San Juan Range · Colorado 13er · No. 204 of the 13ers
East Ridge from the Arrow-Vestal Saddle
Graystone Peak, 13,503'
DifficultyClass 2+
Round trip20 mi
Elevation gain6,500'
TrailheadMolas Pass - Elk Park
Trailhead elevation9,950'
Less traffic, less margin
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.
Colorado 13er · East Ridge from the Arrow-Vestal Saddle
Is it right for you?
Graystone Peak is a Grenadier Range summit south of Arrow Peak, deep in the Weminuche Wilderness. It is often climbed with Arrow and Vestal, or with Electric and Garfield.
From the Vestal Creek trail you climb into the valley between Arrow and Vestal, boulder-hop a rock glacier to the saddle between them, drop near Arrow Lake, and climb rubble to the Arrow-Graystone saddle. A broad ridge then joins Graystone's main ridge, which you follow west to the top. It is Class 2+, maybe a few Class 3 moves.
From the beaver ponds it's about 7 miles round trip and 3,700 feet. The beaver ponds camp on Elk Creek is about 6.5 miles from the Molas trailhead: the Colorado Trail drops about 1,700 feet on 30-plus switchbacks to a footbridge over the Animas, then the Elk Creek trail climbs gently east to the ponds just below 10,000 feet. Remember that 1,700-foot climb on the way out. From the Molas trailhead the whole trip is about 20 miles and 6,500 feet. Mileage and gain are our estimates.
Plan of the day
Start by
Camp in Vestal Creek; leave by 6 a.m.
Turnaround
Be at the Arrow-Graystone saddle by 10:30 a.m.
Crux
Steep gullies on the south side of the summit ridge.
Route-finding
Moderate. The rock glacier and summit ridge take care.
Water
Elk Creek, the beaver ponds and Vestal Creek. Little or none up high. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
LoadingFetching the forecast for 13,503'…
—Summit temp now
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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.
From Silverton, drive south on US 550 toward Molas Pass. About 5.3 miles from the Silverton turnoff, and a little past the Molas Lake road, turn left into the Molas trailhead lot. From Durango, cross Coal Bank and Molas passes; the lot is about 1.1 miles past the top of Molas Pass on the right. The dirt lot is fine for any car but can be muddy and have potholes.
You can also ride the Durango and Silverton train to the Elk Park stop and skip the descent from Molas Pass; check the railroad's current schedule and stops. Camping is available near Molas Lake and Little Molas Lake. Protect your food and gear in Vestal Creek: the marmots there are known to chew through tents, packs and anything salty.
Trail in the treesTundraTalus and screeRidgeExposed 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
Beaver ponds camp 9,950' · 0 mi
Follow the path along the east edge of the main pond, below a boulder field, and through willows past the campsites. Drop down a steep bank and cross Elk Creek, often on logs. Follow a bench west to the foot of the Vestal Creek trail.
Watch for: Log crossings change from year to year.
2
Second avalanche chute 10,700' · 1 mi
The Vestal trail climbs steeply south, with several branches and many fallen trees. At the second avalanche chute, stay on the main trail up the small ridge on the chute's east side.
Watch for: A path at the bottom of the chute leads off route.
3
Lower meadow 11,300' · 2.15 mi
Stay on the trail past the open meadow by the creek and back into forest to the lower meadow at 11,300 feet.
4
Arrow-Vestal valley 11,900' · 2.4 mi
Climb steeply south-southwest about 600 feet through trees, willows, rock benches and small cliffs; a climbers' trail may help. From the upper camp at 11,760 feet, you can instead contour west across benches and grassy shelves.
5
Arrow-Vestal saddle 12,900' · 2.9 mi
Head south-southwest up the valley, mostly over a rock glacier, then talus and scree to the saddle.
Watch for: Snow early in the season; carry an ice axe.
6
Arrow-Graystone saddle 12,980' · 3.2 mi
Lose about 200 feet toward Arrow Lake, then go west up rubble to the saddle at 12,980 feet.
7
Graystone Peak 13,503' · 3.5 mi
Climb the broad ridge southwest, bearing right to skip Point 13,404, then follow the rubbly main ridge west. You may have to drop to the south side and cross steep gullies before regaining the crest.
Watch for: Early in the season, small cornices sit at the tops of some gullies.
Getting down
Go back to the saddle west of Arrow Lake and retrace your route. Or drop northwest into the slow, rocky valley between Arrow and Electric to reach the Vestal Creek trail near 11,100 feet.
If things go wrong
Head back to the Arrow-Vestal saddle and down the valley.
3D flyover
No 3D flyover for this peak
The route leaves the Vestal Creek trail at the lower meadow and is off-trail above. 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 Graystone Peak we list, with its class.
Graystone East Ridge Approachthis routeClass 2+ 25 mi