arrive on a weekend after 6am, likely park lower on the road. It is a very winding, bumping and narrow road. Many people got the the avalanche and had to attempt to back down the narrow and steep/ bumpy dirt road. Did NOT look like a good time. I parked 1.6 miles from the trailhead according to Google Maps and I was very thankful I did as I did not get stuck on the narrow road like many people did.