LoJ: #258 (Pre-LiDAR #263) / 13,503' Graystone Peak

Range › San Juan Range
Quadrangle › Storm King Peak
Summit Location › Peak Route Icon N 37° 41' 21.42", W 107° 37' 09.58" (Not Field Checked)
Neighboring Peaks › Peak Icon Vestal Peak Peak Icon Arrow Peak Peak Icon Electric Peak [Electric Peak B] Peak Icon Mount Garfield

Peak Summary

A Class 2+ peak or possibly a little 3rd class scrambling depending on exact route taken that combines well with Arrow, Vestal, Electric or Mt. Garfield, depending on access and route taken. Access to this peak for most will likely involve a backpack trip. The closest access point by foot is the Molas trailhead near Molas Pass which connects with the Colorado Trail down to the Animas River, then continues up Elk Creek to the east. See separate approach description for details. Lidar measurements added 14 feet of elevation to this summit.

Graystone East Ridge Approach Route

Class 2+
backpacker icon + Peak Icon
Backpack + Medium Day
RT From Molas Pass - Elk Park Trailhead: 25 mi / 6,600'
RT From Vestal Creek Campsite @ 11,760 : 7 mi / 3,700'
From Vestal Creek Campsite @ 11,760: 3.50 mi / 3,700' (One-Way)
  • Trailhead

    • Molas Pass - Elk Park Trailhead

      From the highway intersection just west of Silverton, CO, drive south on US550 in the direction of Molas Pass for 5.3 miles. About .6 mile, or at 5.3 miles total, after the turnoff for the Molas Lake there is a turnoff to the left into the trailhead parking area, accessible to 2WD vehicles. The dirt parking lot may be muddy at times and have a few potholes to avoid. There is usually plenty of room to park here, but can get a little full on weekends.

      If coming from Durango, drive north on US550 over Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass. After cresting Molas Pass, the turnoff for the trailhead will be 1.1 mile further north and on the right. The drive from Durango will take about an hour.

      Camping

      You can probably vehicle camp at the trailhead but there is no immediate toilet facility. You could also hike south along the trail a short distance from the TH and pitch a tent. There is a vault toilet back at the top of Molas Pass or at the turnoff for Molas Lake, you can drive down to the park and pay a fee to camp where there are not only vault toilets, but also hot showers for $5.00. There is also a fee campground at "Little Molas Lake," which is on a graded dirt road that turns off to the west, from the highway back towards Molas Pass. So overall, there are plenty of camping opportunities in the immediate vicinity.
    Approach Map Photos

    • From Molas Pass - Elk Park TH via Vestal Creek Campsite @ 11,760

      • Molas Pass to Elk Ck. Beaver Ponds  Moderate | RT: 13 mi / 1,100’

        From the Molas Trailhead parking, head south on a connector trail that joins the Colorado Trail about a half mile south of Molas Lake. Follow the Colorado Trail #665 east through mostly open, flowering meadows with enticing views of the Grenadier Range and Snowdon Peaks to the south. The trail maintains elevation as Molas Creek begins to drop away, enters a section of forest and then breaks out of the forest to begin a long descent to the Animas River. Each time we have hiked this section of trail, we have attempted to count the number of switchbacks and each time we have come up with a different number. Suffice it to say there are a minimum of 30. On your way down, enjoy spectacular views of Mount Garfield, Graystone and Electric peaks. From the trailhead to the crossing of the Animas, it's approximately 3 miles.

        Eventually the trail deposits you at an easy crossing of Molas Creek (where you can cool your feet from the arduous descent) and then shortly after comes to a well built footbridge across the Animas. Total elevation loss is around 1,700 feet. Once across the Animas, follow along the tracks south and watch for the Elk Creek trail just a short distance away heading up the slope on your left above the tracks. The trail switchbacks up and then begins a contouring path above the tracks over to a low ridge and then Elk Creek. Just before it swings into the Elk drainage, there's a trail that drops back down on the right to some campsites. Once in the Elk Creek drainage, the trail stays on the north side of the creek all the way to the well-known beaver ponds. It's a 3.5 mile hike to there. The trail is well-used and easy to follow and receives regular maintenance. We recall maybe one or two other places where the trail gets close to the creek that would offer a campsite. There are perhaps a couple of spots where the trail crosses a sloping embankment and degrades some. A little over a mile before the beaver ponds, the trail begins to climb above the creek, goes up a side drainage briefly and then gains a flatter bench high above the creek. Once you each that bench, you're less than a half mile from the ponds and the elevation gain is over.

        Continue on to the beaver ponds which will be on the right (south side of the trail). There are camp spots right along the trail here, but there are better spots if you cross the ponds on a trail that passes right along the eastern edge of the main pond at the foot of a boulder field. The trail wanders through a few willows, then breaks out into a clearing with several flat campsites on the edge of the trees. This same trail is what you will follow to get to the Elk Creek crossing and then begin a hike up to Vestal Creek and Vestal Basin. On our last visit here in 2011, we saw a cow moose and her calf.

        Campsite Locations

        Beaver Ponds N 37° 43' 14.64", W 107° 36' 28.44"
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      • Vestal Creek Approach  Difficult | RT: 5 mi / 1,800’

        From the Beaver Ponds located just below 10,000 feet on the Elk Creek Trail, skirt around the ponds on the east end following a trail that goes right along the edge of the main pond and a boulder field. On the south end, the trail will meander some in willows and then leave the pond to a flat area with good camping. Continue on the trail south towards a steep embankment drop to Elk Creek. Cross the creek on some fallen logs. (In 2011, there were fallen logs across the creek here that made crossing fairly easy, but this could quickly change.) Once on the south side of Elk Creek, follow the trail on a bench westward for a short time before it begins the steep pull up the Vestal drainage. The Vestal Creek trail is not a regularly maintained trail, though we have seen a trail crew on it before, which may explain why the number of fallen trees across the trail seemed less in 2011. Since it is more of a "use" trail, you may find several variations at times. In our opinion, this is one trail that the Forest Service should develop and maintain in order to reduce resource damage.

        As the trail heads generally south up the steep mountainside, you may find multiple branches at times. After about a mile, you'll come to the edge of a second avalanche chute. The main trail will follow more directly uphill along the side of a minor ridge on the east side of the chute. There may be another trail near the bottom of the chute that leads over in the direction of Vestal Creek. Avoid that one. If you're diverted by it, you may find you have to bushwhack up the chute to find the main trail again. Past the avalanche chute, the trail still maintains some distance from the creek. When the creek begins to swing SE, the trail will drop to very near the creek in an open meadow area. There's a large, rotting log on the left side of the trail that makes a good rest stop. From this meadow, looking SSW, you'll be viewing directly up the valley between Electric and Arrow. This is the shortest access to Electric, Garfield and Graystone and the easiest place to cross Vestal Creek is right where the trail comes closest.

        For those wanting to continue further up valley to the higher camps, continue on the trail back into forest and reach the "lower meadow" at 11,300 feet. There are primitive camping opportunities here and at the east end of the lower meadow, you'll be directly across from the valley between Arrow and Vestal. It is possible to access that valley from the lower meadow camp, but it ain't easy. For those desiring an even higher camp, continue along the Vestal Creek trail another third of a mile to 11,760 ft. and what we consider to be the best campsite—which is in some of the last, open trees and bordering the creek. Across the creek, there's another flat, open meadow with willows. From this camp, access to the col SSW of West Trinity is an easy matter. Also, a contouring ascent west from this camp can lead you back to the valley between Vestal and Arrow. The ridge and saddle that connects those two summits on their south side also provides access to Graystone. Some groups like to include Graystone with Arrow and Vestal as we did, others will include Graystone with a day up Garfield and Electric.

        Camping

        There are primitive sites in the lower meadow at 11,300 feet, then another site area around 11,700 feet and a third site area at 11,760 ft. on the edge of a higher meadow. Above there, there are no trees but it may be possible to find more campsites in open tundra. There are abundant willows in some places. Another favorite campsite is above treeline, further up at Vestal Lake.

        Open This Approach in a New Window
    Peak Icon Route Map Photos

    Route Info Graystone East Ridge Approach

    Click thumbnail to view full-size photo + caption

    Route Description

    Year Climbed: 1992

    The following summary will apply to all the peaks accessible from Vestal Creek. These include: Peaks Two and Three, The Trinities, Vestal, Arrow, Electric, Graystone, Point Pun (unranked) and Garfield. In describing the routes for all these peaks, we have used the beaver ponds on the Elk Creek trail as the "base camp" starting point. Mileages and elevation gain are measured from there for each. However, for those with the strength and fortitude, you can continue the backpack portion of the trip by heading up the unmaintained and sometimes confusing Vestal Creek Trail. That hike will be included with each summit in this area as part of the "approach." Not only is the Vestal trail confusing at times with multiple tracks to follow, it is very steep and also harbors a large number of fallen logs to cross. The campsites in upper Vestal Creek are also known for their aggressive and camp-destroying marmots. Protect your food supply accordingly and even your gear as well. In 1992, we had marmots chew their way into our tent, then they both slept and defecated on our sleeping bags. In addition, they completely destroyed a pair of shorts we had left outside to air out, chewed on our packs and socks left out and they chewed through one of the tubes for our water filter. In short, they were attracted to anything that had salt on it.

    Graystone is in the unique position where you could sequence a climb of it with either a day of Arrow/Vestal/Graystone or Garfield/Electric/Graystone. This description assumes the former sequence. To climb Graystone, begin from either the "lower meadow" along Vestal Creek at 11,300 feet or from the higher camp at 11,760 ft. From the lower meadow camp, you'll need to ascend SSW steeply for 600 feet to gain the valley between Arrow and Vestal. At the time we did this in 1992, it something of a bushwhack that will take you through trees, willows, rock benches and minor cliffs, and tundra. Roach now describes a "strong climber's trail" heading into the basin now. In 1992, we saw no evidence of such. If coming from the higher camp. you'll need to contour back to the west across rock benches interspersed with tundra and grassy shelves to the same valley. Once in the valley between Arrow and Vestal, head SSW to the saddle that joins the two peaks. Most of this valley is occupied by a rock glacier with little tundra for reprieve from the relentless boulder hopping, etc. Obtaining the saddle will take you through talus & scree as well, or possibly snow earlier in the season. Ice axe would be handy then.

    From the saddle, lose 200 feet in elevation and drop on down to near Arrow Lake. Contour west over to the saddle between Arrow and Graystone at 12,980 ft. hiking up plenty of rocky rubble. Follow the fairly broad ridge SW to intersect the main east-west running ridge of Graystone. As you approach that ridge, veer right to avoid unnecessary elevation gain unless you want to tag Pt. 13,404 to the SE. Continue west along the rubbly ridge to the Graystone summit. In earlier season, you may have to cross a couple of corniced snowbanks at the head of some gullies. We found ourselves driven off the ridge crest to the south side at one point where we had to cross some steep gullies and then re-ascend to the summit ridge, but nothing exceeded some good Class 2+. Though Graystone is not ranked among the two hundred highest summits, it is certainly worth consideration to climb, especially when you consider the effort it takes to get back into this area. Don't leave it "hanging." At the time we did it, we were only working on the top 200 summits with nary a thought about climbing all the 13ers some day. We are most glad we went ahead and included Graystone with Arrow and Vestal on that trip.

    For your return trip, go back to the saddle SW of Arrow and west of Arrow Lake. You can retrace your ascent route back to whichever campsite you've used or the Vestal Creek trail. Or, from the saddle, you could also drop NW into the valley between Arrow and Electric. This rock-filled, slow-going valley can drop you out lower down on the Vestal Creek trail at about 11,100 ft.

    Additional BETA

    Links to other information, routes & trip reports for this peak that may be helpful.
    Mountain Handbook › Graystone Peak   (Requires free registration & login to view)
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