Grizzly Peak (Summit County, Colorado)

Grizzly Peak

The north face of Grizzly Peak, seen from Clear Creek County
Highest point
Elevation 13,433 ft (4,094 m) [1][2]
Prominence 847 ft (258 m) [2]
Isolation 1.48 mi (2.38 km) [2]
Coordinates 39°38′40″N 105°50′55″W / 39.6444313°N 105.8486217°W / 39.6444313; -105.8486217Coordinates: 39°38′40″N 105°50′55″W / 39.6444313°N 105.8486217°W / 39.6444313; -105.8486217 [3]
Geography
Grizzly Peak

Colorado

Location Continental Divide between
Clear Creek and Summit counties, Colorado, United States[3]
Parent range Front Range[3]
Topo map USGS 7.5' topographic map
Grays Peak, Colorado[3]
Climbing
Easiest route Trail hike

Grizzly Peak is a high mountain summit in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Also known as Grizzly Peak D, the 13,433-foot (4,094 m) thirteener is located in Arapaho National Forest, 2.1 miles (3.4 km) southeast by east (bearing 129°) of Loveland Pass, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide between Clear Creek and Summit counties.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Its proximate parent peak is Torreys Peak.[7]

Location and geography

Grizzly Peak sits along the Continental Divide on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The summit is located near Interstate 70, east of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel.[4] The larger Grays Peak (14,278 feet (4,400 m)) and Torreys Peak (14,275 feet (4,400 m)) sit nearby, and the closest major town is Silver Plume, Colorado.[5][8] It is also in close proximity to Mount Sniktau, which rises to 13,235 feet (4,034 m) at its peak.[9] Other nearby points of interest include Loveland Ski Area, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Keystone Ski Resort and the Arapahoe Basin.[9]

Other summits with same name

The state of Colorado actually has four other Grizzly Peaks and one Grizzly Mountain on record. The Grizzly Peak in Chaffee County, which sits in the Sawatch Range, is the tallest of these.[5] The Summit County Grizzly Peak is fourth-tallest of the mountains, and is thus also referred to as "Grizzly Peak D":[5][6]

Rank Mountain Elevation Range
54 Grizzly Peak 13,995 ft (4,266 m) Sawatch Range
130 Grizzly Peak 13,738 ft (4,187 m) San Juan Mountains
142 Grizzly Mountain 13,708 ft (4,178 m) Sawatch Range
145 Grizzly Peak 13,700 ft (4,176 m) San Juan Mountains
302 Grizzly Peak 13,433 feet (4,094 m) Front Range
415 Grizzly Peak 13,281 ft (4,048 m) Sawatch Range

Hiking

The Loveland Pass sign, with the mountain's peak visible behind it at center

The trail to Grizzly Peak, which allows hikers to reach the summit of the mountain by foot, is accessible immediately off of a parking lot at Loveland Pass on U.S. Highway 6.[4][9] The trailhead begins above the treeline at about 12,000 feet (3,700 m) and rises to the peak, but reaching the summit does not necessarily require the use of extra mountain climbing equipment such as ropes.[4] Visitors can also reach Mount Sniktau, a smaller peak, from the same point along Loveland Pass.[9]

From the summit, hikers can see Loveland Pass below them, plus views of nearby Chihuahua Lake and the Arapahoe Basin ski trails.[4]

Historical names

See also

References

  1. 1 2 The elevation of Grizzly Peak includes an adjustment of +1.911 m (+6.27 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Grizzly Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Grizzly Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Grizzly Peak". Front Range (CO). SummitPost.org. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "13ers.com - Grizzly Peak D". Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  6. 1 2 Roach, Gerry. "Colorado's Summits – 13,000 to 13,999 feet". climb.mountains.com. Mountains.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Grizzly Peak". CO Peak Statistics. Lists of John. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Grizzly Peak Summit - Colorado Mountain Peak Information". MountainZone.com. demand|Media Sports. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Mount Sniktau". hikingincolorado.org. Hiking in Colorado. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
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