Is it right for you?
Campbell Creek Peak sits on the ridges southeast of Handies Peak, high above Cottonwood Creek. You start with the Handies crowd but soon leave them for a quiet summit.
About a mile up the Grizzly Gulch trail you cross the creek and climb a steep avalanche gully to tundra, then walk over Point 12,792 and Point 13,502. From there you drop toward the UN 13,801 saddle, contour into the head of Campbell Creek and climb to the west ridge, which leads to the top. It is Class 2 but a stiff workout, with moderate route finding.
The round trip is about 6.8 miles with 3,800 feet of gain, since you must climb back over Point 13,502 on the way out. UN 13,801 can be added, but a short broken, cliffy section with one deep notch sits midway on the ridge between them.
Plan of the day
By 6:30 a.m.
Be on Point 13,502 by 10:30 a.m.
The steep gully low down.
Moderate. Pick the third, westernmost gully, and don't drop below about 12,800 feet in the Campbell Creek basin.
Grizzly Gulch creek and side streams. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,461'…—
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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
Grizzly Gulch - Silver Ck
Head south out of Lake City on Colorado 149 for roughly 2 miles, then go right on County Road 30, the road to Cinnamon Pass. The trailhead is almost 16 miles from where County Road 30 begins. Keep right at a fork close to mile 11.8.
The road is good dirt at first, but after about 12.5 miles it gets rougher. Between miles 13 and 14.5 it becomes a narrow shelf road on the side of Sunshine Peak. High clearance is best for the last few miles. The Silver Creek / Grizzly Gulch trailhead is on the road before mile 16. Redcloud's trail starts on the north side of the road; Handies Peak's Grizzly Gulch trail starts across the road.
Weekends get busy, so park wherever there's room. A small lot sits on the north side of the road, where the Silver Creek trail starts. The Grizzly Gulch trail leaves from behind the vault toilet on the south side and crosses the Lake Fork on a footbridge. Williams Creek and Mill Creek campgrounds are below Sherman and fill on weekends; past Sherman there are primitive spots, including at or near this trailhead. Watch for private land.
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
Grizzly Gulch - Silver Ck. 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 →