Handies Peak East Slopes 14er Trail Guide
Handies Peak East Slopes is the longer but more scenic route to hike this beautiful 14er. Located near Lake City, this mountain is within Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area. The hike to the summit is short and has a few options to choose from, but the East Slopes route is by far the most scenic in my opinion. Handies Peak via the East Slopes is a Class 2 hike with a trail that consists mostly of packed dirt. Handies Peak is a great intermediate 14er that is good for beginner hikers.
Handies Peak East Slopes Quick Facts
Virtual Trail Guide: Handies Peak via East Slopes
Handies Peak Trail Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Distance: 8 Miles RT
Elevation Start: 10,400ft
Summit: 14,048 ft
Total Elevation Gain: 3,650ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 4-5 Hours RT
Difficulty: Moderate What does this mean?
Class: Class 2 – Class System Explained
Season: July – September (expect snow outside of this period)
Directions to Handies Peak East Slopes
Trailhead: Grizzly Gulch/Silver Creek
Getting Here: (From the North) Navigate to Lake City and drive through the small town. Once you are about 2 miles out of town, take a right on County Road 30. Continue on this road for about 16 miles following signs for Cinnamon Pass. The trailhead will be 16.2 miles on the left next to the two bathrooms.
County Road 30 is a huge wildcard. I was able to make it to the trailhead in my 2×2 car but there were definitely sections of the drive that I held my breath and hoped that I would not bottom out. This road does not require four wheel drive, but having it will make the drive a lot easier. Be sure to enter the correct Grizzly Gulch trailhead into your GPS:
Parking: Handies Peak via the East Slopes has limited parking for about 5 cars next to the trailhead and about 10-12 others right across the road. There are two non-plumbing bathrooms at the trailhead as well.
Summary
Camping: If you want to camp near Handies Peak, you are in luck. The long road drive on County Road 30 has ample camping spots along the way. Camping is free but there are no facilities anywhere along the way. Although there are some spots to camp near the Handies Peak trailhead, they are not ideal (lack of wood, cover, flat ground), so I would try to snag a spot before you reach the TH or after the TH for the best camping experience.
Dogs: Handies Peak is perfect for dogs so long as the snow has melted out near the saddle. If there is lingering snow, I would recommend leaving dogs at home for this one as the slopes are quite steep. The hike is Class 2, so there are no technical sections where your dog would have any trouble following you up the mountain.
Make it a Loop: Handies Peak is an out and back, but if you are looking to extend your hike, check out neighboring 13er Whitecross Peak which can easily be added to the hike. If you want even more hiking, 14ers Redcloud & Sunshine Peak are accessed just across from the start of this hike.
Trail X Factors: Slopes Before Saddle
Like many high elevation peaks in Colorado, Handies can hold snow late into the spring and even into the early summer. With snow, what is usually a pretty mellow hike turns into a semi steep snow climb for a hundred yards or so. If there is lingering snow on the slopes before the saddle, I would highly recommend a pair of microspikes and a mountain axe to safely ascend and descent the snow. Be sure to do your research before heading out to hike so that you know what to expect on your hike.
Hike Tip(s): The trail up to Handies Peak via the East Slopes consists mostly of a great trail, but in the late spring and early summer it can get very wet and muddy. Once you get into the upper basin, the trail can turn into a literal stream, funneling snowmelt down to the Grizzly Creek stream below. Be sure to bring an extra pair of socks or expect to get wet and muddy if you plan on hiking this route anytime in June or July.
Best Views: In my humble opinion, the San Juans are the most beautiful mountains Colorado has to offer. Hiking Handies Peak starts off in the forest for a few miles but quickly opens up to stunning basin views. In fact, for the majority of this hike, you get to stare directly at Handies Peak and the beautiful eastern slopes that surround the 14,000ft mountain. Once on the ridge and summit, close your eyes, spin in a circle and take your pick at which amazing views you want to soak in.
Handies Peak East Slopes Route
Gear Needed
- 14er Day Hike Packing List
- Backpack – this has been my go to
- Comfortable Hiking Boots or Trail Runners
- Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles
- Optional: Mountain Axe (if snow remains on slopes)
- Optional: Microspikes (if snow remains on slopes)
- Optional:Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
- *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
My Trip to Handies Peak East Slopes: June 2020
As I have continued to develop both the website and my YouTube Channel, I look back on hikes that I have done in the past and know that I can make higher quality content. It was June 2020, I was on furlough from my job and Jackie was on summer break for hers so we decided to take a trip down to Lake City. The plan was to hike Handies on day 1 and Redcloud & Sunshine on day 2. Jackie would get to enjoy some much needed r&r and I could re-hike three 14ers.
For this trip to Handies Peak, I decided to take the East Slopes which was a new route for me up the mountain. I found this hike to be far more beautiful, secluded and overall better experience than the standard route and would highly recommend it for anyone looking to tackle Handies Peak. Check out some pictures from the hike below or watch the full virtual trail guide.
