Torreys Peak via Tuning Fork Couloir 14er Hike Guide
Torreys Peak via the Tuning Fork Couloir is one of the longest ski/snowboard descents on a 14er in Colorado. When the snow is good, you can often ski/snowboard from the summit to the basin below, over 2,000ft of vertical. This Couloir usually holds snow from January until June and for this reason is a popular route for those seeking a snow climb with a great ski descent. Although this is a great line to ascend or descend – the approach and way back to the car can be a struggle.
Torreys Peak Via Tuning Fork Couloir Quick Facts
Video Recap: Torreys Peak via Tuning Fork Couloir
Torreys Peak Via Tuning Fork Couloir Rating: ★★★ (3/5 Stars)
Distance: 4-10 miles RT (depending on starting point)
Elevation Start: 9,800ft (I-70), 11,200ft (Grizzly Gulch TH)
Highest Point: 14,267 ft
Total Elevation Gain: 3,000 – 4,500 ft (depending on starting point)
Estimated Time to Complete: 4-6 Hours RT (depending on starting point and descent method)
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult What does this mean?
Snow Climb Difficulty: Moderate – 35-40 degrees
Class: Class 2
Season: January – June
Avalanche Forecast: This route and area is avalanche prone, check conditions here.
Directions to Torreys Peak Tuning Fork Couloir
Trailhead: Grizzly Gulch
Getting Here: From I70, take exit 221 at Bakerville and head over to the south side of the highway to start driving up Forest Road 189. Drive up Forest Road 189 for 1 mile and take a right on Grizzly Gulch road. This section of the road is rough, but doable with most vehicles and an experienced driver. Continue on this road for a quarter mile and take another right onto 189.1c. Once you are on this road, there is a steam crossing after .10 miles that can get quite deep in the spring months. After this point, I would only recommend continuing if you have a high clearance 4×4 vehicle and a driver with experience off-roading. Continue another 2.7 miles or so up the rough 4×4 road and cross 2 more streams along the way. If you make it past the third stream crossing, this may be the end of the road as of July 2019. About a ¼ mile past this point two avalanches have wiped out road access.
The link below provides coordinates to the end of the trailhead, but don’t expect to be able to drive the entire way.
Fees: None
Parking: The parking situation for Torreys Peak via Tuning Fork Couloir is very fluid. There are several small spots along the way, but no official trailhead parking as of July 2019. There are no bathrooms along the way.
Summary
Camping: Grizzly Gulch has a variety of dispersed camping options at the start of the road and all the way up to the old trailhead. This area does get busy on major holidays and weekends, but if you can make it up Grizzly Gulch road a few miles, you will usually not have a problem finding somewhere to camp.
Dogs: Although Torreys Peak is typically a dog friendly mountain, I would not recommend bringing a dog up Torreys Peak via the Tuning Fork Couloir.
Make it a Loop: Torreys Peak via the Tuning Fork Couloir is an out and back hike that is usually skied/snowboarded once you reach the summit of Torreys Peak. If for whatever reason you do not want to go back down Tuning Fork Couloir, you could always descend the standard route of Torreys peak or Kelso Ridge. If you did these options, you would have to walk back down Forest Road 189 to reach your car near Grizzly Gulch.
Trail X Factors: Stream Crossings, Grizzly Gulch Road and Snow
If the winter is a wet one, the stream crossings leading up to the trailhead and slopes of Torreys Peak can be quite difficult to pass. As of 2019, there is a wooden bridge (about 200 yards up the creek [left]) to cross the first stream, but the second two are on your own. If you are in a vehicle be careful not to stall out in these spots and if hiking, be sure to know your route or getting lost can be very easy when trying to find crossings.
In terms of Grizzly Gulch Road, it is one of the rougher 4×4 roads I have seen in Colorado. We saw a handful of vehicles who were able to drive far up the road, but I would not recommend doing this in a car without good clearance, power and 4×4 capabilities. After the first stream crossing, proceed with caution.
Finally, before heading out to Torreys Peak , do your homework before hand to see what the snow depth and coverage is like. The top part and east arm of the “fork” tend to melt out first which leaves a few hundred feet of vertical scree to climb/descend before the summit. It would suck to log all those miles to the base of the couloir only to have less than ideal ski/boarding conditions.
Hike Tip(s): If you plan on hiking up Grizzly Gulch, be sure to use the wooden bridge in the woods for the first stream crossing and once you reach the 2nd stream crossing, hang a right to head into the willows/woods and walk for about .20 miles to rejoin the trail. This will avoid having to cross the stream 2 times for no reason. If you can make the stream crossing with no problems, then by all means go for it. If however the water is fast/deep, the woods is your best bet. Once you get close to the the Tuning Fork Couloir, there is another stream crossing that can be a real pain as well. On your way down the couloir, save your legs for the final section as it is the steepest.
Route finding is also very key on this approach/climb. Be sure to be familiar with the area and the couloir itself, having a map or GPS device will go a long way. In addition, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to the base of the couloir and up the mountain
Best Views: Torreys Peak via the Tuning Fork Couloir has subpar views until you reach about 13,000 ft or so on the couloir where you will get some nice views of the Front Range. On the summit of Torreys Peak, the views are basically good in all directions.
Torreys Peak Tuning Fork Couloir Hike Route
We failed to summit Torreys Peak because of the warming snow.
Gear Needed
- Dakine Poacher Winter Backpack
- Hiking Boots
- Avalanche Gear: Beacon, Probe, Shovel
- Hiking/SkiPoles
- Headlamp
- Climbing Helmet
- Two Mountain Axes/Ice Tools
- Crampons
- Crampon Bag
- La Sportiva Mountaineering Boots
- Microspikes
- Yaktraks
- Optional: Snowshoes
- Optional: Gaiters
- Optional: Ski or Snowboard
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
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