Is it right for you?
Little Giant Peak stands on the west side of Cunningham Gulch, east of Silverton. Old mining trails lead most of the way, past ruins of the Shenandoah Mine.
You wade Cunningham Creek and follow an old switchbacking mine trail up Dives Basin, then climb steep tundra to the east ridge and walk rubble to the top. It is Class 2 and short, but steep the whole way. Plan on about three hours up.
The round trip is about 3.5 miles with 3,050 feet of gain.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at the Shenandoah Mine by 10 a.m.
Steady, steep climbing.
Moderate at first; finding the old trail across the creek may take a search.
Cunningham Creek and the Dives Basin stream. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,417'…—
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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
Cunningham Creek
From Silverton, go to the east edge of town and bear right at the fork just past the courthouse onto County Road 2. The pavement ends after about 2 miles and the road becomes good gravel. At the old Howardsville site, 4.2 miles from town, turn right on Forest Road 589 toward Cunningham Gulch and Stony Pass. Keep right at 4.4 miles, and keep right again at 5.9 miles; don't take the Stony Pass road.
Drive on up Cunningham Creek to about 7.1 miles from town. Park near here, at about 10,400 feet, across the creek from the old mine trail that climbs into Dives Basin. There's an old outhouse and a camping area a half mile farther up the road.
You can car camp at the parking areas, and there are a few pullouts along Cunningham Creek past the Stony Pass turnoff; watch for private property. The closest Forest Service campgrounds are on South Mineral Creek and at Little Molas Lake.
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
Cunningham Creek. 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 →