Redcloud Peak, Sunshine Peak, Sundog in Redcloud Peak Wilderness Study Area, CO

Hike Redcloud Peak, Sunshine Peak, Sundog Redcloud Peak Wilderness Study Area, CO

Class 2 10.6 miles 4800 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Sep 13, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Redcloud Peak and Sunshine Peak are remote 14ers south of Lake City, Colorado. Any vehicle can reach the trailhead, though sedans may bottom out a little bit on rockier sections. I wanted to hike these two peaks, but also include a neighboring 13er called Sundog. In advance, I want to make some recommendations. If you're just doing the 14ers, I recommend heading up to Redcloud, continuing over to Sunshine, and then backtracking the route. The gully used to descend from Sunshine is horrible and makes the hike a lot less pleasant and more dangerous. However, if you're adding Sundog into the mix, I recommend still not using the descent gully and instead descending from Sundog via its north ridge, which includes some light bushwhacking and Ben Feinstein reports the higher portion of the ridge is only Class 2/2+. I added a short pink line on my attached map to illustrate where this descent would be. I can tell you in hindsight that I would have prefered to take that route rather than the somewhat standard route people use for Sunshine Peak, but the day of my hike I had it in my head that I wanted to check out the horrible gully in question in order to see for myself. It's dumb, and the high road would have been a lot nicer. Anyway, my trip report will outline what I ended up doing, though I do recommend you descend from Sundog via its north ridge.

I started along the standard trail from Silver Creek Trailhead. It's a pleasant forest walk with occasional views toward Handies Peak to the west, as well as toward Sundog's northern slope on the right. After a couple of miles I reached the junction with the South Fork of Silver Creek, which would later be my return route, ending the lollipop loop. I kept to the main trail and headed along Silver Creek, above treeline, and then through tundra. Some switchbacks led to the saddle on the northeast side of Redcloud Peak. The trail was in great condition up to this point, but it deteriorated and steepened significantly for the ridgeline ascent to Redcloud Peak. While easy to follow, there are a few social trails cutting through the talus/scree, and I chose to stick to the most prominent one. I'd still give it Class 2 since it gets pretty steep, but I wouldn't call it particularly dangerous. Once on the summit of Redcloud Peak, I took in the views of the pleasant trail that would lead me all the way to Sunshine Peak to the south. The ridgeline was nice and went really quickly, not even Class 2 at any point except maybe some very light scrambling toward the summit of Sunshine Peak.

From Sunshine Peak, I backtracked along the northern trail and descended via a social trail on its northwest talus face. The trail was steep and loose, but was barely Class 2. Once below Susnhine Peak, I noted the descent gully many use as a standard route for accessing Sunshine Peak, but I was first going to head up to Sundog before backtracking to take this gully. I dropped a hundred feet or so along the ridgeline to get to the saddle south of Sundog, then proceeded up Class 2 talus along its ridgeline. A Class 2+ move on solid rock led to a Class 2 short, narrow gully which brought me to the ridge crest. The ridge crest didn't exceed Class 2 as it undulated on a few small bumps before reaching the high point at the end of the ridge. I noted the possibility of a descent via Sundog's north ridge, but instead backtracked to the saddle with Sunshine Peak, opting to instead take the standard horrible gully (see my anecdote in the first paragraph above).

The gully was pretty bad and I kind of can't believe it's considered a standard route. It's heavily eroded to the point where all scree/talus has been pushed away leaving hardpan dirt behind – I hope you have good traction or don't mind butt-scooting! This descent is fairly dangerous. There are at least three options, and mine didn't seem any better or worse than the others. It just kind of sucks and isn't "on-brand" with the rest of the hike, which was quite pleasant and mostly a trail. I'll note it will be tempting to follow a tiny stream's watercourse, but there's a waterfall here.

Once below the dumb gully, I followed cairns through the expansive talus field as it worked its way down to a social trail below. There was another very short, steep section along the way that my shoes/butt weren't happy about. Eventually I made it to the trail and followed it back to the main Silver Creek Trail. I believe a mudslide wiped out a couple hundred feet or so along the trail, though it was still easy to follow and not unpleasant, and I'm sure it will be repaired soon. I thought this was a great hike except for the descent from Sunshine Peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Redcloud Peak
14034 ft
1436 rise
2
Sunshine Peak
14001 ft
481 rise
3
Sundog
13432 ft
312 rise

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Looking back at the Silver Creek Trailhead.
Looking back at the Silver Creek Trailhead.
Proceeding along the trail.
Proceeding along the trail.
View back toward Handies Peak.
View back toward Handies Peak.
Sundog visible top right.
Sundog visible top right.
Continuing along the Silver Creek Trail.
Continuing along the Silver Creek Trail.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Along Silver Creek, the trail was in great shape.
Along Silver Creek, the trail was in great shape.
Redcloud Peak up there. The trail wraps around to the far left in this photo before proceeding to the summit.
Redcloud Peak up there. The trail wraps around to the far left in this photo before proceeding to the summit.
View back as I enter the tundra.
View back as I enter the tundra.
Through the tundra, working my way up to the saddle on Redcloud Peak's north side.
Through the tundra, working my way up to the saddle on Redcloud Peak's north side.
View back again.
View back again.
The trail leads up that steep slope ahead to gain the ridge.
The trail leads up that steep slope ahead to gain the ridge.
Approaching the ridgeline.
Approaching the ridgeline.
View back as I work up the tundra.
View back as I work up the tundra.
Redcloud Peak comes into view as I near the ridgeline.
Redcloud Peak comes into view as I near the ridgeline.
On the ridgeline, now heading up to Redcloud Peak.
On the ridgeline, now heading up to Redcloud Peak.
View back toward the saddle. I came up on the tundra on the left in this photo.
View back toward the saddle. I came up on the tundra on the left in this photo.
Steep and loose, but nothing past Class 2.
Steep and loose, but nothing past Class 2.
Redcloud Peak ahead. The trail is easy to follow, but a bit steep at times.
Redcloud Peak ahead. The trail is easy to follow, but a bit steep at times.
Switchbacks up the talus/scree on a relatively good trail.
Switchbacks up the talus/scree on a relatively good trail.
A small hump before the final push to Redcloud Peak.
A small hump before the final push to Redcloud Peak.
Redcloud Peak ahead.
Redcloud Peak ahead.
View back the way I came. The saddle I came up from is visible on the far right.
View back the way I came. The saddle I came up from is visible on the far right.
Redcloud Peak summit, view toward Sunshine Peak (left) and Sundog (right).
Redcloud Peak summit, view toward Sunshine Peak (left) and Sundog (right).
Close-up at the ridgeline to Sunshine Peak.
Close-up at the ridgeline to Sunshine Peak.
Close-up down toward the trailhead (center) and Silver Creek.
Close-up down toward the trailhead (center) and Silver Creek.
Looking back toward Redcloud Peak as I continue along the ridge to Sunshine Peak.
Looking back toward Redcloud Peak as I continue along the ridge to Sunshine Peak.
Sunshine Peak ahead.
Sunshine Peak ahead.
Progress along the ridge on my way to Sunshine Peak. You can see the horrible descent gully I'll be using later on the right in this photo.
Progress along the ridge on my way to Sunshine Peak. You can see the horrible descent gully I'll be using later on the right in this photo.
Ascending to Sunshine Peak.
Ascending to Sunshine Peak.
Sunshine Peak top left.
Sunshine Peak top left.
Close-up toward Sundog (left of center) and the South Fork of Silver Creek, the descent route. You can see the horrible gully descent on the far left in this photo.
Close-up toward Sundog (left of center) and the South Fork of Silver Creek, the descent route. You can see the horrible gully descent on the far left in this photo.
View back toward the route from Redcloud Peak.
View back toward the route from Redcloud Peak.
Sunshine Peak final approach.
Sunshine Peak final approach.
Looking back from the summit of Sunshine Peak. Redclouf Peak on the right, Sundog on the left.
Looking back from the summit of Sunshine Peak. Redclouf Peak on the right, Sundog on the left.
Close-up toward Sundog (left of center) and Silver Creek (right of center).
Close-up toward Sundog (left of center) and Silver Creek (right of center).
Close-up toward Redcloud Peak from Sunshine Peak.
Close-up toward Redcloud Peak from Sunshine Peak.
View west from Sunshine's summit.
View west from Sunshine's summit.
I backtracked from the summit and took this social trail which leads down loose terrain.
I backtracked from the summit and took this social trail which leads down loose terrain.
View back up the social trail descent on Sunshine Peak's northwest face.
View back up the social trail descent on Sunshine Peak's northwest face.
Short descent to the saddle with Sundog, visible ahead. You can see the Class 2/2+ terrain coming up.
Short descent to the saddle with Sundog, visible ahead. You can see the Class 2/2+ terrain coming up.
Class 2 start for Sundog.
Class 2 start for Sundog.
Class 2+ move on solid rock.
Class 2+ move on solid rock.
Just past the crux, a narrow Class 2 gully.
Just past the crux, a narrow Class 2 gully.
View back at my progress from Sunshine Peak.
View back at my progress from Sunshine Peak.
Ridgeline humps leading to Sundog.
Ridgeline humps leading to Sundog.
Approaching Sundog's summit.
Approaching Sundog's summit.
View back along the ridgeline on the way to Sundog.
View back along the ridgeline on the way to Sundog.
Sundog summit, view west. The trailhead is down on the right somewhere.
Sundog summit, view west. The trailhead is down on the right somewhere.
I backtracked from Sundog and located the social trail leading along the somewhat started route to Sunshine Peak. I passed a few people who had just come up and looked a big haggard. The notch on the right in this photo will be a tempting descent, but there's a small waterfall. Instead, I kept to the right of that notch.
I backtracked from Sundog and located the social trail leading along the somewhat started route to Sunshine Peak. I passed a few people who had just come up and looked a big haggard. The notch on the right in this photo will be a tempting descent, but there's a small waterfall. Instead, I kept to the right of that notch.
And this was my choice for descending. It's loose.
And this was my choice for descending. It's loose.
Close-up of the dumb descent from the ridge.
Close-up of the dumb descent from the ridge.
View back up the stupid gully.
View back up the stupid gully.
Another shot at the gully as I continue into the massive talus field.
Another shot at the gully as I continue into the massive talus field.
Cairns mark a route through the talus field.
Cairns mark a route through the talus field.
A shot back toward the descent gully (right of center).
A shot back toward the descent gully (right of center).
Descending on talus. This is another short, but steep section.
Descending on talus. This is another short, but steep section.
I got to the social trail, view looking back toward the descent gully (right of center) and Sunshine Peak (top center).
I got to the social trail, view looking back toward the descent gully (right of center) and Sunshine Peak (top center).
Descending toward Silver Creek, below in those trees.
Descending toward Silver Creek, below in those trees.
Looking back toward Sunshine Peak.
Looking back toward Sunshine Peak.
The trail is easy to follow and quite pleasant.
The trail is easy to follow and quite pleasant.
And then just before reaching the Silver Creek Trail I encountered the remains of a mudslide or something like it. The trail was still easy to follow, but there were some logs to jump over.
And then just before reaching the Silver Creek Trail I encountered the remains of a mudslide or something like it. The trail was still easy to follow, but there were some logs to jump over.
View back toward Sundog. I wish I had taken its north ridge down instead, visible up top.
View back toward Sundog. I wish I had taken its north ridge down instead, visible up top.

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