Looking to bag your first 14er? Handies Peak is one of the most scenic, beginner-friendly 14er hikes in Colorado. That’s not to say it’s easy (hiking up a mountain at 14,000 feet about sea level will take your breath away in more ways than one!), but when it comes to hiking at altitude, Handies Peak is an achievable summit for your bucket list.
We had never climbed a 14er before setting our sights on Handies Peak. We picked Handies Peak for our first 14er attempt since the hike is less mileage, less elevation gain, and less technical than most other 14ers.
There are two main trailheads for Handies Peak: American Basin trailhead and Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead. American Basin trailhead to Handies Peak is 5.3 miles roundtrip with 2,440 feet of elevation gain, whereas the hike from Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead is 7.8 miles roundtrip with 3,660 feet of elevation gain. No scrambling or rope is required to summit Handies Peak from either trailhead. We chose to do the shorter hike from American Basin trailhead since we had a vehicle that could make it to this trailhead along the 4WD road.
Trip Report: Handies Peak Hike from American Basin – Our First 14er
Even at 4AM, the views from the American Basin trailhead were beautiful. The moon was nearly full and illuminated the snowy mountain ridges. By the light of the moon and our headlamps, we groggily gathered our things and started our hike to Handies Peak.
Within a few steps, we reached our first obstacle – a creek crossing. When we had driven to American Basin the night before, we decided not to drive across the creek since we weren’t sure how deep the water was and didn’t want to risk getting stuck. Now we faced the creek crossing by foot. The water level was high, and there weren’t many rocks sticking above the water for feet placement….or maybe we just couldn’t see the rocks very well in the dark. Either way, we both got a foot wet. Solid start.
The remainder of the hike went more smoothly. We crossed a few patches of snow and streams of snowmelt along the way and made it unscathed. It was a beautiful morning for a hike. As the golden glow of sunrise reached across the mountain tops, the valley and wildflowers came into full view.Â
We steadily hiked along until we reached the last few hundred yards before the summit. At ~14,000 feet, each step was a slog. We were nearly at the top, but the path was steep and our sea-level accustomed lungs were wondering where all the oxygen went. Earlier during the hike, we had crossed paths with a father and his two young sons, one of which was being bribed into hiking in exchange for a lego set. Now, with the summit in sight, we thought to ourselves “Do it for the legos!” Every few steps, we took a breather break, and many steps and many breather breaks later, we finally made it to the summit of our first 14er!
The 360 views were incredible – mountains and green valleys surrounded us for miles in all directions. A few hikers and their geared-up pups soon met us at the peak, and one lucky dog was hand-fed Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. Out of nowhere, a Red Bull-style trick plane zoomed by, twirling between the valleys. It was July 4th, and it all somehow felt very American.  Â
What to Pack for Handies Peak
- Headlamp: Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer so it is best to start hikes early in order to be off the peak and below the treeline before noon. How early you need to start in order to be off the peak before noon depends on your hiking pace, though, regardless of pace, we recommend starting prior to sunrise. Watching the mountains glow in the morning sun is an incredible way to start a hike.
- Day Hiking Pack
- Hydration Bladder
- Hiking Boots
- Wool Socks
- Trekking Poles: Even in the late summer, there can still be some patches of snow across the trail. Trekking poles are helpful for passing though these snow fields. I also was glad to have my trekking poles for the hike down to reduce the impact on my knees.
- Layers of clothing: Be prepared to peel off layers during the hike up to Handies Peak (it’s a workout!) and to layer back up again once you reach the summit. 14er summits are cold and often windy. Warm layers of clothing will ensure you’re comfortable enough to spend some time at the summit and soak in the incredible views. Avoid cotton clothing – stick with quick dry materials.
- Rain Jacket: Weather can change quickly at high elevations.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses: UV exposure is higher at higher altitudes. Because of the colder temperatures, sunburn can easily sneak up on you.Â
- Snacks
- First Aid
- Trail Map: The trail from American Basin is fairly worn and easy to follow though it’s always good to have a map.
The Best Time of Year to Climb a Colorado 14er
The best time of year to hike a Colorado 14er is in the summer after most (if not all) of the snow melts. Always check trail and weather conditions before your hike. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer so it is best to start hikes early in order to be off the peak and below the treeline before noon.
How to Prepare for the Altitude
Spending at least a day at high elevation before your 14er hike can help prevent altitude sickness and give your body the chance to gradually acclimate to lower oxygen levels. Be sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after your hike. While hiking, pace yourself. Hiking at high altitude is difficult. Take breaks as needed and enjoy the views!
Handies Peak Trailhead Options
Option 1: Jeep and ATV’s Only! – Cinnamon Pass from Ouray to American Basin Trailhead or Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead
The trickiest part of planning this hike was figuring out how to get to the trailhead. Google maps can be deceiving in terms of which roads are actually driveable for an average vehicle. Initially, we planned to drive eastward from the Ouray area along Cinnamon Pass to the American Basin trailhead. This was the quickest route on Google maps, but after looking at the route more closely, we discovered that Cinnamon Pass is a Jeep/ATV road! Our Honda CRV is gutsier than she looks, but she’s not made for a road as intense as Cinnamon Pass. Since we didn’t have a vehicle suitable for Cinnamon Pass and didn’t want to rent one, we decided to drive to the trailhead from the the Lake City area and head westward on County Rd 30.
Option 2: 2WD doable, 4WD recommended – Lake City to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead
The road to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead turned out to be much more intense than we had thought it would be. The road is rocky and has deep ruts that a low clearance vehicle would need to avoid to prevent bottoming out. We saw a Nissan Cube out there, but we recommend a 4WD vehicle with some clearance. For an experienced driver who is skilled at picking lines for wheel placement, the drive could be doable with a 2WD vehicle, but a 4WD vehicle with clearance is a much better bet.
Another surprise for us was that the road to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead has two-way traffic but is only the width of one lane. On one side, there is a steep drop-off into the canyon below. Don’t look down! The pucker factor is high on this drive.
At the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead, there is a vault toilet, ample parking, and plenty of space to pitch a tent. If you choose to hike Handies Peak from this trailhead, we recommend camping here the night before your hike so you can get an early start in the morning. From the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead, the Handies Peak hike is 7.8 mile roundtrip with 3,660 feet of elevation gain.
Option 3: 4WD recommended – Continue from Silver City past Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead to American Basin Trailhead
The drive from Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch to American Basin is rougher than the drive from Lake City to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch. A 4WD vehicle is recommended to continue on past the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead. This section of road luckily doesn’t have steep drop-offs like the previous section.
We were able to drive most of the way to American Basin trailhead from Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch in our Honda CRV. We parked about a 1/4 mile away from the American Basin trailhead, just before a creek crossing since we didn’t want to risk not making it across. There is room for about 3 vehicles to park just before the creek crossing. Other parking options include the large parking lot at the trailhead and small pull-outs along the road prior to and after the creek.
Dispersed camping is allowed along the road leading to the American Basin trailhead. If you plan to hike Handies Peak from this trailhead, we recommend camping here the night before your hike so you can get an early start in the morning, but note that there are no bathrooms or facilities in this area. From the American Basin Trailhead, the Handies Peak hike is 5.3 miles roundtrip with 2,440 feet of elevation gain.
For more hiking inspiration, see our Colorado travel guide page.