Is it right for you?
Grizzly Mountain stands between St. Elmo and North Fork Reservoir, with a central view of all the 13ers around it. Every approach takes a high-clearance 4WD unless you walk a lot of extra road. The other main way up is Baldwin Gulch, where willows around Baldwin Lake are the main nuisance.
From the road toward Billings Lake you climb tundra between scattered trees onto a big plateau, walk to its north end, drop about 250 feet to a saddle, and follow the ridge north for a mile. The last stretch is mostly medium rubble. It's rated Class 2+, though nothing is hard; young kids have made it, but found the rock tiring.
The round trip is about 6.4 miles with 2,500 feet of gain.
Plan of the day
By 7 a.m.
Be at the saddle north of the plateau by 10:30 a.m.
Long stretch of rubble below the summit.
Easy. Leave the road just past a seasonal stream about two-thirds of the way to Billings Lake.
Small streams in the basin. Filter it.
This week on the summit
Conditions on the summit
Loading Fetching the forecast for 13,722'…—
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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
North Fork Reservoir
From Poncha Springs, where US 285 meets US 50, drive west about 6.6 miles on US 50 to Maysville and turn north on County Road 240 (it becomes Forest Road 240). It's easy driving on pavement as far as Angel of Shavano Campground and the Colorado Trail crossing. After that the road turns slow and rocky. Maps call the next 1.3 miles fine for cars, but don't count on it; bring a 4WD with good clearance.
It is 4.7 miles from Angel of Shavano to the old Shavano townsite, where a disused trail heads up Cyclone Creek, then 2.25 miles more to the small North Fork Reservoir Campground (about 8 sites, around 11,470 feet), which sits east of the water. This page uses the campground as the trailhead. A 4WD can go on up the road toward Billings Lake.
Both campgrounds are small and fill on weekends; there are primitive sites along the road between them.
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
North Fork Reservoir. 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 →