Loveland Pass

Approach

Coming from the east down US Highway 6 on the way to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area you will go through Loveland Pass (elevation 11,990 feet). At the top of the pass on the left is a parking area. Park here and proceed east out of the parking lot up a steep hill and following the Continental Divide.

This route is also known as the West Ridge route.

Route Description

Hike uphill. The route has several trails that intersect it, but stick to the most worn and obvious one running up the middle until you reach the summit of a 12,000 foot peak. The trail turns right and heads southeast down onto a saddle and back up another 12,000 foot peak. Some scrambling is involved here. Be careful of the drop off on your left. There aren't many cornices but the rocks are not all that stable in places.

Decend into another saddle and up 13,000 foot plus Grizzly Peak. There is a very nice campsite at the top with a stone wall windbreak built up about two-three feet. The trail will turn more eastward although it will zig and zag by switchbacks quite a bit. The trail is almost not discernable in places, but continue moving downhill into a wide and grassy saddle between Grizzly Peak and Torrey's Peak. There are several abandoned charcoal campfires here. A series of switchbacks lead to the summit, but the trail is hard to find once you get near the top. On the return, during winter, there is an obvious broad shallow snow gully to the right of the trail that makes for an exciting glissade back to the grassy saddle.

Navigational Info: Gray's Peak will be visible just south of Torrey's Peak for most of the trek. Also, you can see the Arapahoe Ski Parking Area from nearly anywhere on the route. The highway is also useful because it to can be seen (and heard) from nearly anywhere and can be used as a reliable landmark for taking compass bearings.

Other Info: There is also a shortcut from Grizzly Peak to the Loveland Pass Parking area that bypasses one of the two 12er's on the route. This shortcut lies just south of the first 12er you come to heading out of the Loveland Pass Parking area.

Length: 4.5 miles one way.

Essential Gear

Good boots, ice axe. No tools or pro needed. The route is dry in places so unless there is recent snowfall or icing, crampons aren't needed.

Miscellaneous Info

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Images

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