Is it right for you?
Greylock Mountain stands above the head of Sunlight Creek, deep in the Weminuche Wilderness, with views over the upper Vallecito and into the remote Grizzly drainage. It is a multi-day backpack trip; it can also be reached, still by backpack, from Chicago Basin or Vallecito Reservoir. The camp is about 11 miles from the trailhead. You cross Hunchback Pass, walk down the Vallecito Trail past Nebo Creek, Trinity Creek and Rock Creek (a long wade), then ford Vallecito Creek below its meeting with Sunlight Creek. That ford can be knee to thigh deep and swift, and is dangerous before runoff drops in mid-July. On the far side, wade to the north side of Sunlight Creek and, within about five minutes, turn left onto the cairned Sunlight trail; the main path goes on toward Leviathan Creek. This unmaintained trail climbs about 2,500 hard feet, crosses the creek again near 10,800 feet, and is easy to lose. The last sheltering trees, at about 11,550 feet, make the base camp; Sunlight Lake is about 0.6 mile beyond.
From Sunlight Lake you climb a broad ridge toward the upper lake, cross a small basin, and go south to the saddle west of Point 13,229. Then you go over that point and follow the ridge through a notch and around a few rock problems to the top. It is Class 2+, mixing tundra, talus and boulders, with no serious exposure.
From camp the climb is about 8 miles round trip with 1,900 feet of gain. The approach alone is about 22.2 miles round trip with 6,225 feet of gain. The total from the trailhead is about 30.2 miles with 8,125 feet. UN 13,121 is a possible add-on if you can handle the first 200 to 300 feet down Greylock's north side.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m. from camp
Be at the saddle west of Point 13,229 by 10:30 a.m.
The notch and short rock steps on the summit ridge.
Moderate. A faint cairned path climbs the broad ridge above Sunlight Lake.
Sunlight Creek at camp and streams in the basin. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,575'…—
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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.
Getting there
Hunchback Pass
This trailhead needs a high-clearance 4WD, and plan on as much as 2.5 hours of driving from Silverton. From the northeast end of Silverton, take County Road 2 up the Animas about 4.2 miles to Howardsville. Turn right up Cunningham Gulch, then take the left fork onto the Stony Pass road. It climbs steeply over the pass and down the far side. You will ford Pole Creek, then turn right at a fork and ford the Rio Grande. Both fords are harder early in the summer. Then follow the Beartown road about 4 slow, rough miles past the old Beartown site and up a rocky, rutted stretch. The Hunchback Pass trailhead is about half a mile below Kite Lake, at roughly 11,800 feet, with limited parking.
You can also reach this area from Creede or Lake City by driving to Rio Grande Reservoir, but the road west of the reservoir has very rough sections. There is some camping near the trailhead and near the old Beartown site.
This is the start of a multi-day backpack. Park so you don't block the road; space is tight.
Base towns and camping for this climb
Coming from out of state? See Lodging & Camping for how free camping works, what is closed this year and where to stay.
Before you go
Check these the week of your climb.
Official forecast
The National Weather Service forecast for the summit area, hour by hour. Look for thunderstorm chances and wind above treeline.
NWS point forecast →Directions to the trailhead
Hunchback Pass. Road conditions near the trailhead change after storms. Check your clearance and have a backup plan for a lower lot.
Get directions →Roads and highways
Closures, construction and winter conditions on the highways that get you there.
COtrip road conditions →Closures and fire rules
Trail closures, fire bans and other alerts from the Forest Service in Colorado. For the latest on your trailhead, call the local ranger district.
Forest Service alerts →Snow on the route?
From fall through early summer, any snow slope can slide. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.
Avalanche forecast →Cell signal
Most trailheads and many summits have little or no signal. Check coverage near the trailhead and carry a satellite messenger or beacon if you can.
FCC coverage map →