Climb Greyrock Mountain
Colorado › Greyrock Trailhead
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Activities:
Chillin, Camping, Photography, Running, Backpacking, Hiking, Fitness, Rock Climbing
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Skill Level:
Beginner
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Season:
Year Round
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Trail Type:
Loop
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RT Distance:
7.1 Miles
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Elevation Gain:
3000 Feet
Only 30 minutes from downtown Fort Collins, climbing Greyrock Mountain takes you through the Cache La Poudre Canyon, the desolate remains of the 2004 Picnic Rock Fire, and leads to a beautiful granite dome that towers 2,000' above the surrounding terrain and provides excellent hiking, climbing, and views of the Comanche Peak Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park.
The main trail begins at the Cache La Poudre river on the Poudre Canyon Highway about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. After about .75 miles the trail splits. To go left on Greyrock Meadows trail adds 2 miles to your trip and provides excellent views of Greyrock Mountain and Meadows from the south, eventually connecting back with Greyrock Mountain trail. Going right on Greyrock Mountain Trail takes you directly up the gulch to the base of Greyrock.
From either direction, follow the trail till you reach the base of Greyrock, taking it around to the north side. On the north side it's easy to lose the trail and end on a dead-end ledge on the east side. Be sure to contour around to the north until the trail becomes apparent. There are signs.
Keep heading south across the meadow and over the large slabs of granite past a large pool until the obvious summit on the south end is gained.
In 2004 a 9,000 acre forest filed called the "Picnic Rock Fire" decimated the area. Geologically, Greyrock Mountain is a visible outcropping of the Log Cabin Batholith, a glacier-eroded igneous intrusion into the overlying gneiss and schist of slightly-pink Silver Plume Granite that formed over 1.4 billion years ago.
Pack List
- No permits are required to hike Greyrock Mountain and camping is permitted anywhere in the area as long as you are .25 miles from the Cache La Poudre River or at one of the designated campsites on the river.
- Necessary gear/equipment is season-specific, but water, sunscreen and trail food are always a good idea, as there is no reliable source of water year-round on the trail and exposure to the sun is persistent on most of the trail.
- There are numerous rock climbing routes on Greyrock, from 5.5 to 5.10b. More info can be found here.
Greyrock Mountain is managed by the USFS Canyon Lakes Ranger District and can be contact at:
1311 South College
Fort Collins, CO 80524
P: 970.498.2770
T: 970.498.2727
F: 970.498.2769
This is by far my favorite hike within a 30 min drive of Fort Collins, amazing views of the divide and the plains!
about 1 year ago
One of my all time favorites in the Fort Collins area! Great mix of beginner and moderate level hiking, with a stellar summit.
over 1 year ago
If you live in the Fort Collins area this is a must. It starts out pretty gradual and ends up climbing up the rocky summit. It's a little challenging at the end but very fun and rewarding. The peak has some amazing views and a great pool to picnic by. Look out for snakes and bring lots of sunscreen and water.
over 1 year ago
Josiah RoeAdmin
The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark. - John Muir
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