Ruby Mountain, Grays Peak, Mount Edwards Loop in White River National Forest, CO

Hike Ruby Mountain, Grays Peak, Mount Edwards Loop White River National Forest, CO

Class 3 8.7 miles 4400 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Sep 16, 2018
Effort
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Personality
Solitude
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Route Map
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I've been pretty excited to hike random traverses lately, and even though I summited Grays Peak along with Torreys Peak via Kelso Ridge a couple years ago, this traverse included two 13ers along with the 14er, Grays: Ruby Mountain, Grays Peak, and Mt. Edwards. Starting from the Argentine Pass Trailhead, follow an old mining road to the base of Ruby Mountain and follow an easy slope up to Ruby Mountain's northeastern slope/ridge, where you can get on some fun Class 2+ scrambling, or avoid it completely and walk up the slope. From Ruby Mountain's summit, I was surprised to notice a scramble ahead of me to get to Grays Peak. Fortunately, while staying on the ridge, nothing surpassed Class 3, and much of what I did would be avoidable by keeping just left of the ridge, but it's fun and stable and the ridgeline is really pretty. From Grays Peak, head along its east ridge on a social trail all the way to Mt. Edwards, and then follow a route lined with cairns to Argentine Pass, where you can follow a pleasant trail back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Ruby Mountain
13277 ft
439 rise
2
Ruby Peak
12644 ft
404 rise
3
Grays Peak
14270 ft
2750 rise
4
Mount Edwards
13850 ft
450 rise

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Starting up the dirt road from the Peru Creek Trailhead into the Horsehoe Basin.
Starting up the dirt road from the Peru Creek Trailhead into the Horsehoe Basin.
A mine.
A mine.
Looking toward Horseshow Basin, Mt. Edwards above to the left.
Looking toward Horseshow Basin, Mt. Edwards above to the left.
Image 3 from gallery
Ruby Mountain up there somewhere.
Ruby Mountain up there somewhere.
Approaching the ridge to get up to Ruby Mountain. You can just go up the slope, but I wanted to do a little unnecessary scrambling, hence the ridge.
Approaching the ridge to get up to Ruby Mountain. You can just go up the slope, but I wanted to do a little unnecessary scrambling, hence the ridge.
Grays Peak on the right, going up the Ruby Mountain ridge.
Grays Peak on the right, going up the Ruby Mountain ridge.
Image 7 from gallery
Looking down the ridge, Mt. Edwards on the left.
Looking down the ridge, Mt. Edwards on the left.
Heading toward Ruby Mountain.
Heading toward Ruby Mountain.
Ruby Mountain.
Ruby Mountain.
Ruby Mountain summit, looking back toward Grays Peak (left) and Mt. Edwards (right).
Ruby Mountain summit, looking back toward Grays Peak (left) and Mt. Edwards (right).
Heading down from Ruby Mountain to the saddle with Grays Peak.
Heading down from Ruby Mountain to the saddle with Grays Peak.
Ridge scramble to Grays Peak.
Ridge scramble to Grays Peak.
Image 14 from gallery
Looking back toward the saddle.
Looking back toward the saddle.
Looking back, Ruby Mountain visible center.
Looking back, Ruby Mountain visible center.
Class 2+/3 scrambling.
Class 2+/3 scrambling.
Image 18 from gallery
Looking back down the scramble, Ruby Mountain center, Horseshoe Basin on the left.
Looking back down the scramble, Ruby Mountain center, Horseshoe Basin on the left.
Image 20 from gallery
Image 21 from gallery
Approaching a social trail leading to Grays Peak. Apparently there's another approach via Horseshoe Basin that avoids Ruby Mountain and the scramble I just did.
Approaching a social trail leading to Grays Peak. Apparently there's another approach via Horseshoe Basin that avoids Ruby Mountain and the scramble I just did.
Looking back down the ridge, along the social trail.
Looking back down the ridge, along the social trail.
Grays Peak summit, looking toward Torreys Peak.
Grays Peak summit, looking toward Torreys Peak.
Grays Peak summit, looking toward Mt. Edwards.
Grays Peak summit, looking toward Mt. Edwards.
Heading down the east ridge from Grays Peak toward Mt. Edwards.
Heading down the east ridge from Grays Peak toward Mt. Edwards.
Looking up toward Torreys Peak, coming down from Grays Peak.
Looking up toward Torreys Peak, coming down from Grays Peak.
Horseshoe Basin on the right, on the way to Mt. Edwards.
Horseshoe Basin on the right, on the way to Mt. Edwards.
Image 29 from gallery
Mt. Edwards ahead.
Mt. Edwards ahead.
Almost on Mt. Edwards, looking back toward Grays Peak (right), and Ruby Mountain (left).
Almost on Mt. Edwards, looking back toward Grays Peak (right), and Ruby Mountain (left).
Mt. Edwards summit ahead.
Mt. Edwards summit ahead.
Mt. Edwards summit, looking toward Grays and Torrest. Ruby Mountain on the left.
Mt. Edwards summit, looking toward Grays and Torrest. Ruby Mountain on the left.
Heading down from Mt. Edwards summit.
Heading down from Mt. Edwards summit.
Close-up of the ridgeline from Ruby Mountain to Grays Peak.
Close-up of the ridgeline from Ruby Mountain to Grays Peak.
Image 36 from gallery
Image 37 from gallery
Image 38 from gallery
Starting on the Argentine Pass Trail.
Starting on the Argentine Pass Trail.
Mountain goats on the Argentine Pass Trail.
Mountain goats on the Argentine Pass Trail.
Argentine Pass Trail, Horseshoe Basin on the right.
Argentine Pass Trail, Horseshoe Basin on the right.
Looking back up the Argentine Pass Trail, Grays Peak on the left.
Looking back up the Argentine Pass Trail, Grays Peak on the left.
Image 43 from gallery
Image 44 from gallery
Image 45 from gallery
Crossing the crazy-colored Peru Creek.
Crossing the crazy-colored Peru Creek.
Peru Creek.
Peru Creek.

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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!

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