Handies Peak via Grizzly Gulch in Handies Peak Wilderness, CO

Hike Handies Peak via Grizzly Gulch Handies Peak Wilderness, CO

Class 2 7.9 miles 3700 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Aug 13, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Handies Peak via Grizzly Gulch GPX Track

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An relaxed morning with friends meant a late start for Handies Peak, generally a big no-no for being at 14,000 feet during monsoon season. This 14er has eluded me for too long, so I figured I'd risk this summer's particularly volatile weather. A shorter hike from the American Basin Trailhead was tempting, but it requires a bunch more driving. I preferred to save the additional drive time and hike from the closer Grizzly Gulch Trailhead instead. In hindsight I think this was the right choice, since the hike has great views the entire way to Handies Peak and the additional distance ultimately took me less time than the drive would have. You'll need some clearance to reach either trailhead, and the drive is harrowing at some points because this crowded dirt road is full of people swerving around turns too quickly, plus there's a significant cliff adjacent to the slowly eroding road. The Grizzly Gulch Trailhead is next to the Silver Creek Trailhead, the standard route to nearby 14ers Redcloud and Sunshine, so despite the remoteness of these peaks there will likely be a crowd attracted to this pocket of coveted Colorado summits.

I set out along the Grizzly Gulch Trail, a really well-maintained hike that gains elevation modestly. The forested setting is nice, and the view back toward the mountains is excellent even right from the start of the hike. After emerging above tree line, I got a glimpse of Handies Peak ahead. Somehow there were still bright wildflowers blooming along the trail, so despite my urgency to reach the summit I took a minute to enjoy them. It was really lovely up Grizzly Gulch, but sort of felt a bit too short. The trail curved north and started toward the northern ridge of Handies Peak. Since the ridge above undulates a bit, the trail was built instead to parallels it below by using a steep, grassy slope. There's a short section of talus, but the route is popular enough that a well-graded path leads right through it.

A few steep switchbacks brought me to the ridge, where a dangerous-looking cloud loomed directly overhead. It seemed small enough that I shouldn't worry about it yet, so I continued south toward the summit even though I started getting rained on. I pressed my heart to nearly exploding, desperate to reach the summit because peakbagging is a sickness and I need therapy. Still no lightning, at least. The crest becomes steeper here, and years of human erosion has created a web of social trails up the thick scree/talus. I think I manged to stick to the most well-traveled, which did include some light Class 2. A short jaunt along the crest led me to a final Class 2 move and the summit of Handies Peak. The views were pretty spectacular, but the sky was getting nasty. I stared longingly at Whitecross Mountain, a 13er just to the north, but since I'd already gotten rained on and the cloud seemed to be growing, I didn't want to press my already extremely good luck by continuing to a second peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Handies Peak
14058 ft
1921 rise

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Starting up the Grizzly Gulch Trail.
Starting up the Grizzly Gulch Trail.
View back, the Silver Creek Trail seen stretching to the center.
View back, the Silver Creek Trail seen stretching to the center.
Ascending the Grizzly Gulch Trail.
Ascending the Grizzly Gulch Trail.
A view back toward Sundog and Recloud.
A view back toward Sundog and Recloud.
The well-maintained Grizzly Gulch Trail.
The well-maintained Grizzly Gulch Trail.
Another shot back as the trees start to recede.
Another shot back as the trees start to recede.
Handies Peak comes into view ahead.
Handies Peak comes into view ahead.
Another shot back as I ascend Grizzly Gulch.
Another shot back as I ascend Grizzly Gulch.
A sub-peak of Handies Peak visible above.
A sub-peak of Handies Peak visible above.
Now above tree line, Handies Peak seen right of center. There were so many wildflowers, even this late in the year!
Now above tree line, Handies Peak seen right of center. There were so many wildflowers, even this late in the year!
Image 10 from gallery
Handies Peak seen center. The trail leads to the right side (north ridge) to reach the summit.
Handies Peak seen center. The trail leads to the right side (north ridge) to reach the summit.
Another shot back down Grizzly Gulch.
Another shot back down Grizzly Gulch.
The trail flattens out as it nears the base of Handies Peak.
The trail flattens out as it nears the base of Handies Peak.
The approach trail to Handies Peak then leaves Grizzly Gulch and ascends to the west along a tundra slope.
The approach trail to Handies Peak then leaves Grizzly Gulch and ascends to the west along a tundra slope.
The trail leads to the left of the lighter-colored slope in order to access the ridge higher up.
The trail leads to the left of the lighter-colored slope in order to access the ridge higher up.
View back into Grizzly Gulch.
View back into Grizzly Gulch.
The trail continues to be in good shape to the ridge.
The trail continues to be in good shape to the ridge.
View back again into Grizzly Gulch. Whitecross Mountain seen left of center.
View back again into Grizzly Gulch. Whitecross Mountain seen left of center.
After gaining the north ridge of Handies Peak, the trail continued toward the summit.
After gaining the north ridge of Handies Peak, the trail continued toward the summit.
View back down Grizzly Gulch.
View back down Grizzly Gulch.
The trail begins switchbacking steeply to the summit. There are a couple of very light Class 2 sections due to the talus.
The trail begins switchbacking steeply to the summit. There are a couple of very light Class 2 sections due to the talus.
Handies Peak seen ahead.
Handies Peak seen ahead.
Class 2 move to gain the summit.
Class 2 move to gain the summit.
Handies Peak summit, view into American Basin, the other approach trail.
Handies Peak summit, view into American Basin, the other approach trail.
Handies Peak, view into Grizzly Gulch.
Handies Peak, view into Grizzly Gulch.
Handies Peak summit, view back along the summit ridge.
Handies Peak summit, view back along the summit ridge.
View north from Handies Peak's summit.
View north from Handies Peak's summit.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!