Front Range Range · Colorado 13er · No. 135 of the 13ers
South Flank from Summit Lake, over Mount Spalding
Gray Wolf Mountain, 13,604'
DifficultyClass 2
Round trip4.8 mi
Elevation gain1,590'
TrailheadSummit Lake (Mt. Blue Sky Road)
Trailhead elevation12,830'
Conditions on the summit
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Afternoon storm risk is the line that matters. Everything else is comfort. In summer, plan to be off the ridge before the build-up starts, not as it starts. Forecast for the summit point, adjusted for its elevation · data from Open-Meteo.
Colorado 13er · South Flank from Summit Lake, over Mount Spalding
Overview
Gray Wolf Mountain is just north of Mount Spalding on the Mt. Blue Sky road. From Summit Lake you climb Spalding's east ridge trail, then take an easy stroll across the wide, gentle basin at the head of Scott Gomer Creek's north fork to Gray Wolf's summit.
It is Class 2, with a rocky trail up Spalding and easy tundra beyond.
The round trip is about 4.8 miles with 1,590 feet of gain. It can also be climbed from Chicago Lakes or Guanella Pass, both much longer.
Plan of the day
Start by
Whatever time your road reservation allows; aim to be done before noon.
Turnaround
Be on Spalding's summit by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
The steep, rocky trail low on Spalding's ridge.
Route-finding
Easy. From Spalding, walk northwest across the broad basin to Gray Wolf.
From I-70, get off at Idaho Springs (exit 240) and follow Colorado 103 south about 13.5 miles up to Echo Lake. The Mt. Blue Sky road (Colorado 5) starts here. It is open only in summer and you need a timed reservation to drive it; check the Forest Service website before you go.
Summit Lake's signed lot is roughly 9 miles up that road.
RidgeTundraExposed to lightning
The line is elevation, the band underneath is the ground, and the numbered dots match the steps below. Mileage and elevations are approximate.
1
Summit Lake parking 12,830' · 0 mi
Walk north past an old stone building to a trail heading toward the north end of the lake.
2
North end of the lake 12,850' · 0.3 mi
Find the signed trail that climbs Spalding's east ridge.
3
Rocky trail 13,100' · 0.6 mi
The trail climbs steeply through rocks, then reaches easier ground on the ridge.
4
Around the rough part 13,300' · 0.8 mi
Near 13,200 feet, keep left of the crest to avoid harder ground, then angle back toward it near 13,300 feet.
5
Back on the ridge 13,400' · 0.95 mi
Come out on the crest near 13,400 feet where it gets easier.
6
Mount Spalding 13,863' · 1.25 mi
Follow the rocky ridge to Spalding's summit.
7
Broad basin 13,300' · 1.8 mi
Walk down and across the wide, gentle basin at the head of Scott Gomer Creek's north fork.
8
Summit 13,604' · 2.4 mi
Stroll up easy slopes to Gray Wolf's top.
Getting down
Return over Spalding, or contour back toward Spalding's east ridge and down to Summit Lake.
If things go wrong
Summit Lake is close below Spalding.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
Past Mount Spalding the route crosses a trailless basin. A flyover only works when there is a set trail to trace. Without one, the line would be a guess, and a guess could send you the wrong way on the mountain. Use the step-by-step route with a good map and GPS track instead.
See the trail on video
No video yet
We haven’t found a good video of this route that matches the way we describe it. The route strip, junctions and 3D flyover show the way in the meantime.
Other routes
Every way up Gray Wolf Mountain we list, with its class.
This describes the route on a dry summer day. Most 13ers see few people, so there may be no one along behind you. Check recent conditions the week you go, carry a map, tell someone your plan, and turn around when the day tells you to.