Torreys and Grays Peaks via Kelso Ridge in Arapaho National Forest, CO

Hike Torreys and Grays Peaks via Kelso Ridge Arapaho National Forest, CO

Class 3 7.2 miles 3600 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Sep 12, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Torreys and Grays Peaks via Kelso Ridge GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

I had to hike 3 additional miles in addition to the 8ish of the actual trail because of a flipped truck along the road. My attached map assumes getting to the trailhead is possible, though the road is likely not passable without 4WD.

The standard route to Torreys Peak is a trail with some Class 2, but the classic Class 3 knife edge approach option using Kelso Ridge was definitely the way to go. I started along the Continental Divide Trail and followed it until a social trail appeared to the north, heading to a saddle along Kelso Ridge. Once at the saddle, I followed Kelso Ridge west, passing over the knife edge and continuing to the summit of Torreys Peak. The traverse south from Torreys Peak to Grays Peak was Class 2 and pleasant, and then the switchbacks led down from Grays Peak back to the Continental Divide Trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Torreys Peak
14267 ft
560 rise
2
Grays Peak
14270 ft
2750 rise

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!

A flipped truck along the road, requiring an extra few miles of hiking on my trip.
A flipped truck along the road, requiring an extra few miles of hiking on my trip.
Along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
Along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
Following the CDT generally southwest through the valley. Grays Peak visible center.
Following the CDT generally southwest through the valley. Grays Peak visible center.
Looking back along the CDT.
Looking back along the CDT.
Grays and Torreys visible ahead.
Grays and Torreys visible ahead.
Torreys Peak ahead, the saddle along Kelso Ridge visible on the right. I left the trail to get to that saddle.
Torreys Peak ahead, the saddle along Kelso Ridge visible on the right. I left the trail to get to that saddle.
Some old mining debris just before getting to the saddle along Kelso Ridge.
Some old mining debris just before getting to the saddle along Kelso Ridge.
Kelso Ridge, Torreys Peak ahead.
Kelso Ridge, Torreys Peak ahead.
Looking back into the valley the way I came.
Looking back into the valley the way I came.
Some scrambling along Kelso Ridge.
Some scrambling along Kelso Ridge.
Close-up of Torreys Peak right, Grays Peak left.
Close-up of Torreys Peak right, Grays Peak left.
Looking back along Kelso Ridge, Kelso Mountain visible top left, the saddle where I got onto Kelso Ridge in the center.
Looking back along Kelso Ridge, Kelso Mountain visible top left, the saddle where I got onto Kelso Ridge in the center.
More scrambling along Kelso Ridge, Torreys Peak peeking out in the center.
More scrambling along Kelso Ridge, Torreys Peak peeking out in the center.
Following the ridgeline to Torreys Peak, Grays Peak visible on the left.
Following the ridgeline to Torreys Peak, Grays Peak visible on the left.
Looking back along the ridge, the valley I came up on the right, Kelso Mountain center.
Looking back along the ridge, the valley I came up on the right, Kelso Mountain center.
Continuing along Kelso Ridge.
Continuing along Kelso Ridge.
Some more scrambling just before the knife edge.
Some more scrambling just before the knife edge.
Looking back before starting the knife edge.
Looking back before starting the knife edge.
Looking back across the Kelso Ridge knife edge.
Looking back across the Kelso Ridge knife edge.
More scrambling after the knife edge.
More scrambling after the knife edge.
Another shot looking back along Kelso Ridge, the knife edge visible on the left.
Another shot looking back along Kelso Ridge, the knife edge visible on the left.
Torreys Peak summit, view south to Grats Peak.
Torreys Peak summit, view south to Grats Peak.
View to the northeast while heading south down the Class 2 stuff from Torreys to Grays.
View to the northeast while heading south down the Class 2 stuff from Torreys to Grays.
Looking up at Grays Peak
Looking up at Grays Peak
Looking back toward Torreys Peak and Kelso Ridge.
Looking back toward Torreys Peak and Kelso Ridge.
Grays Peak summit.
Grays Peak summit.
Heading down from Grays Peak.
Heading down from Grays Peak.
View toward Torreys Peak while heading down Grays Peak.
View toward Torreys Peak while heading down Grays Peak.
Continuing along the CDT, Kelso Mountain visible center and the saddle I went up to in order to gain Kelso Ridge visible center left.
Continuing along the CDT, Kelso Mountain visible center and the saddle I went up to in order to gain Kelso Ridge visible center left.
Almost back to the trailhead, a nice view of the valley now that the sun had fully risen.
Almost back to the trailhead, a nice view of the valley now that the sun had fully risen.

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!