Hiking & Summiting Grizzly Peak B (San Juan Mountains, CO)
DISCLAIMER – READ THIS FIRST:
This post is not a trail guide or a recommendation to go summit Grizzly Peak B. It’s just the beta from our hike—what worked for us, what we encountered, and how we pieced it together. Grizzly Peak B is remote, rugged, and not heavily documented. You’re 100% responsible for your own planning, prep, safety, and decisions. Know your limits, check the weather, bring a GPS map (we used CalTopo), and follow Leave No Trace—especially principle #1: Plan ahead and prepare. Cool? Cool.
Video overview of the hike
Hey TripOutside fam 
Wanted to drop a trip report from our recent adventure hiking Grizzly Peak B—a rad 13er tucked between Durango and Silverton in the San Juans. We’d been eyeing this peak for a while, but found very little solid beta online. So here’s our version of the story—take it for what it’s worth!
We actually biked in, but I’ll break it down for those just driving and hiking. If you want to go the most direct route, here’s the general beta:
Trailhead & Access Info
- Start Point: Cascade Creek Trailhead (on Google Maps, though you won’t get turn-by-turn directions past a point)
- Driving Directions:
- Head to Purgatory Ski Resort
- Take Bolam Pass Road, then a right on Cascade Divide Road
- The road turns to 4x4 further in—some Subarus might make it, but YMMV.
- You can park before it gets too gnarly and hike or bike the last stretch to the end of the road (trailhead access)
Map & Route Tools
- CalTopo: The route we followed was pulled from a CalTopo map. I paid the $20/year for offline access and it was 100% worth it.
- Trailforks: Also great for seeing where the Rico-Silverton section of the Colorado Trail ties in.
From the end of Cascade Divide Road, we:
- Took a short connector trail to the Colorado Trail (Rico-Silverton section)
- Hiked up to a subtle offshoot trail to Grizzly (not signed, but visible if you’re paying attention)
- Entered a series of scree fields and did a little route-finding to stay on durable surfaces and avoid trampling wildflowers
Route Highlights
- There are two main options after the first big scree field:
- Bushwhack through meadow (we did not do this)
- Stay on the rocks and climb up steep scree (our choice)
- We eventually scrambled up what might be called a couloir—loose but no major exposure
- Didn’t follow the more technical chimney route in CalTopo—opted for the more obvious climbable section with three points of contact
- Final summit push was mellow and well worth it—no spoilers, but the views are
Quick Stats (approx.)
- Distance: 7.2 miles round-trip
- Elevation gain: ~2,800-3,000 feet
- Time on trail: 5 hrs 42 mins (but we napped, snacked, and chilled a bunch)
- Bonus miles: Add ~2 more miles round-trip from the parking area on Cascade Divide Road
Water & Trail Tips
- Bring plenty of water OR a filter
- No water up high unless you hit the lake or find some runoff near the scree fields
- We found flowing water in late July
- Stay off the wildflowers, stick to rock and already-worn trails when possible
Got Questions?
Drop a comment below and I’ll do my best to help out based on our experience. And if you’ve summited Grizzly B (or tried!), would love to hear your route and beta too.
See you out there—pack out your trash, and send it responsibly 
Links & Tools We Used
13ers write up - Grizzly Peak [Grizzly Peak B] | 13,753' › Grizzly Peak B South Face Route, Map & Photos / Colorado 13ers
My activity - Garmin Connect
Caltopo map mentioned in the video V. 10 - Grizzly Routes - CalTopo
Trailhead https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lq5623chs1BgsFtx9